Dear all
Welcome to the bumper Summer edition of the CWJ newsletter! We've loads to update you on below, including some fantastic opportunities to join the team!
Best wishes
Harriet & the team at CWJ
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Gaia Pope Inquest concludes; sign their petition and support the campaign for change
After 12 weeks the inquest exploring the circumstances surrounding the death of Gaia Pope concluded with the jury finding Gaia’s death was caused by hypothermia and that failings in mental health services may have contributed to her death. Gaia was a victim of a serial rapist who was let down by Dorset police in their investigation of her allegations and which in turn caused a downward spiral in her mental health. The family of Gaia have campaigned relentlessly to highlight the multiple state failings contributing to Gaia’s untimely death.
The family issued a statement at the conclusion of the inquest and Mariena Pope-Weidermann, Gaia’s cousin, has written movingly about the circumstances surrounding the death and the inadequacies of the inquest process in The Guardian. Further details of the evidence that emerged at the inquest, including audio recordings of the appalling police response when Gaia was reported missing can be watched on the campaign’s YouTube channel.
The family have now launched a petition demanding changes to the resourcing and investigation of rape by Dorset police and are determined to continue their campaign for Justice for Gaia and ensure that changes result which may prevent future tragic and avoidable deaths.
Please sign the petition and share.
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Harriet Wistrich, director of CWJ, supported the family and inputted in their legal case stated,
“As we work to challenge police failings in the investigation of rape, we learn more about the impact of such failings on the mental health of survivors. In particular, as we have seen in Gaia’s case, the knowledge that failings of investigation may amount to failures to prevent future attacks on other vulnerable young women, can be devastating. CWJ will continue to support the Justice for Gaia campaign to ensure permanent changes are made”
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Judicial Review of the Home Secretary re Dame Elish Angiolini inquiry
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CWJ launched judicial review proceedings against the Home Secretary challenging her failure to give the so-called public inquiry she announced last October statutory powers to ensure that there is a proper examination into police failings arising from the murder of Sarah Everard.
Unfortunately, a judge refused to grant us permission, but we have renewed the application particularly in light of the latest news that Dame Elish Agiolini will not be able to publish Part 1 of the inquiry until the conclusion of further criminal proceedings against Wayne Couzens, not before next year.
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The CWJ has lodged a human rights complaint with the Investigatory Powers Tribunal against MI5. The claim relates to MI5’s decision to recruit a known dangerous misogynist as an intelligence source and its failure to prevent abuse of our client and other women.
Our client’s case was the subject of a BBC news report which was aired showing a shocking video of the man attacking his ex-partner with a machete. It was revealed that this man had a history of abuse before coming to this country where he was then recruited by MI5.
The news report itself was subject to an injunction by the Attorney General seeking to protect the identity of the informant which resulted in a heavily censored new report.
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Police Perpetrated Domestic Abuse: Police Supercomplaint
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The CWJ received the long-awaited outcome to our super-complaint on the Failure to address Police Perpetrated Domestic Abuse (PPDA). Our complaint was investigated by the triumvirate regulatory body of the College of Policing, the IOPC and the HMICFRSS Inspectorate of policing. Its findings and recommendations were mixed, although there was recognition of the nature of the problem and some useful recommendations for change, but it didn’t go as far as CWJ had proposed, for example by requiring such allegations to be investigated by a neighbouring police force
Read our full briefing on the outcome
One brave woman who is part of the CWJ PPDA, project shared her story with the Financial Times.
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Community Resolution? Never an appropriate remedy for perpetrators of rape and serious sexual assault
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A community resolution is an out of court disposal, supposed to be used to steer people away from courts and convictions for very minor and first-time offences such as shoplifting, where the suspect has admitted the offence. Shockingly we have discovered that many forces are using it in sexual offences, including reported rapes. We have been acting for a young woman, to whom this happened, challenging the use of this disposal in crimes like that committed against her.
We are pleased to confirm that following a pre-action letter challenging the use of a community resolution for a client who had reported rape, Thames Valley Police have now extensively amended the guidance on how it will be used. The amendments make clear that Community Resolutions are not intended to be used for sexual offences. In the extremely limited circumstances that it might be used (e.g. two 15 years olds having sex where there is no evidence of peer-to-peer grooming) the process has been amended to ensure that it can only be discussed after the approval of a DI in the specialist sexual assault unit and the victim will be given a full explanation of the consequences and the opportunity to seek independent advice.
Following on from this, our Justice First Fellow trainee, Tamsin Hope, is going to conduct a project to consider if and how this process is being used by other forces and where there are concerns, attempt to have it amended. If you are aware of community resolutions being used in sexual offence reports or domestic abuse cases, please let us know.
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Non-fatal strangulation comes into force
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On 7th June 2022 a long-awaited criminal offence of non-fatal strangulation came into force. CWJ initiated a campaign to change the law after it became clear through our work with frontline service providers that a stand-alone offence was required. A coalition of experts and organisations working together with CWJ took forward lobbying Parliament to achieve an amendment to the Domestic Abuse Act two years ago. CWJ solicitor Nogah Ofer who led our work in this area describes the significance of the new law in a blog piece.
