Women’s Aid host National Conference 2024 – ‘Festival of Women’s Aid’
On Wednesday (17th) and Thursday (18th) of this week, Women’s Aid hosted their annual National Conference at the Edgbaston Park Hotel and Conference Centre in Birmingham. The conference, titled ‘Festival of Women’s Aid’ in celebration of the organisation’s 50th anniversary, united federation members with a wide range of leading voices from the domestic abuse sector and beyond.
Women’s Aid staff, expert speakers, and survivors came together to mark a year of actions and considered how we can #EndAbuseTogether, with a wide range of keynotes, panels, and workshops, centred around building an inclusive federation as we work towards a future were no woman or child experience domestic abuse.
With this year marking the golden anniversary of Women’s Aid as an organisation, the event looked back on and celebrated the achievements of the domestic abuse sector over the last 50 years which has changed the response to domestic abuse, while also looking towards what still needs to happen in the next half a decade for domestic abuse no longer exist.
Throughout the conference, Women’s Aid highlighted the importance of the government investing in specialist domestic abuse service, enhancing training and education in statutory services like the police, and in challenging misogynistic societal attitudes. The formation of a new government who are committed to halving violence against women and girls in a decade presents an opportunity for meaningful change that supports our mission to end the national emergency that is domestic abuse in England, but only if the correct action is taken.
The conference hosted an incredible line up of keynote speakers, who valuable insight into the issue of domestic abuse, how it can be overcome, and why we are all tirelessly committed to doing the work we do and ending violence against women and girls. Speakers included Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips MP in her first Ministerial Visit, Rt Hon Harriet Harman KC, former MP for Camberwell and Peckham and former Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, Gisela Valle, Director of Latin American Women’s Right Services (LAWRS), and Selma Taha, Executive Director of Southall Black Sisters. Yasmin Javed, Campaigner and Mother of Fawziyah Javed, gave a moving joint address with Natasha Rattu, Director of Karma Nivana, about the tragic murder of her daughter Fawziyah and the need for a statutory definition of honour-based abuse.
Special guests Melanie Brown MBE, Women’s Aid Patron, and Kelle Bryan Loose Women presenter and Actor, also attended the event, joining discussions and having heart warming moments with delegates.
Farah Nazeer, Chief Executive of Women’s Aid, said:
“The Women’s Aid annual National Conference is a landmark event which brings together members of the federation, with leading voices from the sector and the public, to look at how we can #EndAbuseTogether.
This year, being our 50th anniversary, we looked back on how far the sector has come, celebrating our successes, while also looking towards the future and the challenges we must still overcome. Lots of progress since Women’s Aid was founded but we need to see the government committing to more investment and more education, if domestic abuse is to be overcome for good.
I would like to thank all the speakers and panellists, as well as the delegates who attended, for their participation in the Festival of Women’s aid. It is events like these give me hope that, if we are united, we will end domestic abuse.
Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips said:
“It was an honour to speak at the Women’s Aid Conference on their 50th anniversary.
Women’s Aid is such a special organisation, not just to me personally, but to everyone whose lives it has touched. Their work has had an immense impact on victims of domestic abuse, on justice for women, and on the way that we think about violence against women and girls.
I believe passionately that change is needed and that until it is achieved, we cannot rest. Our mission is to halve violence against women and girls in the next decade – it’s time we treat tackling violence against women and girls as the national emergency that it is.
Rt Hon Harriet Harman KC, said
“It was an honour to be invited to speak at the Women’s Aid national conference, in such as historic year for the organisation, as it celebrates 50 years of pioneering for change and advocating for survivors. The work of Women’s Aid, and the wider Women’s Movement over the last half a century, is something that should be look at with great pride, for it has had such a positive impact on the lives of women across the country.
While a lot has changed over the past half a century in for women and children who experience domestic abuse, there is still progress to be made. I hope that in the years ahead we will see an even stronger and united force of women and our male allies working actively together across councils and parliament, employers and unions, the Criminal Justice System and in our schools to banish the spectre of domestic abuse.”
Natasha Rattu, the Executive Director at Karma Nirvana, said:
“It was an incredible honour to speak at the Women’s Aid National Conference, especially on such a significant occasion marking 50 years of Women’s Aid. The stories and experiences shared today reinforce the critical nature of our #Push4Change campaign, and this platform allowed us to highlight the urgent need for a statutory definition of Honour Based Abuse. We must ensure that there is a clear, comprehensive understanding of Honour Based Abuse to adequately support victims and hold all perpetrators accountable, which starts with a statutory definition and guidance. The solidarity and commitment I witnessed today gives me hope for real change, for both victims and survivors.”
Selma Taha, Executive Director of Southall Black Sisters, said:
“As the Executive Director of Southall Black Sisters, I was honoured to participate in the Women’s Aid Conference. This gathering is a crucial platform for addressing the pressing issues faced by women, particularly those from marginalised communities. It is through collective efforts and shared knowledge that we can drive meaningful change and ensure that every woman, regardless of her background, has access to safety, support, and justice. Together, we are stronger, and together, we will continue to fight for a world free from violence and discrimination.”
Gisela Valle, Director of Latin American Women’s Right Service (LAWRS), said:
“It was fantastic joining the Women’s Aid Conference in the context of the organisations 50th anniversary. It presented a great opportunity to reflect on the effective responses that address the intersectional needs of survivors as we look towards the future, including the necessity to develop strong partnerships and collaborations, and combat intersecting forms of oppression. The conference allowed us to take stock and celebrate the work of those who have come before us, those who work alongside us, and those who will come after us.”
Notes:
- The full programme for the conference can be found here: https://www.womensaid.org.uk/get-involved/national-conference-2024/programme/
- For images, please contact press@womensaid.org.uk.