- The cover of the new Cosmopolitan magazine shows a woman suffocating
- Film-wrapped February issue encourages readers to rip it open to 'free' girl
- The cover represents the story of teenager Shafilea Ahmed
- Her parents suffocated her in 2003 for refusing an arranged marriage
Cosmopolitan's front cover usually features the personality quizzes, sex tips and the latest Hollywood starlet, but this month the magazine has gone for a completely different tactic.
The publication have printed a picture of a young girl suffocating as part of their long-running protest against honour killings.
The plastic-wrapped February issue features a blurry black and white picture of a girl with dark hair, with her hands raised as though she is trying to break the wrapping and the magazine encourages readers to rip open the plastic and free her.
The picture represents the story of Shafilea Ahmed, whose parents suffocated her with a plastic bag in front of her siblings in September 2003, for supposedly bringing shame on her family after she refused to agree to an arranged marriage.
A young girl is pictured suffocating on the cover of the plastic-wrapped February issue of Cosmopolitan. The image represents the story of Shafilea Ahmed, whose parents suffocated her with a plastic bag in front of her siblings in September 2003, for supposedly bringing shame on her family after she refused to agree to an arranged marriage
The cover, which was created by advertising company Leo Burnett Change, is part of the publication's campaign, alongside women's charity Karma Nirvana, to raise awareness of honour-based violence.
The are also lobbying the government to get a UK law implemented that will help to prevent future deaths of this nature.
A seven-second film has also been made to accompany the issue.
In the clip, the plastic cover is ripped off the magazine, signifying the release of women from violence.
Cosmopolitan posted a Vine of the video with the words: 'Shafilea Ahmed was suffocated by her parents in front of her siblings.
'Share to end the suffering of #honourkillings Karmanirvana.org.uk'
The magazine's cover image was presented to UK parliament on Wednesday during a lobbying event hosted by Cosmpolitan and Karma Nirvana.
The event was planned to launch a new report called Honour Killings In The UK, which uncovered severe failings by the British government, police forces and schools to recognise, report and prevent honour-based violence.
The Day of Memory for Britain's Lost Women is July 14, the date of the birthday of Shafilea Ahmed.
It also announced a new memorial day, called The Day of Memory for Britain's Lost Women, to comemorate all victims of honour killings, which has long been campaigned for both by Cosmopolitan and the Henry Jackson Society.
It will take place annually on July 14, which was the date of Shafilea’s birthday, who was 17 when she was killed in 2003.
It took nine years for Shafilea's parents to be brought to justice, but they were finally both sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2012 for the murder.
This summer, forced marriage will become illegal in England and Wales and punishable by up to seven years in prison.
But thousands of women are still being beaten, abused and raped in the name of honour across the UK.
The government's own Forced Marriage Unit dealt with 1,302 possible cases of forced marriage last year - more than 80 per cent of them involving female victims.
The Karma Nirvana helpline alone is currently getting an average of 700 calls a month, a 21 per cent increase from last year when the average was 550.
But the secret nature of forced marriage means these figures are merely the tip of the iceberg.
You can pledge your support to beat honour killings at change.org/dishonourthecrime
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