True Honour was created in memory of Surjit Kaur Athwal, whose life was tragically taken in 1998 in a so-called ‘honour killing’. Surjit was a young mother full of hope, strength, and potential, a woman who deserved safety, freedom, and a future. Instead, she was betrayed by the very people who should have protected her, lured from the UK to India, and murdered for the false notion of ‘honour’.

Her death was not only a profound loss but a powerful reminder of the hidden dangers many victims face behind closed doors. Yet from this tragedy emerged a landmark moment in British legal history: the successful prosecution of those responsible. This case exposed the severity of honour-based violence, challenged cultural silence, and forced the nation to confront a crime that had long been ignored.

Surjit’s legacy lives at the heart of True Honour.
Her courage and the long fight for justice that followed continue to inspire our mission to protect victims, challenge harmful practices, and ensure no one else suffers in silence.

Every life we support, every survivor we empower, and every professional we train is part of the change born from Surjit’s story. We honour her by standing with victims, amplifying their voices, and working tirelessly for a future where no life is lost in the name of so-called ‘honour’.