1st October – Essex Feminist Collective
We travelled down to Essex after we were lucky enough to be invited by the Essex Feminist Collective to speak at one of their meetings. They are a brilliant group of women fighting for gender equality in the Essex area (if you live close by get involved) and were so supportive of our project! Thanks for our “Smash the Patriarchy” bag – we love it!
We travelled down to Essex after we were lucky enough to be invited by the Essex Feminist Collective to speak at one of their meetings. They are a brilliant group of women fighting for gender equality in the Essex area (if you live close by get involved) and were so supportive of our project! Thanks for our “Smash the Patriarchy” bag – we love it!
13th October – Teacher Training with Brook
Brook have been running teacher training on teen abuse as part of the Bristol Ideal program. They asked us to facilitate part of their session. This meant telling the teachers about real life experience of domestic abuse in a relationship as a young person, and what schools can do (or not do!) to help. Teachers have some of the most contact with young people so we feel it is crucial they have a better understanding of the abuse that happens in young people’s relationships.
Brook have been running teacher training on teen abuse as part of the Bristol Ideal program. They asked us to facilitate part of their session. This meant telling the teachers about real life experience of domestic abuse in a relationship as a young person, and what schools can do (or not do!) to help. Teachers have some of the most contact with young people so we feel it is crucial they have a better understanding of the abuse that happens in young people’s relationships.
15th October – Women’s Aid, Evidence to Select Committee
We went with the Women’s Aid Young People’s Advisory Panel to talk to the Joint Human Rights Committee about the way services respond to young people experiencing domestic abuse. They were shocked to hear how much education is lacking and how when we have approached the legal system we have been discouraged from seeking justice and had our experiences belittled.
They said how helpful it was to hear from young people who point out different problems to adults and it was brilliant for us to speak directly to the government; our responses will be included in the committee’s formal report on Violence Against Women and Girls, that will be used to inform policy making.
We went with the Women’s Aid Young People’s Advisory Panel to talk to the Joint Human Rights Committee about the way services respond to young people experiencing domestic abuse. They were shocked to hear how much education is lacking and how when we have approached the legal system we have been discouraged from seeking justice and had our experiences belittled.
They said how helpful it was to hear from young people who point out different problems to adults and it was brilliant for us to speak directly to the government; our responses will be included in the committee’s formal report on Violence Against Women and Girls, that will be used to inform policy making.
25th October – Feminism In London Conference
This was an amazing event with a huge range of panels and speakers covering all aspects of feminism. We had a brilliant time meeting so many women and men who are passionate about working to end violence against women. The conference has a lovely, inclusive atmosphere and included the awarding of the Emma Humphrey’s memorial prize. We'll certainly be going next year and so should you!
This was an amazing event with a huge range of panels and speakers covering all aspects of feminism. We had a brilliant time meeting so many women and men who are passionate about working to end violence against women. The conference has a lovely, inclusive atmosphere and included the awarding of the Emma Humphrey’s memorial prize. We'll certainly be going next year and so should you!
13th November – Free Stacey Hyde Appeal
Stacey Hyde is a vulnerable young woman who was wrongly convicted for murder aged only 18. As the Justice for Women group say “her only crime was to react disproportionately, out of fear, to a man’s violent attack on her and her friend.” The man she killed was twice her age and had a history of 27 separate incidents of domestic violence between him and his partner. We joined Justice for Women in demonstrating at the Royal Courts of Justice for Stacey’s full appeal hearing. Her murder conviction was quashed and a retrial has been ordered. You can read more about Stacey's case here.
Stacey Hyde is a vulnerable young woman who was wrongly convicted for murder aged only 18. As the Justice for Women group say “her only crime was to react disproportionately, out of fear, to a man’s violent attack on her and her friend.” The man she killed was twice her age and had a history of 27 separate incidents of domestic violence between him and his partner. We joined Justice for Women in demonstrating at the Royal Courts of Justice for Stacey’s full appeal hearing. Her murder conviction was quashed and a retrial has been ordered. You can read more about Stacey's case here.
22nd November - Reclaim the Night March
We joined the 10th anniversary of Reclaim the Night London. Every year 1000’s of women take to the streets and close down central London to call an end to all forms of male violence against women.
“Whatever we wear, wherever we go
Yes means yes and no means no!”
was just one of the chants called as we were escorted through the capital by a fleet of police motor bikes, ending up at the Camden Centre for a rally and party. This is such an important event because it brings things like rape and domestic abuse to the attention of millions of people and might well show a few survivors that they are not to blame and they can have a voice.
We joined the 10th anniversary of Reclaim the Night London. Every year 1000’s of women take to the streets and close down central London to call an end to all forms of male violence against women.
“Whatever we wear, wherever we go
Yes means yes and no means no!”
was just one of the chants called as we were escorted through the capital by a fleet of police motor bikes, ending up at the Camden Centre for a rally and party. This is such an important event because it brings things like rape and domestic abuse to the attention of millions of people and might well show a few survivors that they are not to blame and they can have a voice.
27th November – 50:50 Parliament Demonstration
The people who represent us in parliament are not representative. MPs are only 23% female whilst the general population is 51% female. We need more women in parliament because women need to be involved in the decisions that end up ruling their lives; issues such as domestic abuse cannot be solved without women’s voices in those discussions.
We joined 50:50 Parliament at the House of Commons to rally for the government to debate and plan for better gender equality in the House. The event was brilliant and we heard from fascinating speakers on the panel, if you want to learn more about achieving a 50:50 parliament go here and sign the petition.
The people who represent us in parliament are not representative. MPs are only 23% female whilst the general population is 51% female. We need more women in parliament because women need to be involved in the decisions that end up ruling their lives; issues such as domestic abuse cannot be solved without women’s voices in those discussions.
We joined 50:50 Parliament at the House of Commons to rally for the government to debate and plan for better gender equality in the House. The event was brilliant and we heard from fascinating speakers on the panel, if you want to learn more about achieving a 50:50 parliament go here and sign the petition.
What's next?
Next week we will be supporting the Rights of Women demonstration against the legal aid cuts which are risking the lives of women affected by domestic violence. You can find out more about their legal challenge to the cuts, which will be heard at the High Court on Friday, here.
In the New Year we are looking forward to running emotional abuse training with the staff at the Riverside Unit, a mental health unit for 13 - 18 year olds; and working with year nine's in local schools to talk about domestic abuse and healthy relationships.
Next week we will be supporting the Rights of Women demonstration against the legal aid cuts which are risking the lives of women affected by domestic violence. You can find out more about their legal challenge to the cuts, which will be heard at the High Court on Friday, here.
In the New Year we are looking forward to running emotional abuse training with the staff at the Riverside Unit, a mental health unit for 13 - 18 year olds; and working with year nine's in local schools to talk about domestic abuse and healthy relationships.
