News & Campaigns

All the latest from HER-itage and our affiliates

How We Live Now: Reimagining Spaces with Matrix Feminist Design Co-operative – Barbican – London – until 23 December 2021

  • Barbican Level G & online
  • Admission to the installation is free and you don’t need to book in advance.
  • Upon arrival we ask that all visitors check in using the NHS Test and Trace app or our hosts can help by taking details manually.
  • There is limited capacity so you may have wait a short while before entering.

A multi-layered project comprising an installation, publication and events programme exploring a series of important questions about our public spaces and designed environments.

The project considers who our buildings and shared spaces are designed for, who is excluded from our designed environment, and what effect this has on the communities who live there?

A jumping off point for these questions is an unseen archive of work by the radical 1980s feminist architecture co-operative Matrix. The installation will feature rare films, drawings, photos and architectural models from the Matrix archive, presenting their use of radical methods across a range of projects, past and present.

We also introduce archival and contemporary approaches to design that aim to empower groups often excluded in the design of buildings, including Black and Asian women’s organisations, community and childcare groups and lesbian and gay housing co-operatives, to explore more inclusive ways of designing, building and occupying spaces.

https://www.barbican.org.uk/whats-on/2021/event/how-we-live-now

Background

Throughout 2021, the Barbican’s Level G programme will present How We Live Now: Reimagining Spaces with Matrix Feminist Design Co-operative, a multi-layered project comprising an installation, publication and events programme. Using the previously unseen archive of the Matrix Feminist Design Co-operative as a jumping-off point, the project will explore a series of important social questions: who are our buildings and shared spaces designed for? Who is excluded from our designed environment, and what effect does this have on the communities who live there?

Co-curated by Matrix founding member Jos Boys, How We Live Now introduces archival and contemporary approaches to design that aim to empower voices and groups often excluded in the design of buildings, including Black and Asian women’s organisations, community and childcare groups and lesbian and gay housing co-operatives, to propose and explore more inclusive ways of designing, building and occupying spaces. With the Covid-19 pandemic only sharpening the existing inequalities within our cities and homes, such as a lack of access to safe, affordable housing, community facilities and green spaces, the question Matrix began to explore of how we can reimagine these spaces in more equitable ways, feels increasingly urgent.

Active in London from 1981-1994, Matrix was a women’s co-operative with a non-hierarchical structure. The collective worked solely on state-funded, social building projects including women’s and refuges centres, facilities for women and children, construction training workshops and lesbian and gay housing projects. They also provided publicly funded architectural advice; helped establish educational programmes to increase access for women into architecture and building; as well as giving talks and writing about how space and gender are related through a variety of events and publications.

The Barbican believes in creating space for people and ideas to connect through its international arts programme, community events and learning activity. To keep its programme accessible to everyone, and to keep investing in the artists it works with, the Barbican needs to raise more than 60% of its income through ticket sales, commercial activities and fundraising every year. Donations can be made here: barbican.org.uk/donate

Part of a longer press release at https://www.barbican.org.uk/our-story/press-room/how-we-live-now-reimagining-spaces-with-matrix-feminist-design-co-operative

 

September 27, 2021

No Girls Allowed – Antisemitism and Misogyny: Overlap and Interplay – Hope Not Hate and Antisemitism Policy Trust

This joint report from HOPE not Hate and Antisemitism Policy Trust explores the overlap and interplay between antisemitism and misogyny in a series of articles, case studies and social media analysis.

The report investigates the ways in which anti-feminism and misogyny can act as slip roads towards antisemitism and other forms of racism, due to a perceived loss of status among white men – and women – based on gender and racial hierarchies. In recent years, the antisemitic far right, in particular, has become increasingly adept at steering antipathy to feminism and women more broadly towards Jew-hatred, reasserting men’s status at the expense of others.

It also outlines the role of conspiracy theories in bridging anti-feminism and antisemitism, in particular the “Cultural Marxism” and “White Genocide” ideologies that implicitly or explicitly position Jews as the root of feminism and women’s behaviour in general. Such theories can provide a grand context for personal frustrations and prejudices, as well as scapegoats

We explore the ways in which Jewish people are gendered in antisemitic discourse, outlining longstanding stereotypes of Jewish men and particularly Jewish women who, being on the receiving end of both antisemitism and misogyny, are the targets of especially vile abuse.

