News & Campaigns

All the latest from HER-itage and our affiliates

7 September 2014 11:00 ~ Sister Fest! – Shoreditch Sisterhood W.I.

Until 15:00 at Victoria Park London E9 (NB venue change) Clissold Park N16

Have you seen our giant quilt? Angelina Jolie has. And William Hague was there too. What about you? Come celebrate our campaign to #Set Her Free!

We are organising a huge picnic on the Knitted Together blanket as a part of the Shoreditch Sisters and Women for Refugee Women campaign in solidarity with female asylum seekers detained in Yarlswood!

But that’s not all: there will be music, plays, human sized games, a self-defense class, activities by other WI’s and Feminist groups and much more. And of course we will be raising awareness of our campaign among the public who stop by and join in the fun.

Further details will follow soon, but for now note this date in your diary! If you would like to contribute to this event by baking a cake, organising an activity or just helping out please contact Rachel at rachelwalkerc@gmail.com

We look forward to seeing you there!

If this is the first time you heard of our Knitted Together campaign google and read about it in the Telegraph’s “Why is the most fashionable Women’s Institute knitting again?”, Open Democracy’s “Knitted Together crafting a culture of welcome for refugee women” or the Evening Standard’s “A blanket without borders: Angelina Jolie’s quilted gift from refugees and East End girls.”

For event updates see https://www.facebook.com/events/288620351322547/

Shoreditch Sisterhood W.I. facebook page https://www.facebook.com/shoreditchsisterswi

August 27, 2014

23 September 2014 17:45 ~ Raising Awareness of Childhood Sexual Abuse Screen Debate – Women’s Support Project – Glasgow

Women’s Support Project, in conjunction with Glasgow Film Theatre, present a Screen Debate to mark September as Month of Action to raise awareness of childhood sexual abuse.

After Saville: No More Secrets? and Saville: The Power to Abuse, are hard hitting BBC documentaries highlighting the Saville child abuse scandal which spanned decades. These programmes explore how well known public figures were able to access vulnerable children, and why they were able to continue to abuse with impunity. The documentaries include interviews with survivors, police and senior figures within institutions.

The screening will be followed by a panel and audience discussion, which will explore issues from the films and debate whether things have changed or if such abuse could be happening today.

All tickets £5.
Tickets are only available from GFT (0141) 332 6535 or book online at www.glasgowfilm.org/theatre/whats_on/6512_screen_debates_womens_support_project

Check source http://www.womenssupportproject.co.uk/content/news/210,1,438/ScreenDebate23rdSeptember.html

August 27, 2014

Campaign wins consultation on criminalising psychological abuse – Women’s Aid

The Domestic Violence Law Reform Campaign is celebrating a major success as the Government announced plans to consult on reconciling criminal law with the Home Office definition of domestic violence. The consultation is expected to propose the criminalisation of coercive control, including patterns of abusive behaviour and psychological abuse. The Campaign by Women’s Aid, the Sara Charlton Charitable Foundation, and Paladin, has been calling for this change, to protect women who experience domestic violence.

Polly Neate, Chief Executive of Women’s Aid said:

“We welcome the Government’s intention to consult on the criminalisation of coercive control and psychological abuse and reconcile the criminal law around abuse with the Home Office’s definition. Two women a week are killed by domestic violence, and coercive control is the central feature of that violence. We look forward to working closely with the Home Office, the police, and the CPS to ensure perpetrators of domestic violence are identified and dealt with swiftly and effectively.”

Laura Richards, Chief Executive of Paladin said:

“I am pleased Government have heard our voices & the voices of victims. It’s important the law is modernised to reflect the reality of domestic violence as a pattern of behaviour, coercive control and psychological abuse. Too many women have lost their lives and too many are silenced as a result of abuse. Early intervention is vital. The police must be empowered to act and put perpetrators before the courts before the abuse escalates to physical violence, rape or murder. This will save lives and also save money”

Rhea Gargour, Chief Operating Officer for the Sara Charlton Charitable Foundation said:

“We are thrilled to welcome this announcement and have no doubt that a consultation will show that legislation needs to be updated. Psychological abuse, coercive control and patterns of abuse must be criminalised to ensure that the definition of domestic violence is enforceable in law. In doing so, the Government will make an effective difference to victims’ and will send out a clear message that this type of violence will not be tolerated. It is time to equip agencies with the legislative tools they need to intervene before it is too late.”

What does the consultation mean?

The consultation announced by the Government will seek opinions on whether the criminal law around domestic violence should be reconciled with the Government’s definition of domestic violence, which is:

“any incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening behaviour, violence or abuse between those aged 16 or over who are, or have been, intimate partners or family members regardless of gender or sexuality. The abuse can encompass, but is not limited to psychological, physical, sexual, financial, and emotional abuse.

