Hege Storhaug, HRS
Deeyah http://deeyah.com/ har dedikert sin musikkarriere til bekjempelse av æresrelatert vold. Artisten, som er søster av danse-Adil, Adil Khan, måtte forlate Norge grunnet trusler. Nå lanserer hun nettverket Honour Based Violence Awareness network, HBVA, som kan følges bade på facebook og twitter. Her er pressemeldingen sendt ut i dag:
Norwegian activist Deeyah launches International digital resource centre about Honour Killings & Honour Based Violence
HBVA (Honour Based Violence Awareness network) is an international digital resource centre working to advance understanding and awareness of Honour Killings and Honour Based Violence through research, documentation and information for professionals; teachers, health workers, social services, police, politicians, and others who may encounter individuals at risk. HBVA builds and promotes a network of experts, activists, and NGOs from around the world, establishing international partnerships to facilitate greater collaboration and education.
HBVA is founded for the following core functions;
· AWARENESS: providing an international HBV education resource, a digital information portal accessible to all.
· COLLABORATION: convening a global network of experts for the purpose of sharing data, knowledge and experience. Collaboration is key to the effective understanding of HBV on a global basis.
· TRAINING: producing training materials for European and US professionals to improve responses to victims within immigrant diaspora communities.
· RESEARCH: conducting and advancing long term and comprehensive research in order to properly and thoroughly understand the extent, causes and risk factors of HBV and develop efficient and appropriate responses.
Norwegian artist and human rights activist Deeyah a vocal and staunch campaigner against honour based violence founded and conceived of HBVA in collaboration with Joanne Payton of Cardiff University. In development since 2010, HBVA is launched in February 2012 for public and professional use internationally.
The Shafia honour killing case in Canada has illustrated once again the severe and immediate need for more awareness, training and understanding among practitioners in Western countries in a position to help individuals at risk to better grasp the social structures and dynamics that exist based on the constructs of honour.
«Centuries old cultures, customs, social structures and mentalities take time and consistent effort to change. However, where we can make a real and immediate impact particularly in Europe and in the US, where deaths can be prevented is by implementing adequate training, providing research and properly informing the people in a position to help individuals at risk of Honour Based Violence. There is no acceptable reason or excuse why young women within minority communities should continue dying due to lack of understanding and awareness about this very present phenomenon» says Deeyah.
HBVA draws on the expertise of its international partners, collaborators and experts from Pakistan, Iraq, UK, Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, India, Norway, Denmark, Bangladesh, Jordan. Some of the esteemed HBVA experts are Asma Jahangir, Yakin Erturk, John Austin, Rana Husseini, Serap Cileli, Ayse Onal, Nazir Afzal, Unni Wikan.
HBVA will continue to collect, develop and add content over time creating an in depth and vast library and resource of information about honour based violence for those who seek the information. It intends to become a comprehensive source of information and research materials in both written and multimedia formats organized into an easily navigated digital resource.
I humbly hope HBVA can serve as a helpful tool by making much of the excellent research materials and articles that already exist more easily accessible to everyone who has a need for them. In collaboration with our partners and experts, HBVA will also strive to produce up-to-date research and data about all aspects of ‘honour’-based violence globally says Deeyah.
HBVA url: www.hbv-awareness.com
You can also connect with HBVA here:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HBVAwareness
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/HBVA/374592985900016