We also look into the important, but precarious, role of women in antisemitic movements as recruiters and propagandists, including several of the UK’s best-known Holocaust deniers. Women can play a conscious role in “softening” extreme prejudice, although they can also quickly become targets for abuse themselves.

This report also includes an analysis of misogyny and gender politics on the messaging app Telegram, a key online hub for the antisemitic far right. We found that open misogyny is widespread and enabled within antisemitic spaces on the platform. Attacks on gay men are especially commonplace, which itself indicates the heterosexual male dominance of these spaces. Sexual assault is a prominent theme, and whilst it is discussed in a variety of ways, pro-rape comments are not uncommon.

Download the full report from https://antisemitism.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Antisemitism-and-Misogyny-Overlap-and-Interplay.pdf

September 27, 2021

New cross-system approach needed to end epidemic of violence against women and girls – Victim’s Commissioner

Dame Vera Baird endorses HMICFRS call for urgent and fundamental cross-system change to tackle an epidemic of violence against women and girls.

Tackling violence against women and girls (VAWG) should be as much of a priority as countering terrorism, a police watchdog has said.

The report from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) identified major inconsistencies between police forces in how they tackle the issue. It found several areas where the police need to improve, including grave concerns about the number of VAWG cases closed without charge, and major gaps in the data recorded on VAWG offences.

While the inspectorate has made several recommendations for immediate improvements to police practices, it concluded that the police cannot tackle VAWG alone. It said the whole system – including policing, health and education – must take a fundamentally new approach.

The inspectorate said the Government should consider legislating to create a new statutory duty for all partner agencies to work together to protect women and girls, similar to the existing framework for child protection.

HMICFRS has expanded on the recommendations from its interim report in July, including that:

  • there should be a radical refocus and shift in the priority given to VAWG offences by the police and all partners, including wrap-around, tailored support for victims;
  • chief constables should review and ensure that there are consistently high standards in the response to VAWG, including dealing with breaches of non-molestation orders, using Clare’s Law to protect potential domestic abuse victims, and identifying and managing the most dangerous VAWG perpetrators; and
  • there should be a national policing strategy to coordinate the response to VAWG.

Responding to the HMICFRS report and its recommendations, the Victims’ Commissioner for England & Wales, Dame Vera Baird QC, said:

“This report makes powerfully clear that we are facing an epidemic of violent and abusive offending against women and girls. This is a problem deep-rooted into our society and its prevalence and scale are shocking, if not wholly surprising. If we are to truly make headway and turn the tide, we need to see radical and urgent collective action from government, police and society at large. I’m pleased to see this report make the case for such fundamental cross-system changes.

“Effective and responsive victim-centred policing is essential, and it is clear that the police need to improve. Police responses vary considerably across the country: far too many cases are closed without charge and there remain major gaps in police crime recording. As the report recommends, we need to see the police relentlessly pursuing and disrupting perpetrators. But it’s also undeniable that we cannot simply police our way out of this crisis. This is a broader societal problem and that requires a whole-system approach spanning the police, justice agencies, health and social care, and education.

“System-wide reforms are needed and the level of ambition in these HMICFRS recommendations is precisely what we need to see. VAWG must become a strategic policing issue, backed up by significant and sustained funding. We must pursue a public health approach to tackling VAWG: early intervention and prevention from a range of partners, including those in health and education. Violence against women and girls must be considered as serious, violent crime. The proposed Serious Violence Duty in the Policing Bill currently omits VAWG from its remit. That must change.

“We must also look at grass-root initiatives. Compulsory sex and relationship education must be rolled out in schools, and we must adopt a whole-school approach to tackling VAWG whereby key messages about gender equality and human rights are embedded throughout the school environment. It is also absolutely vital that government commits to long-term sustainable funding for specialist VAWG services that meet the needs of all women and girls, including tailored and consistent support.

