Cath Elliott is a feminist writer, campaigner, and trade unionist. Her focus has always been on feminism and the endemic problem of violence against women. Cath was an active and outspoken member of UNISON for many years, where she was instrumental in UNISON developing its policy on trafficking and prostitution, domestic violence and many other violence against women issues. She served as vice chair of UNISON’s National Women’s Committee and represented UNISON women at both national and international conferences. Cath was also involved from the very beginning in the planning and setting up of Suffolk Rape Crisis in Ipswich.
Born in Newport, Wales to a Welsh woman and Yemeni man, Gabriella was 5, her mother disappeared. A year later her father was charged with (her mother’s) manslaughter and imprisoned. Her mother’s body has never been found. Gabriella and her three sisters were put into care. Gabriella was 12 when her father – released – took three of his four daughters on holiday to Yemen. The three girls were sold as child brides, one of them, at 17, killed herself on the day that she was to be married to a man of 60.
Gabriella was married twice and by 14 she was pregnant to her second husband. She had 5 children to him. She endured rape and violence throughout the marriage. She fled the marriage when her husband began to talk about marrying-off one of their daughters to clear his debts. She was finally able to escape and come back to the UK when she was 29.
Gabriella raises awareness through writing, media work and public speaking.
Million Women Rise (MWR) is a movement made up of thousands of women who are united by outrage at the continued daily, hourly, minute-by-minute individual and institutionalised male violence enacted against women worldwide. They believe that every woman and child has a right to live free from violence and that ongoing violence devastates not only the lives of the individuals directly affected but also the communities of which they are part of. They work to highlight the continuation of all forms of violence against women.
A Special Award was given to Denise Marshall, the former CEO and extraordinary feminist who passed away on the 21 August 2015.
During her lengthy career within the women’s sector, Marshall was the founder of an internationally acclaimed scheme, the Poppy Project, which housed and supported the victims of sex trafficking into the UK, and a number of other innovative projects that brought about real change for those who had experienced sexual assault and exploitation.
Nominees
Louise Pennington
Sharon Bryan
Sian Norris
“Una”
Winnie Li
Clear Lines
Rights of Women
Sisters Uncut