Accelerating Women’s Justice: Research, Reform, and Support for Survivors

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International Women’s Day (IWD), celebrated annually on 8 March, honours the achievements of women across all aspects of life while also advocating for gender equality. This year, the IWD campaign theme is 'Accelerate Action', highlighting the urgency of driving meaningful changes to fight against sexual violence, domestic abuse, and gender inequality. The theme calls for collective efforts to push forward reforms and improve support systems for women all around the world.

The Faculty of Law is home to a number of recent initiatives that reflect this theme, with researchers actively pushing for public awareness, legal reform, and improved support for victim-survivors of sexual violence and domestic abuse.

Accelerating Conversations on Consent

A  four-part video series focussing on the topical philosophical issues around sexual consent. Led by Kate Greasley, Associate Professor of Law, the videos are in conjunction with the Sexual Consent in the Post-#MeToo World: A Study in Philosophy and Law project. The video series brings together policy-makers, legal practitioners and academics in direct conversation to consider what role legal reform may play in promoting better sexual behaviour and consent education.

Kate Greasley, Associate Professor of Law, said ‘This series of filmed interviews seeks to air the cutting-edge thinking of scholars in philosophy and law about consent to sexual activity and some wider issues of the #MeToo movement. In the first four videos, I talk to the interviewees about the conditions for morally valid consent, culpability for rape, the affirmative consent movement, accountability for historical sexual wrongdoing, deceptively-obtained sex, and much more. The videos are intended to e

Accelerating Legal Change

Ellie Whittingdale, a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, has collaborated with Rape Crisis England & Wales (RCEW) to help facilitate a recent change in the law. Ellie’s research played a crucial role in the organisation’s Keep Counselling Confidential campaign, which has led to a law change that will help to improve the experience of the criminal justice system for survivors of rape and sexual abuse. Ellie’s placement with RCEW has also led to a new research partnership between the charity and the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies.

Ellie Whittingdale, Postdoctoral Researcher at the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, said 'I am so proud to have been a part of the Keep Counselling Confidential campaign with Rape Crisis England & Wales. To be able to work towards better recognition of the rights of those who have experienced sexual violence to privacy and confidential support was a privilege.'

Accelerating Family Justice

Led by Shazia Choudhry, Professor of Law, this three-year project aims to find out more about the experiences of women survivors of domestic abuse of the family court system across six countries. The project’s findings were discussed at the conference by international judges and domestic judges, representatives from CAFCASS England and CAFCASS Wales, NGOs, academics, lawyers, the Ministry of Justice and the Domestic Abuse Commissioner. The report and short animation are available in five languages and for use by all those involved in the family justice process.

Shazia Choudhry, Professor of Law, said: 'Perpetrators of domestic abuse have for too long highjacked the narrative in terms of the family justice system. I hope this report helps women and children to reclaim that narrative and to reclaim human rights for themselves.'

Accelerating Support for Survivors

As part of her ESRC-funded Postdoctoral Fellowship, Natalie Kyneswood developed an accessible video and related leaflet for adult victim-survivors about giving evidence to the police and at court, including ‘special measures’ available to support them. Dr Kyneswood created these resources because her research shows that adult victim-survivors lack timely, impartial and detailed information about the range of safeguards available to help them give their best evidence, including pre-recorded cross-examination. These resources aim to bridge the gap.

Dr Kyneswood is also investigating the development of trauma-informed specialist sex offence courts within the UK and will be working closely with victim-survivors and government to help shape policy and best practice while specialist courts evolve and embed.

Natalie Kyneswood, Post-doctoral Fellow at the Centre for Socio-Legal Studies, said ‘The video and leaflet have been designed with input from key stakeholders to help victim-survivors make more informed decisions about where, when and how they give their evidence. Crucially, these resources address some of the main concerns and questions victim-survivors have about using special measures by demonstrating how they work in the context of the courtroom.’

These initiatives are just part of the Faculty’s wider commitment to legal research, public discourse, and policy change. To learn more about other ongoing projects, relevant initiatives, research groups, or upcoming events, please visit the Faculty website.