“The appointment of Deputy Chief Constable Maggie Blyth as the new policing lead on VAWG is a welcome first step and I wish her success in the role. But one person can only do so much. We need to see tackling violence against women and girls become a strategic priority in both legislation and national and local government priorities.”

https://victimscommissioner.org.uk/news/hmicfrs-report-vawg/

September 27, 2021

Police chief appointed to tackle violence against women and girls – NPCC

The National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has announced that Deputy Chief Constable Maggie Blyth has been appointed as the National Police Lead for Violence Against Women and Girls, to coordinate police action across England and Wales.

Maggie will be responsible for agreeing and delivering a new police strategy that will focus on interventions to prevent violence, target perpetrators and help victims achieve justice.

Maggie is taking up this new policing role on a full-time basis funded by the Home Office and the NPCC.  She will work closely with existing NPCC leads – including leads for domestic abuse, rape and sexual offences and stalking, the College of Policing and a wide range of organisations with a role and expertise in tackling violence against women and girls.

The appointment follows a recommendation made by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate for Constabulary Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) for such a role.  Maggie will ensure that recommendations from the Inspectorate are implemented.

On accepting the role, Deputy Chief Constable Maggie Blyth said:

“I am honoured to be taking on such an important role. With a career spanning many different elements of public protection, I am committed to reducing harm and vulnerability within communities and working specifically to improve the lives of women and girls.”

Maggie’s 30-year career has focused on protecting the public.  Starting her career in the Probation Service, she went on to specialise in youth justice. Maggie was responsible for setting up the first youth offending team arrangements in 1998 and took a leadership role at the Youth Justice Board for England Wales in 2000 – 2005.

She worked for local government child protection services from 2006-2016. She had senior oversight of child protection arrangements and worked on high profile child sexual exploitation and domestic homicide operations. During this time, she was a Member of the Parole Board for England and Wales, where she advised on the release of the most serious and persistent criminals.

She joined Hampshire Constabulary as a Superintendent in 2016, becoming Portsmouth City’s Commander. She was promoted to Assistant Chief Constable in May 2019, her current portfolio is local policing and public protection across Hampshire.

Maggie continued:

“Everyone has the right to feel safe, wherever they are, but as a mother, daughter, and sister I know this often isn’t the reality for women and girls. I have such admiration for those who have been working so tirelessly for so long to change that. I look forward to working in partnership with you as this form of violence is deep rooted. It cannot be solved by policing alone – together we can bring real change to the daily lives of women and girls.”

Maggie will take up the role on Monday, 11 October.

Part of a longer press release at https://news.npcc.police.uk/releases/police-chief-appointed-to-tackle-violence-against-women-and-girls

September 27, 2021

A leading criminal defence barrister has been appointed to conduct an independent review of the law around domestic homicides – Ministry of Justice

  • expert QC to consider the need for further sentencing reform to better protect the public
  • appointment follows the analysis of more than 100 cases by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ)
  • findings will pave the way for potential future changes

Clare Wade QC – who was lead counsel in the high-profile case of Sally Challen – will examine the need to reform the law before presenting her findings and recommendations to the Lord Chancellor, Robert Buckland QC MP. She will consider whether the law could better protect the public and ensure sentences reflect the severity of these crimes.

It follows an initial review carried out by the MOJ which looked in detail at more than 100 cases, including analysis of the sentences imposed, sentencing remarks, as well as information on the gender of perpetrators and victims and the method of killing. This was in response to a number of cases in which concerns were raised about the minimum term for murders committed with a weapon.

Ms Wade QC will now provide further analysis of this data and produce a report for Ministers to consider later this year.

The announcement builds on the government’s recent action to ensure that sentences reflect the severity of crimes whilst protecting the most vulnerable and better supporting victims. The landmark Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill will see the most serious offenders locked up for longer and includes measures to introduce a sliding scale for youth offenders who commit murder which would set new minimum terms based on age and seriousness of offence, and reducing the opportunities for over 18s who committed murder as a child to have their minimum term reviewed.

Part of a longer press release at https://www.gov.uk/government/news/spotlight-on-domestic-homicides-as-independent-reviewer-appointed

September 27, 2021