On 4th February 2025, Karma Nirvana hosted the #Push4Change Westminster screening of The Push: Murder on the Cliff. The event was incredibly moving, and the response has been incredible. We would like to thank all our keynote speakers, alongside Yasmin Javed and our Survivor Ambassador Panel, which was a particularly poignant section of the event, where members shared personal testimonies that reinforced the urgent need for a statutory definition. Their courage and determination resonated throughout the room, highlighting why this change is so vital. You can watch clips from the event on our website and on your youtube channel: 🔗

We’re attending @womensaid’s #WAPublicPolicySummit, where senior stakeholders from various sectors are coming together for roundtable discussions 💬 We’re engaging in conversations to help shape the new #government’s Tackling VAWG strategy, ensuring it reflects the diverse challenges women and girls face, alongside measurable commitments at both national and local levels 🕊️

With thanks to @CandourTV and @Channel4 for their collaboration on this event #ThePush #Documentary #FawziyahJaved

Tomorrow, we are hosting our #Push4Change Westminster screening of The Push: Murder on the Cliff, a two-part documentary exploring the tragic case of Fawziyah Javed, who was pushed to her death with her unborn baby by her husband from Arthur’s Seat in 2021. This event will commemorate Fawziyah, and act as a pledge to do all we can to end preventable deaths such as Fawziyah’s in the future. This date is also significant, as this event will take place on what should have been Fawziyah’s baby’s third birthday. This event aims to raise awareness about #HonourBasedAbuse and the need for a statutory definition for HBA. Karma Nirvana alongside sector partners have been campaigning for a statutory definition, and launched the campaign, #Push4Change off the back of the documentary, Read more and our proposed definition at: #HonourBasedAbuse #ThePush #FawziyahJaved #Push4Change #Event

Next week, we are hosting our #Push4Change Westminster screening of The Push: Murder on the Cliff, a two-part documentary exploring the tragic case of Fawziyah Javed, who was pushed to her death with her unborn baby by her husband from Arthur’s Seat in 2021. This event will commemorate Fawziyah, and act as a pledge to do all we can to end preventable deaths such as Fawziyah’s in the future. #ThePush This event aims to raise awareness about #HonourBasedAbuse and the need for a statutory definition for HBA. Karma Nirvana alongside sector partners have been campaigning for a statutory definition, and launched the campaign, #Push4Change off the back of the documentary, The event will feature clips from The Push: Murder on the Cliff, discussions with survivor ambassadors, expert professionals, and policymakers, and an introduction on why we need a statutory definition for Honour Based Abuse, why we use the term ‘honour’ in honour based abuse, and how we have created the proposed definition. Read more and our proposed definition at:

Today #WeRemember Banaz on the anniversary of her death. Banaz was murdered by members of her family after leaving an abusive marriage and choosing to be with someone she loved. She had a love for Mariah Carey, boybands, and cooking - cherished aspects of her life that remind us of the vibrant person she was. During our 2024 #WeekOfMemory, her sister Payzee shared heartfelt memories of Banaz, which you can watch on our YouTube channel. Banaz’s legacy lives on through Payzee’s tireless advocacy, which honours her life and fights for change. We remember Banaz today and every day, standing with all those affected by Honour Based Abuse. Sending our love to @PayzeeMalika today. #WeRemember #HonourBasedAbuse

5 years ago on the 24th January, Bindu Patel tragically lost her life. Bindu was a cherished and remarkable woman, a loving mother to her children, and a talented chef. Her passion and dedication shone through her award-winning vegan restaurant, Sanctua, which earned her four awards and the admiration of many. Here at Karma Nirvana, we want to take a moment to honour Bindu’s memory and send our heartfelt thoughts to her family and all those who knew and loved her. #WeRemember #HonourBasedAbuse

Honour Based Abuse is a form of abuse motivated by the abuser’s perception that a person has brought or may bring ‘dishonour’ or ‘shame’ to themselves, their family or the community. It can take many forms, and can be complex to identify, but it centres around the idea of controlling individuals to make them behave in certain ways or subscribe to certain beliefs. For some people, the concept of ‘honour’ is prized above the safety and wellbeing of individuals, and to compromise a family’s ‘honour’ is to bring dishonour and shame – which can have severe consequences. As a result, this can be used to justify many types of abuse, and even disownment or physical harm. There are many misconceptions about Honour Based Abuse being associated with certain cultures or religions, and our work is dedicated to challenging and correcting such beliefs. Honour Based Abuse is not a cultural tradition or religious practice; it is a form of abuse that can occur within any community, regardless of faith or background. Abuse is abuse – no matter who the perpetrator is or how they justify it. No one – not even your family or partner – has the right to control or to harm you, emotionally or physically. Read more about Honour Based Abuse on our website - Watch our animation on the roots of Honour Based Abuse -

