News & Campaigns

All the latest from HER-itage and our affiliates

Savile NHS Reports: Not in the past – Vital lessons to be learned for today – EVAW

Responding to the publication today (26 June) of multiple reports investigating Jimmy Savile’s sexual abuse at NHS institutions, End Violence Against Women Coalition Co-Director Liz McKean said:

“The scale and detail of Jimmy Savile’s sexual offending is disturbing but contains vital lessons for all those concerned to protect victims and to prevent abuse today.

“The reports reveal that NHS systems and management created an open door for Savile, an opportunistic sexual offender. He chose places and victims confident that he would not be challenged, and that victims who dared report would not be believed.

“Savile’s intention, method and targeting with impunity are cause for real concern, not least because there are cases right up until 2009. Earlier this month a senior Metropolitan Police advisor, who has reviewed years of police rape investigations, said that the rape of women and girls with vulnerabilities, such as learning disabilities or mental health problems, is still today effectively decriminalised (1). Offenders know this.

“The level of access to vulnerable people that Savile enjoyed, together with the way in which victims’ claims were dismissed, is shocking. Institutions like hospitals should have in place robust strategies to prevent and respond better to violence against women and girls.

“Jeremy Hunt’s apology to victims is welcome but it is still the case that many survivors of sexual abuse don’t report what they have suffered, including for fear of not being believed. What is needed is proper funding for specialist services like rape crisis centres, which are crucial in supporting victims, and on-going top level political leadership on the prevention of sexual abuse if we are ever to eliminate the idea that it is inevitable.”

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Notes:

Press Release at http://www.endviolenceagainstwomen.org.uk/news/155/savile-nhs-reports-not-in-the-past-vital-lessons-to-be-learned-for-today

June 26, 2014

27 June 2014 19:00 ~ Free to decide: NO to Spain’s anti abortion law. Decidir nos hace libres – Women’s Assembly 15M/Marea Granate London

Spanish Embassy, 39 Chesham Place, London SW1X 8SB

Urgent action: the new anti abortion legislation in the Spanish State, “Anteproyecto de Ley Orgánica del Aborto” (“Protección de la vida del concebido y derechos de la mujer embarazada”) is going to parliament on Friday 27th of June. The Women´s Assembly from 15M-Marea Granate London calls on those who believe this new legislation is a direct assault on women´s rights, rights that Spanish women fought tooth and nail for.

The whole of society suffers when women are denied their rights.

Show your support if you think this is an unfair, violent, reactionary and patriarchal legislation.

The fight must go on!
- 47.000 women die annually around the world when abortion is not provided safely.
- under the current legislation (2010), abortion rate decreased in more than 5000 cases.
- more restrictive laws do not guarantee that abortions will not take place.
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Ante la inminente llegada del Anteproyecto de Ley Orgánica del Aborto (“Protección de la vida del concebido y derechos de la mujer embarazada”, que el ministro quiere lanzar al Congreso este viernes 27 de Junio), la Asamblea de Mujeres del 15M London Assembly/ Marea Granate hace un llamamiento a la solidaridad a todas aquellas personas que crean que esta ley es un atentado frontal a los derechos de la mujer, a tantas batallas ganadas con mucho esfuerzo, y al concepto de ciudadanía de pleno derecho.

Si la mujer no es sujeto de derecho, la sociedad entera pierde y se empequeñece.

Muestra tu apoyo si esta ley te parece injusta, violenta, retrógrada y patriarcal.

¡La lucha continúa!
- 47.000 mujeres mueren anualmente a nivel mundial cuando el aborto no es proporcionado de forma segura.
- con la presente legislación (2010) el índice de abortos disminuyó en más de 5000 casos.
- leyes más restrictivas no garantizan que los abortos no se lleven a cabo

http://thinkprogress.org/health/2012/10/04/963901/47000-women-die-each-year-from-unsafe-abortions/

http://www.huffingtonpost.es/2013/12/20/anteproyecto-ley-aborto_n_4481075.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.es/2014/06/22/ley-del-aborto-calendario_n_5519105.html?utm_hp_ref=spain

https://www.facebook.com/events/504212323013806/?ref=3&ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular

 

June 25, 2014

12 July 2014 12:00 ~ Summer fete – Asha Women’s Centre – Worcester

On Saturday 12th July, Asha will be holding a summer fete with stalls, food and refreshments from 12-3pm at the centre in Worcester. 

All stalls and events are being organised the women who attend the centre and there will be face painting, food, activities as well as jewellery and arts and crafts made by women at Asha.

Please come and see us on the day and if you want to bring any unwanted gifts or items that we can use on our stalls or tombola please call 01905 767552 and arrange to drop by beforehand.

What we do

The Asha Centre offers women from all ethnic and cultural backgrounds in Worcestershire a range of on-site services.  Our original purposes was to providing service to women offenders, however, we expanded several years ago and now offer support to women from different backgrounds and cultures in the county.

Referrals come from lots of different sources: mental health professionals, the Probation service, prisons, GPs, housing providers, Children’s Services. substance misuse agencies and other local community agencies.

Asha Women’s Centre
10 Bath Road
Worcester
WR5 3EJ

Tel: 01905 767552
Fax: 01905 769463
e-mail: ashaproject@btconnect.com
Web: http://ashawomen.org.uk/

June 25, 2014

26 June 2014 10:30 ~ Women and Democracy – Free Training – Her Centre – London

To empower women to overcome the obstacles which prevent them from participating and to improve political literacy among women and support their social and political engagement, Her Centre is holding FREE training on Women and Democracy.

The training will equip disengaged women in Royal Greenwich with the knowledge and confidence to play an active role in our democracy and connect with key decision-makers.

  • MP Teresa Pearce will open the programme.
  • Abigail Hunt from Womankind will give an overview of women’s civil/political participation and gender inequalities related to it and how women can start to become more involved.
  • Kate Anderson from Parliamentary Outreach will introduce us to the work of the Parliament and how to contact MPs and Lords.
  • Sue Sewell from Royal Greenwich will talk us through the roles that councillors play and how to become one and also on what happens in the Town Hall.

The training will take place on 26 June 2014 from 10.30am – 1pm at The Tramshed Woolwich, 51-53 Woolwich New Road, SE18 6ES.

We would kindly like to invite all women to participate and share their experience to stimulate a vibrant discussion on the issue and find ways forward together.

Free lunch and live music from Global Fusion Music & Arts!

Booking is essential. Call 0203 260 7715 or email reshma@hercentre.org .

Kindly forward to all women.

June 20, 2014

5 July 2014 16:30 ~ Sexism, Ageism and The Media – LFN Feminar – London

The Feminar Group are pleased to announce our next Feminar will be Sexism, Ageism and The Media.

Marj Fleming and Carololine Ayers from The Older Feminist Network will give a workshop on this subject. They will look at a number of issues including:

  • Sexualisation of young women and girls;
  • The impact of Social Media – is it good or bad for women?
  • Misogyny – what’s new and what’s changed since the 1970′s.

Date: Saturday, 5th July, 2014 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm
Venue: Millman Street Resource Centre, Millman Street, W.C.1.
Nearest underground stations are Russell Square and Holborn.

Suggested Voluntary Donation of £5.00. Women only event.

Please RSVP to: jenniferdrew@fastmail.fm

June 20, 2014