RAPE, RACE and PROSTITUTION

Saturday's conference opened with a session on 'Rape and domestic violence – Justice CAN be won'
A Ugandan survivor described how rape she suffered was dismissed by the immigration authorities,
Lisa Longstaff (Women Against Rape) & Cristel Amiss (Black Women's Rape Action Project) co-chaired

Celebrate International Women's Day 2007 with the Global Women's Strike Conference
RAPE, RACE and PROSTITUTION

Campaigning for justice in the 21st century

Entrance: £20 funded organisations and professionals; £10 waged; £5 low waged; £3 unwaged; asylum seekers freeNo one turned away for lack of funds. Wheelchair accessible (toilets nearby)
All Welcome

Programme

9.30 am Registration, teas and coffee

10-12 Rape & Domestic Violence – Justice CAN be won With Black Women’s Rape Action Project & Women Against Rape
Much has changed since the modern anti-rape movement began 35 years ago. Rape in marriage is now treated as a crime. Fewer believe women “ask for it”. But violent men are still getting off: the conviction rate for reported rape has sunk to 5.3%. Women reporting rape are being jailed, & women seeking asylum from rape are deported.

Angela Fitzpatrick no justice for her 15-year-old daughter who was raped

Lori McKenzie denied justice because she had been drinking

Frank Mullane brother of Julia Pemberton, shot with her son by estranged husband while police waited in a patrol car

Gwen Stevens won the first-ever private prosecution in England against a serial rapist

Jeto Flaviah Titti seeking asylum after fleeing rape & other torture

Ms X accused of making a false allegation, faced arrest & loss of anonymity

Speakout & information on a new anti-violence law in revolutionary Venezuela.

12-1 pm Lunch – Inexpensive vegetarian food available

Race & Racism – Making the State Accountable to Women of Colour
With Women of Colour in the Global Women’s Strike (GWS)
The Big Brother events show that many more people want to overcome the divisions among us. But the establishment’s attack on “multi-culturalism” reinforces divisions, & hides the economic & social realities of racism. Only 7% of racist attacks result in conviction.

Selma James GWS, some lessons from the anti-racist movement

Constance Kajjumba All African Women’s Group, asylum seekers facing racism at every turn

Bilan Mohamud & family victims of racist attack who won justice despite police & CPS

Hengride Permal Chagos Island Community Association, fighting to reclaim their island from UK courts & US military

Tahrir Swift Iraqi women under occupation

The women behind the men accused of terrorism – TBC

Speakout on the justice work of defending loved ones, Mumia Abu-Jamal on death row, the wage hierarchy, racism in schools...

2.30-3 pm Tea break

Prostitution – After Ipswich, Safety First
With English Collective of Prostitutes & US PROS
The tragic murders of five women caused an unprecedented outcry. Most people now understand that criminalising consenting sex – sex workers or clients – pushes prostitution underground, making women more vulnerable to violence & exploitation. Safety First will be launched to decriminalise sex work & look at economic alternatives.

Phillida Bunkle former New Zealand MP who helped introduce decriminalisation

Pauline Campbell mother of Sarah who died in the ‘care’ of HMP Styal

Revd. Andrew Dotchin caring for all in Ipswich

John Furniss Multiple Choice Rehabilitation Centre, supporting people on drugs

Sian Killcommon SWEET, sex worker project, Huddersfield

Revd. Paul Nicolson Zacchaeus 2000 Trust, the poverty & debt behind prostitution

Camille Shah Ipswich resident, understanding each other

4.30-5 pm Acting Together to Win Justice

To win change, let’s discuss the proposals & suggestions from the day.