The conference is being held at the University of Central Lancashire, Preston, on Friday, April 23rd, and one of the main speakers will be Jasvinder Sanghera, a survivor of forced marriage and honour-based abuse. She is the founder and director of Karma Nirvana, a charity based in Derby which provides support to people in this situation. In 2009 Jasvinder became a Pride of Britain Winner and is also the best-selling author of two books, Shame and Daughters of Shame.

Figures from Karma Nirvana show that, nationally, there are major issues with forced marriages and honour-based violence. Calls to their helpline rose from 660 in 2008/09 (April to March) to 2,443 for 2009/10 (April to January) an increase of 370% with two months left to complete the year.

One of the main discussion points at the conference will be the Forced Marriage (Civil Protection) Act 2007 which came into force in November 2008. The Act aims to provide protection for the most vulnerable people at risk of forced marriage and send out a clear message to all communities that forced marriages and the violence that accompanies them will not be tolerated. The Government anticipated around 50 Forced Marriage Protection Orders in the first year – 86 were issued. However, it is also acknowledged it is still very underused and agencies need to do more as many victims remain isolated and at risk from serious violence, even murder.

Blackburn County Court is one of just 15 in the country to be allowed to use the new Forced Marriage Protection Orders and was chosen because the issues are very prevalent in this area. All the agencies who have an interest in making a real difference in tackling these issues have a duty to learn more about what their role is and how they can work together to save more girls and women falling victim to this type of crime.

An impact is being made in this area though, as Blackburn Magistrates' Court dealt with the first breach of a Forced Marriage Protection Order in November when Aurang Zeb breached the order taken out against him to stop him taking his daughter out of the country to marry. He was found guilty of harassing his wife, daughter and son, having threatened to cut out his wife's tongue and running his son off the road. He is now banned from the family home and has had to forfeit his passport.

Jasvinder Sanghera of Karma Nirvana, said: "Nationally there is no consistency when dealing with Forced Marriage Protection Orders. Across the country levels of understanding and experience vary greatly which means different areas have different levels of response. This isn't right or fair to the many people who fall victim through no fault of their own.

"I hope this conference will help to address a lot of these inconsistencies as those who attend will hear from the leading experts in this field of work and be able to take their good practice and put it into use right here in Lancashire. We need to put cultural differences to one side and stop skirting around the issues for fear of racial offence – there are girls and women right now who are suffering horrendous abuse and we need to something about that."

There will be a number of survivors of forced marriage at the conference who will not only address the conference itself and give a firsthand account of what it is like, but will also share their stories with those attending more informally during the day. They will be doing this openly and will not be asking for anonymity as they would rather their experiences were heard so they can help others facing similar situations.

The effects on real people has been seen already in Lancashire. Last year, the case of Naseebah Bibi, from Blackburn, hit the headlines as she was jailed for seven years for imprisoning her three daughters-in-law and treating them as "slaves and dogs." This is a woman who would not let the women - also her nieces - leave the family home without permission. One victim told police she had been forced to work on an industrial sewing machine day and night for 13 years. All three women were brought to the UK following arranged marriages to Bibi's three sons but were subjected to beatings and abuse from her after they arrived.

Mick Turner, former Detective Superintendent with Lancashire Police and Director of Sancus Solutions, added: "There is no doubt we are learning more about the dreadful suffering that comes with forced marriage and honour-based violence. There have been recent changes in the law which mean there is protection for vulnerable people. Our purpose is to bring together some of the most prominent people in the country together with local experts to share good practice and highlight the way forward."

Organised by Sancus Solutions, an independent training and events company and the Crime Reduction Unit at UCLAN, the conference will see a full day of speakers including: Nazir Afzal OBE, Crown Prosecution Service National Director for Community Confidence; Sue Evans, lecturer in Criminology & Criminal Justice UCLan; Anne Marie Hutchinson OBE, lawyer at Dawson Cornwell, and Det. Chief Insp. Samuel Mackenzie, Deputy Head of Public Protection Lancashire Constabulary. The event will be chaired by Prof. Barbara Hudson.

To book a place at the conference or for more information, contact Emma Kelly, on 01772 892654, email eakelly1@uclan.ac.uk or visit www.uclan.ac.uk/uclanconferences