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Bill of Rights or ‘Rights Removal Bill’:
Government bill that will reduce our ability to hold the state to account on violence against women
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Last month the government introduced much feared legislation as part of their manifesto commitment to repeal the Human Rights Act. Prior to its introduction, the government commissioned a special advisory panel (the IHRAR) which found that the ACT was working well and did not require change. This was followed by a public consultation to get views on the proposed reforms, which CWJ and many others contributed to. However, the government has largely ignored the responses. Furthermore, they have resisted calls to submit the Bill, which represents proposals to fundamentally change the constitution, to pre-legislative scrutiny. Almost all organisations that seek to uphold human rights are fundamentally opposed to the changes which amount to a ‘Rights Removal Bill’. CWJ are producing a briefing that will highlight how the Bill impacts on violence against women and girls and how it will undermine our ability to hold criminal justice institutions such as the police to account when they fail women. Dominic Raab, the Justice Secretary, who introduced the Bill and has written in respect of the removal of ‘positive obligations’, that the police should be given operational independence to make decisions as they see fit. How extraordinary that at a time when, following the murder of Sarah Everard, women’s confidence in policing is at an all-time low, that the government should seek to remove a key mechanism that enables those directly impacted to hold the police to account!
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Daisy’s Law: Children born of Rape Campaign
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CWJ are continuing to support Daisy in her campaign to for legislative reform to that children born of rape may be recognised as victims in their own right. We have obtained some really helpful research on this issue and are about to publish a briefing to be used to persuade legislators of the need for reform.
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Ending the unjust criminalisation of victims of domestic abuse and other forms of VAWG
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Following our evidence gathering and publication of Women who kill and Double Standard reports, we are beginning to see signs of change. One of our recommended reforms has been implemented in new guidance that was issued to judges in June, setting out that directions for juries where a defendant has also been a victim of domestic abuse. It is also encouraging to see the evidence we submitted to the House of Commons Justice Committee’s inquiry into Women in Prison prominently reflected in their report, published this week, which calls on the government to spell out how it is going to prioritise measures to divert women away from the criminal justice system and into community support wherever possible, in line with its own Female Offender Strategy.
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Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme consultation
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CWJ have also contributed to the following consultations:
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Our responses can be read by following the above links.
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The CWJ manifesto written by our director, Harriet Wistrich sets out the CWJ’s aims and analysis of around the criminal justice system. There are 10 topics in the manifesto, and they can be found here - 'What needs to change in the Criminal Justice System'
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Emma Humphreys Memorial Prize
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Nominations are now open for the Emma Humphreys Memorial Prize and Centre for Women’s Justice Award 2022! The closing date for nominations is Friday 16th September. We all know many incredible women who deserve recognition for the work they do to combat violence against women. Please take time to nominate one such amazing woman or group, so we can celebrate them together at our annual event later this autumn. Date and venue to be announced. Watch this space!
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Azra Kemal Legal Internship Programme
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As part of our anti-racism strategy which launched in March 2021, we created a paid part-time internship for women from a Black, Asian and/or minoritized background in honour of Azra Kemal. Azra died in circumstances that are currently under review and her mother Nevres approached CWJ after raising money in her daughter’s name to help disadvantaged women in the legal profession.
Our first intern under the scheme Sannam Kerley, has recently finished and proved to be a real asset to CWJ and we wish her well for the future.
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Nevres Kemal (left) and Sannam Kerley (right) outside Oxford House in Bethnal Green earlier this month
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Our new intern, Simran Shah, started this week, and we hope that she will find the experience just as positive as Sannam.
More about the scheme can be found on our website - we are continuing to fundraise for the scheme so we can provide more opportunities in Azra's name. Please visit our CrowdJustice page to read more.
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On 28th June the CWJ took part in the 10km London Legal Walk around London. The event was a great success, and the weather was kind to us. We joined up with Team Ellie de Frietas (David and Miranda) who were walking in memory of their daughter Eleanor, and raising funds for CWJ and Advocate.
Thanks to everyone who walked for us and sponsored CWJ or Team Ellie.
The donation pages will remain open a little longer so if you'd like to contribute please do!
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Virtual TCS London Marathon 2022
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If you fancy running the 'virtual' marathon this year we have some places going free. To find out more please email Wendy - w.mccormick@centreforwomensjustice.org.uk
For other fundraising ideas please check out our website page
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Lawyer(s) - FT/PT (women-only)
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Salary: £30,000 - £40,000 p.a. pro rata, depending on experience
We are looking for feminist lawyers with a track record in Actions Agasint the Police or Criminal Law to join the CWJ enquiries team.
Closing date 14th August
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Finance Officer (PT 15hrs per wk)
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Salary: £25,000-£28,000 p.a. pro rata, depending on experience
We are looking for an experienced finance officer to support the Operations Manager in managing the finance and payroll functions of the charity.
Closing date 21st August
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Digital Communications Officer (PT 15-22.5hrs per wk)
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Salary: £25,000-£28,000 p.a. pro rata, depending on experience
We need an enthusiastic, adaptable and creative digital comms person to support the Operations Manager with social media, website and fundraising campaigns.
Closing date 21st August
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The Write to End Violence Against Women Awards
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The media’s reporting of violence against women and girls (VAWG) can play a vital role in ending this violence. It can increase our understanding of VAWG and gender inequality and challenge their place in our society.
The End Violence Against Women Coalition (EVAW) has partnered with our member organisation Zero Tolerance to launch new UK-wide media awards that recognise and reward journalists, writers and content creators who report on VAWG responsibly and accurately.
EVAW has long worked with the media to shape and improve reporting on violence against women and girls, having previously held annual media awards recognising those who have had a positive impact on public narratives. This year, we’re teaming up with Zero Tolerance who are marking the ten year anniversary of the Write to End Violence Against Women Awards, held annually in Scotland. The relaunched awards are now open to all journalists, writers and content creators across the UK!
The awards are now open for public submissions, and close at midnight on Friday 30th September 2022. Winners will be announced during the 16 Days of Action on Gender-Based Violence this November.
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