International Women’s conference

Congratulations to the Haldane Feminist Lawyers and the Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers for organising such a successful International Women’s conference on the weekend of 28^th and 29^th of November 2015.

The jam-packed two day event involved panel discussions, workshops and open floor sessions, with a wealth of speakers from a variety of backgrounds (both legal and non-legal), from all over the world, including Professor Rashida Manjoo, Frances Webber, and Angela Davis, to name but a few. Helen Steel was given a standing ovation.

Given the current media focus on migration, particularly topical were the discussions on migrant and refugee women and borders. But there was also great debate on a range of topics including violence against women, the state and women’s bodies, and women in work.

There was also discussion and analysis of the disproportionate impact of austerity on women; the dishonest appropriation of the language of women’s rights by politicians for their own purposes; and the growing international trend towards the idea of “gender neutrality” in human rights, which risks inhibiting progress in women’s rights.

Trainee solicitor Eleanor Simon described the event as: “fascinating and inspiring - it showed how vital and relevant it is for women and men to continue to fight for women’s rights in 2015 and beyond”.

Also attending from Wilson Solicitors LLP were solicitors Katy Robinson and Isaac Shaffer, trainee Ruth Budge and paralegals Rebecca Morris and Imogen Townley.