Southall Black Sisters

This year's winner of the Secularist of the Year was the Southall Black Sisters, a not-for-profit organisation established in 1979 to meet the needs of black (Asian and African-Caribbean) women. They highlight and challenge violence against women; empower them to gain more control over their lives; to live without fear of violence; and to assert their human rights to justice, equality and freedom. They have been at the forefront of challenging domestic and gender violence locally and nationally, and campaigning for the provision of support services to enable women and their children to escape violent relationships.

Their resource centre in West London provides a comprehensive service to women victims of violence and abuse, with specialist advice, information, casework, advocacy, counselling and self-help support services in several community languages. They are managed by a group of women with long experience of women's struggles and commitment to women's rights.