Our second in our full series of International Women's Day events for 2018 will gather a panel of experts focused on family law, criminal defence and appellate work to consider the current situation and how to rectify it. We want change the way we perceive, protect and prosecute victims of domestic abuse.
| Date: | Tuesday 6 March 2018 |
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| Time: | 6:30pm - 8:00pm |
| Venue: | Garden Court Chambers, 57-60 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3LJ |
| Areas of Law: | Criminal Defence , Family Law |
Did you know that 57% of women in prison in the UK report having been victims of domestic violence as adults? More than half of women in custody have been victims of much more serious offences than those of which they have been convicted. This is not acceptable.
Our second in our full series of International Women's Day events for 2018 will gather a panel of experts in family law, criminal defence and appellate work to consider the current situation and how to rectify it. We want to #PressForProgress by changing the way we perceive, protect and prosecute victims of domestic abuse.
We are delighted that we will be joined by:
Paramjit Ahluwalia, Garden Court Chambers
Paramjit Ahluwalia is a barrister specialising in crime - her recent cases relate to terrorism and attempted murder, and she has a particular interest in appellate work in relation to the sentencing of women. She is a trustee of the charity Women in Prison and sits on the advisory board of the Centre for Criminal Appeals. Together with Angela Rafferty QC, Paramjit wrote a briefing on the ‘Defences available for women Defendants who are survivors of domestic abuse.’
Davina Krishnan, Garden Court Chambers
Davina Krishnan is a member of the Garden Court Chambers Family Law Team. Davina is instructed in all areas of Children Act work. In public law children cases, Davina has experience of representing local authorities, parents, children’s guardians and children who are competent to give instructions. She is especially sensitive and astute to the needs of clients when representing parents with learning difficulties, drug addictions and mental health problems. Davina also has experience of representing various local authorities within the London Boroughs and the Counties of Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex.
Harriet Wistrich, Centre for Women's Justice
Harriet Wistrich is a solicitor with twenty years experience working with Birnberg Peirce and Partners. She is the winner of the Liberty Human Rights Lawyer of the Year Award 2014. She founded The Centre for Women's Justice, a new multi-partner organisation aimed at bringing cases holding the state to account in relation to violence against women and girls. She is also an active member of the Police Action Lawyers Group, Inquest Lawyers Group, Justice for Women and is also a trustee of the charity, the Emma Humphreys Memorial Prize.
Katy Swaine Williams, Prison Reform Trust
Katy Swaine Williams is the Senior Project Officer responsible for Reducing Women's Imprisonment at the Prison Reform Trust. The charity works to create a just, human and effective penal system. They believe that prison should be reserved for those whose offending is so serious that they cannot serve their sentence in the community. They have long called for a reduction in women's imprisonment in the UK and a step change in how the criminal justice system responds to the needs of women.
Dr Kate Paradine, Women in Prison
Dr Kate Paradine is Chief Executive of the national charity Women in Prison (WIP). WIP provides independent advocacy services and other support in women's prisons and runs three women's centres in Woking, Manchester and Lambeth. It provides a platform for the voices of women in contact with the criminal justice system - which includes the national magazine (Ready, Steady, Go!) that goes to all women in prison. WIP is leading a campaign to half the women's prison population from 4,000 to 2,020 by 2020 through various systems changes, including investing in the community-based support services and alternatives to custody that work in reducing reoffending and helping women to turn their lives around.
Following the seminar we welcome you to join us for a drinks reception and canapés.
Bookings
Please note that the event is now fully booked. If you would like to be added to the waiting list please email seminars@gclaw.co.uk
Related articles:
- Huffington Post - 'Judges locking up too many domestic violence victims, says Prisons' Chief'
- Prison Reform Trust - 'Majority of women in prison have been victims of domestic abuse'
Please note: this event is free to attend. However, if you would like to donate to the 2020 by 2020 campaign, run by Women in Prison, which aims to reduce the women's prison population in the UK to 2,020 or fewer by 2020 - roughly half of the current number - please do.