📻 Join us on @BBCWomansHour at 10am today to hear our Executive Director @natasharat2 discuss Richard Holden's Cousin Marriage Bill and its implications #WomansHour #CousinMarriageBill

We at Karma Nirvana are deeply appalled by the online abuse directed at Minister Jess Phillips over the past week. Having worked alongside Minister Phillips, both in her current ministerial role and as an MP, we have always been inspired by her unwavering dedication to tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG). As an organisation committed to addressing Honour Based Abuse, we have the utmost respect for her tireless efforts to achieve real, lasting change in the VAWG space. Minister Phillips has gone above and beyond in her role, showing a genuine understanding of the complexities survivors face. Having worked alongside her, we’ve seen her dedication to taking action that truly centres survivors’ voices. She’s not just about policy - she’s about real, meaningful change in the VAWG space. It is deeply troubling to see VAWG issues being weaponised to further political agendas. While it is crucial to resolve the challenges raised, sowing division and stoking hostility do not serve the interests of survivors or victims. Tackling the national emergency of VAWG requires unity, compassion, and collective action. We stand in full solidarity with Minister Phillips during this challenging time and reaffirm our commitment to working together to create a safer society for all. @jessphillips @NorrisNour

Honour Based Abuse can take many forms. The key sign of Honour Based Abuse is feeling shamed for your beliefs or choices by your family or community, and feeling controlled or pressured to act differently. But you have the right to make your own decisions, and you are not alone. Read some examples of how Honour Based Abuse may appear below, which can be present in many forms at the same time. Even if your situation doesn’t exactly match these examples, you may still be affected. If any of this resonates with you, reach out to us for confidential support. We’re here to help you understand your situation, identify Honour Based Abuse, and explore your options. All calls are confidential, and we never share your information with your family. Read more - UK Helpline: 0800 5999 247 9am - 5pm, Monday - Friday #HonourBasedAbuse #ForcedMarriage

@CommissionerDA Congratulations Nicole and for highlighting HBA as part of your role as the DAC. 👏🏽

RT @KilledWomennw:

As 2024 comes to a close, we are reflecting on a year filled with progress, advocacy, and powerful moments that have strengthened our mission to end #HonourBasedAbuse at Karma Nirvana. From impactful events to national media coverage, we’ve worked tirelessly to raise awareness, honour victims, and empower survivors. Together with supporters like you, we’ve made significant strides and pushed for urgent change, and we thank you for standing with us every step of the way. Here’s a summary of what we achieved together this year: 📚 January – Launched our Honour Based Abuse Zine, amplifying survivor voices 📊 February – Published the One Year On: Child Marriage Law Report, marking the law’s first anniversary 🎥 March – The Push documentary sparked nationwide discussions 📢 April – #Push4Change campaign called for statutory recognition of Honour Based Abuse ⚖️ May – Released our Honour Based Abuse General Election Manifesto 🏅 June – Jasvinder Sanghera received a Damehood for her advocacy 🕯 July – Held a virtual Week of Memory for Shafilea Ahmed 🗺️ August – Launched the Interactive Honour Based Abuse Map 🌹 September – Dedicated a bench to Fawziyah Javed at Arthur’s Seat 📈 October – Helpline data revealed a rise in cases and barriers to support 🧡 November – 16 Days of Activism drove awareness and action 🎬 December – Premiered The Roots of Honour Based Abuse animation Thank you for standing with us every step of the way. Together, we’re creating change. Let’s keep up the momentum in 2025! 💪 #HonourBasedAbuse #Push4Change #ForcedMarriage #NewYear

The holiday season is often seen as a time for celebration and connection, but for many, it can also be a time of profound difficulty. For survivors of Honour Based Abuse, even after breaking free from abuse, the weight of shame and honour imposed by those closest to them can mean their choices are not accepted. As a result, some may find themselves alone this Christmas. If this is your experience, please remember: you are not alone. You deserve to spend this season surrounded by those you choose, on your own terms. From all of us at Karma Nirvana, we wish you a peaceful and merry Christmas 🎄 #MerryChristmas #happychristmas #holidays #HonourBasedAbuse

RT @Jas_Sanghera_: It’s time to put the shame exactly where it belongs and it’s not with victims and survivors. This is what honour looks l…

🎄 Our Helpline Festive Hours 🎄 Our Honour Based Abuse Helpline will close early on the 24th December and 31st December, and will have the following availability: Wednesday 25th December 2024 - Closed Thursday 26th December 2024 - Closed Friday 27th December 2024 - 9am-5pm Monday 30th December 2024 - 9am-5pm Tuesday 31st December 2024 - 9am-4pm Wednesday 1st January 2025 - Closed We will open as normal at 9am on Thursday 2nd January 2025. If you are in danger, please contact the police on 999