back to Awards & NomineesThe Inspiration Awards - Jasvinder Sanghera

Jasvinder Sanghera is the founder member of Karma Nirvana. Based in Derby, it’s a support project for victims of forced marriage or honour based violence. Jasvinder is a survivor of a forced marriage and her own sister chose suicide as her only way out of her own forced marriage. She says she wants the voices of victims “to be heard” and to “shape policy”. An astute campaigner and powerful speaker, she has forged links with the police, Crown Prosecution Service, local authorities, judges and magistrates.

All of the team working with Jasvinder have experience of forced marriage or honour based violence. A large number of those using the refuge are escaping from virtual imprisonment in their own homes or even threats to their lives. The centre take on 15 new cases a week and receives over 200 calls a month for support. The project has recently taken on a male project worker and aims to develop the first Asian male refuge for victims of forced marriages and honour based crimes. http://www.karmanirvana.org.uk/