Every year, we host our Day of Memory event, dedicated to remembering Shafilea Ahmed on her birthday, the 14th of July. Shafilea, a British-born girl, was tragically murdered by her parents at the age of 17 in 2003, due to her refusal to accept a marriage.
This day serves as a poignant reminder of Shafilea’s story, and the countless lives lost to Honour Based Abuse, including Fawziyah Javed, Somaiya Begum, and Samia Shahid.
This year, Shafilea would have turned 38, coinciding with a crucial milestone in the Honour Based Abuse sector: The agreement on a sector-wide statutory definition for Honour Based Abuse in the UK.
Due to the upcoming election, we deeply regret that we are unable to host our in-person Day of Memory event this year. The physical conference has always been a meaningful part of our commemoration, allowing us to come together, share stories, and offer support in person. However, we are committed to ensuring that the spirit of this day remains strong.
Instead, we will be commemorating this important day through a virtual ‘Week of Memory’ campaign (#WeRemember, #WeekOfMemory), from 8th July to 14th July. You can find all the resources launched for our week of memory below, which includes our Spotlight series, shedding light in Fawziyah Javed, Banaz Mahmod and Shafilea Ahmed outside of what happened to them. It also includes the launch of our interactive map of Honour Based Abuse Deaths in the UK, as well as messages from our Survivor Ambassador Panel, Natasha Rattu, and the sector coming together to put a definition in place for Honour Based Abuse with the new government.
View our interactive map of Honour Based Abuse Deaths in the UK
How You Can Participate:
- Join Us Online: Follow our social media channels throughout the week for special posts, stories, and activities starting from the 8th of July, as well as get ‘sneak peaks’ for our launch on the 14th July.
- Share Your Support: Use the hashtag #WeRemember to share your messages of support, photos, and memories. We encourage you to engage with our posts and spread the word.
- Downloadable asset to share: here
- Read the manifesto: Read the manifesto and share
