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Achieving justice for women whose crimes arise in the context of male violence

Presented by Centre for Women's Justice, APPEAL and Garden Court Chambers

Wednesday 18th September 2019, 6:15PM to 8:00PM followed by a drinks and canapés reception.

Garden Court Chambers

This seminar will include an exploration of representing women convicted of murdering violent partners, developments in precedent case law, research on what goes wrong in such cases and proposals for statutory reform.

We will also explore how the national and international legal framework, including government policy on domestic abuse, the UK obligations under CEDAW, the Istanbul Convention and the Bangkok Rules, may offer an avenue for challenge.  

Centre for Women's Justice are also looking to form a training and discussion group for lawyers who are interested in taking on relevant cases; they have an increasing number of such cases they would like to refer and work collaboratively on and are keen to encourage solicitors, in particular, to come forward.

Presentations to include:

  • Lessons from the Sally Challen appeal and other appeals of women who kill their abusers

  • Preliminary findings from Access to Justice research

  • Appealing convictions other than murder convictions where women have committed crimes, at least in part, because they are victims of domestic abuse

  • Proposals for Statutory reform

  • The international legal frameworks

 

Speakers include:

  • Clare Wade QC, Barrister at Garden Court Chambers and counsel for Sally Challen

  • Lucie Wibberley, Barrister at Garden Court Chambers and counsel for Sally Challen

  • Harriet Wistrich, Director of Centre for Women’s Justice

  • Naima Sakande, Manager of the Women’s Justice Initiative, APPEAL

  • Paramjit Ahluwalia, Barrister at Lamb Building and advocate for new statutory defence

To book your place on this seminar, please use the booking form available here.

If you have any queries, please contact the Garden Court Chambers events team at seminars@gclaw.co.uk.