Women’s rights work in and post-COVID: A cross-regional roundtable discussion with VAW organisations in the UK

Chaired by Dr. Boriana Alexandrova and joined by representatives of organisations including Sistah Space, the Angelou Centre, and Imkaan, we will reflect on the current climate for feminist activist work, from each organisation's perspective and experiences within the VAW sector. This is envisioned as an open and candid conversation about the realities of the work that feminist and women's rights organisations and grassroots activists do and that women, migrants, and economically vulnerable people are facing in this current reality. What it is taking for feminists to do this work under a Tory government, in the pandemic, in a climate of increasing terror, racism, xenophobia, misogyny, and far-right leanings of the state? How has each organisation's work and their assessment of the state of interpersonal, state, and police brutality and displacement shifted during the COVID pandemic and the events of the past year, with the Black Lives Matter protests, and the context for black/female/migrant victims of interpersonal and state violence?

Although none of us are likely to have clear-cut answers to any of these questions, our hope is for this event to make the space for a generative collective discussion and a chance for us to align our experiences and perspectives in order to think constructively about what's next and how to fight this deepening systemic violence in the short- and long-term. Activists and organisations from several regions across the UK will join us, making this a potential space for discussions of experiences and strategies across different regions, as well as a chance for each organisation or group to talk about what support/action from the community they need right now.

This event is open to all CWS students, staff, alumni and their friends. Please feel free to invite friends and feminist activist connections from your own networks. Members of the CWS community are welcome to disseminate the event link privately via email but please refrain from posting the link itself on social media, in the interest of keeping the event, our speakers, and attendees as safe from unwanted intrusion as possible. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Bobby at boriana.alexandrova@york.ac.uk.