International Women’s Day was marked by the event at Batley Town Hall, where women from across Kirklees were invited to discuss controversial issues as well as be inspired by female role models.

It was a key opportunity to speak out against the inequalities many women still face across the world, including the UK.

Discussions centred on domestic violence, forced marriage, prostitution and sexual assault, as the organisers, Kirklees Community Cohesion team, tried to raise awareness.

Habiban Zaman, Community Cohesion project officer for Safer Stronger Communities, said it was a productive event.

She said: “We covered some sensitive topics which are issues quite close to many women but we don’t talk about them.

“Some of these issues are hot topics at the moment so I thought it would be good to start to discuss them within Kirklees.

“These are hard-hitting issues which we tend to brush under the carpet in the Asian community. Many still believe they don’t affect the Asian community. One of the aims of the event was to dispel stereotypes which exist on both sides of the Kirklees community. Prostitution and teenage pregnancies are issues affecting both white and Asian communities.

“The event gave a platform for women to discuss. Only through education can we tackle some of these issues.”

During the day a range of leaflets and one-to-one advice was available for anyone wanting help.

Habiban said the event was for women from all communities but there was a good representation from Asian women.

She said there is still some reluctance in the Asian community to talk openly about controversial issues.

She added: “Women need empowering. If we can offer them support, guidance and information and empower them with necessary information then they can begin to do things for themselves.”

Musurrut Zia, a community officer for Lancashire police special branch, led a popular workshop on forced marriage.

Mayor of Kirklees, Coun Jean Calvert, opened the event and presentations were given by inspirational female role models.

Guest speakers included Batley’s Victoria Minton, senior programme director for enterprise organisation Common Purpose and Joyce Worsfold – author of Donkeys, Ducks and Daily Bread.