Women Fighting Back: International and Legal Perspectives
/International Conference in London 28-29 November 2015
The Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers, the International Association of Democratic Lawyers and the European Association of Lawyers for Democracy & World Human Rights will be hosting the "Women Fighting Back: International and Legal Perspectives" conference at London South Bank University (100-116 London Road, London, SE1 6LN) on 28-29 November 2015.
The aim of the conference is to bring a critical, left wing and intersectional perspective to the women's movement and to provide a forum for exchanging ideas and practical skills between lawyers, academics and activists to advance women’s campaigns and struggles.
The main themes of the conference will be:
- Violence against women
- The role of women in peace processes
- Austerity
- Women in work
- Migrant women
- Climate change
We are delighted to announce the participation of:
- Angela Davis (USA) - Distinguished Professor Emerita in the History of Consciousness and Feminist Studies Departments at the University of California. Founding member of Critical Resistance.
- Rashida Manjoo (South Africa) - the immediate former (2009-2014) UN Rapporteur on Violence against Women, Professor in the Department of Public Law, Cape Town
- Wafa Kafarna (Palestine) - Norwegian Refugee Council and Palestinian activist
- Liz Davies (UK) - Housing Rights Lawyer, honorary Vice President of the Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers and co-author of "Enforcing Housing Rights: the case of Sheikh Jarrah: Report on the fact-finding mission to Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories" for Avocats Sans FrontieÌres
- Jeanne Mirer (USA), President of IADL, founding board member of the International Commission for Labour Rights
- Frances Webber (UK) - vice-chair of the Institute of Race Relations' council of management and a former barrister who specialised in immigration, refugee and human rights law.
Programme[1]
Saturday 28 November 2015
09:00-10:00 Registration/Coffee
10:00-10:15 Welcome Note:
- Liz Davies (UK)
Vice President of the Haldane Society and Housing Rights Lawyer.
10:15-11:45 Panel Discussion: Migrant and Refugee Women
- Louise Christian (Chair)
- Frances Webber (UK)
Vice-chair of the Institute of Race Relations' council of management and a former barrister who specialised in immigration, refugee and human rights law.
- Dr Dorys Quintana Cruz (Cuba)
Professor of International Law, University of Havana
- Dr. Rayah Feldman (UK)
Chair Hackney Migrant Centre
11:45-12:00 Break
12:00-13:00 Workshop
13:00-13:45 Lunch
13:45-14:15 Keynote Session
- Prof. Rashida Manjoo (South Africa)
Former UN Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women (2009-2015)
14:15-15:45 Panel Discussion: Violence against Women
- Rosa Logar (Austria)
President of Women Against Violence Europe (WAVE).
- Nichola Marshall (UK)
Solicitor, International and Group Claims Department, Leigh Day
- Elizabeth Gordon (UK)
15:45-16:00 Campaign for the ratification of the Istanbul Convention Action on violence against women and domestic violence (ELDH)
16:00-16:15 Break
16:15-16:30 Open Floor
16:30-18:00 Panel Discussion: Women in conflict and peace
- Wafa Kafarna (Palestine)
Norwegian Refugee Council
- Alejandra Muñoz Valdez
Legal Advisor, International Crimes and Accountability Department, the European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights
- Barbara Spinelli (Italy)
Member of the Italian Association of Democratic Lawyers and Expert on Femicide/ Feminicide.
- Dr. Ahlam Beydoun (Lebanon)
Lecturer in Law at the Lebanese University
Evening: Cabaret at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese, 145 Fleet Street with Scary Little Girls
Sunday 29 November 2015
09:00-10:00 Registration/Coffee
10:00-11:30 Panel Discussion: The State and Women's Bodies
- Gareth Peirce (Chair)
- Helen Steel (UK)
Police Spies Out of Lives
- Sarah Ricca (UK)
Solicitor, Deighton Pierce Glynn
- Mara Clarke (UK)
Abortion Support Network
11:30-11:45 Break
11:45-12:45 Workshop
12:45-13:30 Lunch
13:30-14:00 Angela Davis (USA)
Distinguished Professor Emerita in the History of Consciousness and Feminist Studies Departments at the University of California. Founding member of critical resistance.
14:00-15:00 Workshop
15:00-15:15 Break
15:55-16:45 Panel Discussion: Women in work
- Nadja Charaby
Rosa Luxemburg Foundation
- Yasmine Bennamanii and Zouzou Hadjer Zahida (Algeria)
Lawyers
- Bronwen Handyside (UK)
Vice Chair of UNITE London and Eastern Region
16:45-17:10 Open Floor
17:10-17:30 Closing Note Jeanne Mirer (USA)
President of IADL, founding board member of the International Commission for Labour Rights.
[1] N.B. This is a draft programme and may be changed.
Participate
There are different pricing levels for students, those on a low income, and those on high incomes. Requests for complete exemption from paying for those on benefits can be made to feminism@haldane.org.
Early bird tickets have all been sold, and tickets are now being sold at their full price. Ticket sales will cease at 17:00 on 27 November 2015. After this time if you want to try to reserve a ticket then please contact membership@haldane.org.
When you purchase your ticket you will not receive a paper or electronic ticket: if you have received an acknowledgment email from PayPal then your name is on the guestlist which will be on the door.
Top-up tickets with CPD accreditation for barristers are available here.
The deadline for booking childcare has passed. However, if this will cause you a problem then please let secretary@haldane.org know.
Please let secretary@haldane.org know if you do not speak English, French or Spanish.
Download the travel advice in English or in French (Spanish available shortly).
Donate
If you would like to contribute financially to the conference you can donate online through PayPal (see below). There is a small commission taken by PayPal. If you would like to donate without any commission being taken then please contact feminism@haldane.org for details of how to make a bank transfer.
UPDATE: Ticket purchases have now closed.