“Controlling behaviour is acts designed to make a person subordinate and/or dependent by isolating and exploiting them; depriving them of the means needed for independence, resistance and escape; and regulating their everyday behaviour. Coercive behaviour is: an act or a pattern of acts of assault, threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish, or frighten their victim.

“Coercive control includes psychological abuse, which cannot currently be taken into account by the criminal justice system before sentencing, and recognises the repetitive nature of most intimate partner violence.”

Surveys by the Domestic Violence Law Reform Campaign indicate very strong support for criminalising these behaviours: 98% of women who have experienced domestic violence and 97% of professionals working with domestic violence support such a change.

Criminalising coercive control will allow women experiencing domestic violence to seek police support with the damaging, humiliating, and isolating non-physical violence they experience, as well as helping the criminal justice system to link repeated incidents of physical violence by the same perpetrator.

Read the full press release at http://www.womensaid.org.uk/domestic-violence-press-information.asp?itemid=3300&itemTitle=Campaign+wins+consultation+on+criminalising+psychological+abuse&section=0001000100150001&sectionTitle=Press+releases

August 27, 2014

22 August 2014 19:30 ~ Obvious Child Pre-Screening & Director Panel Discussion! – Abortion Rights – London

Abortion Rights, the UK’s national pro-choice campaign, is hosting an exclusive UK pre-release screening of the ground-breaking US hit comedy Obvious Child!

Following the screening, we are excited to chair a panel discussion including the film’s writer and director Gillian Robespierre. Be among the first in the UK to watch this Sundance award-winning film!

Obvious Child has been critically acclaimed by pro-choice organisations around the world for its realistic and de-stigmatising portrayal of abortion. Abortion Rights is honoured to partner with the Obvious Child team to bring this powerful pro-choice message to the UK. You can watch the hilarious trailer here.

The film will screen at 7.30pm on Friday 22 August at Genesis Cinema . The panel discussion will finish by 10:30.

Tickets are limited for this intimate screening, so don’t miss out!

Ticket Information(*)
Concession   £12.00  
Standard      £15.00   

Please share through your networks!

Genesis Cinema
93-95 Mile End Rd, London E1 4UJ

The venue is accessible; please let us know in advance if you have access requirements.

(*) Book online at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/abortion-rights-obvious-child-pre-screening-director-panel-discussion-tickets-12691449467

August 19, 2014

6 September 2014 9:30 ~ Object AGM and Object’s work and plans – London

This is an opportunity for members and supporters to hear all about OBJECT’s work over the past year, and to discuss future plans for the organisation.  It is also a great chance to get to know other OBJECT members, staff and the Management Committee.

The plan for the day will be as follows:

Formal Business

9.30 – arrival and coffee

10.00 – AGM convenes.  Presentation of annual report and accounts.  Confirmation of Management Committee members.  Voting on any amendments to the Articles of Association.

12.30 – meeting concludes.

12.30 – 13.30 – lunch.

13.30 – arrival of afternoon guests, including OBJECT’s ambassador Joan Smith, Diane Robertson Martin, OBJECT’s founder Sasha Rakoff, and Rebecca Mott.

14.00 – afternoon session starts.  Presentations on OBJECT’s work and plans, including countering media sexism and racism, and against commercial sexual exploitation.  Strategic planning, brainstorming and activism workshops.

Either during the lunch break or after the event, there will be a visit to Crossbones cemetery, where women exploited in prostitution were buried, as the church would not allow them to be laid to rest on consecrated ground.  We plan to use this both as a photo opportunity to promote OBJECT’s support for the Nordic Model, and as an act of  remembrance of  the women whose suffering was hidden.

The AGM will be held at the Bankside Community Space, 18 Great Guildford St, London, SE1 0FD.

Submission of Motions to Amend the Articles of Association

OBJECT members may submit requests for any motions they would like submitted at the AGM to amend the OBJECT Articles of Association (which can be viewed here:  https://db.tt/dVlPPamC  Any such changes must be in accordance with Companies Act 2006: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/46/contents).

The deadline for submitting motions is Thursday, 21st August, with motions being emailed to all members by Monday, 1st September.

Please email all proposed motions, or questions about the process, to claire@object.org.uk.  Any member is entitled to appoint another person as a proxy to exercise all or any of the member’s rights to attend and to speak and vote at a general meeting of the organisation.  If you would like to find out more about appointing a proxy, please email Claire, as above.

RSVP

If you would like to attend the AGM or the afternoon session, please email claire@object.org.uk, stating whether you plan to attend in the morning, the afternoon, or all day.  Please also let us know of any access requirements or dietary requirements you may have.  Please reply by Thursday, 21st August.  The agenda and any motions to be voted on will be sent out to members by 1st September.

We hope that you can join us at the AGM, and look forward to seeing you.

 

August 19, 2014