Podcast appearances and mentions of harriet wistrich

Who protects women when the very systems that are supposed to protect them, like the police and the broader legal system, refuse to, or even worse, are causing the harm in the first place? This episode's guest has been fighting against the systemic challenges women face in securing justice for decades. And she has some extraordinary stories to tell. Join The Hearing host Yasmin Sheikh as she sits down with Harriet Wistrich, a human rights lawyer, founder of the Centre for Women's Justice (https://www.centreforwomensjustice.org.uk/), and author of "Sister in Law" (https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/455720/sister-in-law-by-wistrich-harriet/9781804995990). Dive into Harriet's compelling journey from activism to law, driven by her passion for women's rights and justice. Discover the groundbreaking cases she's championed, including the landmark Sally Challen case that reshaped the understanding of coercive control and the John Warboys case, which highlighted some of the headwinds women face when they do come forward to seek justice for crimes against them. In addition, she discusses astonishing undercover police operations that infiltrated activist groups, often using women as a means to an end. Wistrich weaves personal stories into a discussion about broader societal implications. This episode is a powerful exploration of systemic challenges and the relentless pursuit of justice. Don't miss this inspiring conversation - or Harriet's amazing book!

Harriet Wistrich is one of the country's most prominent human rights lawyers. In 2016 she founded the Centre for Women's Justice and over the course of her career, she has won landmark victories in very difficult legal cases. She has helped women imprisoned after killing their abusers regain their freedom. She's also represented women seeking justice from the Metropolitan Police over their deployment of undercover police officers who have had relationships and children with female activists.After studying PPE at Oxford, Harriet moved to Liverpool and began her career working in film and documentaries. She retrained as a lawyer in her early thirties and in 1990 co-founded the pressure group Justice for Women. Harriet lives in London with her partner, the journalist Julie Bindel. DISC ONE: I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor DISC TWO: No Woman, No Cry (Live At The Rainbow Theatre, London / June 1, 1977) - Bob Marley and the Wailers DISC THREE: Puff the Magic Dragon - Gregory Isaacs DISC FOUR: Rumanian Freilach - Daniel Ahaviel DISC FIVE: Back to Black - Amy Winehouse DISC SIX: Ain't Nobody - Chaka Khan DISC SEVEN: Police And Thieves - Junior Murvin DISC EIGHT: Shame Shame Shame - Shirley & Company BOOK CHOICE: Middlemarch by George Eliot LUXURY ITEM: A fridge with an endless supply of white wine CASTAWAY'S FAVOURITE: I Will Survive - Gloria GaynorPresenter: Lauren Laverne Producer: Sarah Taylor

Harriet on Desert Island Discshttps://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00274n7Harriet's amazing book Sister-in-Lawhttps://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/sister-in-law-fighting-for-justice-in-a-system-designed-by-men-harriet-wistrich/7598745 Julie's book now available to preorder…https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/lesbians-where-are-we-now-julie-bindel/7790288 IVF again https://metro.co.uk/2025/02/05/lesbian-couples-priced-starting-families-ivf-rules-says-fertility-expert-22491466/Sandi Toksvig's Great British Woodland restorationhttps://www.channel4.com/programmes/sandis-great-british-woodland-restorationhttps://www.facebook.com/Channel4/videos/sandi-toksvig-brought-to-tears-by-baby-owls-sandis-great-british-woodland-restor/1568207900502441/The importance of queer-inclusive tattoo agencieshttps://www.swlondoner.co.uk/life/06022025-the-importance-of-queer-inclusive-tattooing This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.thelesbianprojectpod.com/subscribe

Would you ask your friends to describe you in one word? Comedian Sophie Duker did. She joins Nuala McGovern to talk about hearing their responses and how it influenced her new standup show, But Daddy, I Love Her.Adele is in the headlines this morning after being accused of plagiarism in a Brazilian court for her 2015 song, Million Years Ago.Brazilian composer Toninho Geraes is seeking royalties - more than £125,000 - in moral damages for the alleged plagiarism, and songwriting credit for the track, claiming his samba song, Mulheres. influenced Adele's song. Dr Karlyn King, lecturer in music business discusses. There's been an announcement of new vetting standards for potential and serving police officers and staff in England and Wales. The kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah Everard by Wayne Couzens led to so many questions and brought to light other failures in policing. Now, following recommendations from the Casey Review, the Angiolini Inquiry and His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services report there is new guidance from the College of Policing on how police need to be vetted to protect the public. Harriet Wistrich solicitor and director of the Centre for Women's Justice explains why they welcome the new guidance.It's 20 months since the start of the civil war in Sudan and the country is suffering a humanitarian crisis. Nearly 12 million people have been displaced, a famine is on the horizon and in October, a UN fact-finding mission said the scale of sexual violence taking place was staggering. Campaign group, Human Rights Watch, is calling for a dedicated UN mission to protect women and girls from sexual violence. Associate Director in the Crisis, Conflict and Arms Division at Human Rights Watch, Belkis Wille joins Nuala.The Road Trip is a brand new adaptation of Beth O'Leary's rom-com book of the same name. It follows Addie and her sister Deb as they are forced to car-share on the way to a wedding with Addie's ex-boyfriend and his best friend. Nuala is joined in the studio by Beth O'Leary and Emma Appleton, who plays Addie.Presenter: Nuala McGovern Producer: Laura Northedge

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has told the BBC it's "right" not to accept donations for clothing now she's in government. This is following reports that she took £7,500 from a donor for clothing between January 2023 to May 2024. Keir Starmer, his wife Lady Victoria Starmer and the Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner have also accepted money for clothes, and on Friday, Downing Street said that would no longer continue. To discuss the issue of women and donations, Kylie Pentelow is joined by political journalists Rachel Sylvester from the Times and Eleni Courea from the Guardian.The Sundance award-winning film, Girls Will Be Girls, follows the journey of 16-year-old Mira, who discovers desire and romance whilst attending a strict boarding school nestled in the Himalayas. But her rebellious sexual awakening is disrupted by her mother, who never got to come of age herself. Kylie discusses the film with the writer and director, Shuchi Talati, and actress Preeti Panigrahi who plays Mira.The Labour Party conference is underway in Liverpool. A topic likely to feature heavily in tomorrow's speech by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is women's safety. Joining Kylie to give us their views on what they think needs to be prioritised by this government is director and founder of the Centre for Women's Justice, Harriet Wistrich, and the campaigner Georgia Harrison. Elizabeth Strout is the Pulitzer prize-winning author of many novels including Olive Kitteridge and the Lucy Barton books. Tell Me Everything is her latest novel where she revisits several of the characters who appear in her previous work. She joins Kylie live in the Woman's Hour studio to talk about her characters and themes of friendship.Presented by Kylie Pentelow Producer: Louise Corley

Having been involved in some of the country's most high-profile cases, lawyer and fearless campaigner for justice, Harriet Wistrich has some incredible stories to tell. Many of which are in her new memoir, Sister In Law. Hannnah chats to Harriet about the Stockwell shooting, Spycops, the media and Sally Challen, and asks if some of us are better built for legal battle.  Hannah's Spycops interview is here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/sim-ep-744-chops-255-groomed-gaslighted-ghosted/id1080808404?i=1000568597088 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Details of the Centre for Women's Justice (CWJ) here where you can also find details of future book events.What some of the reviewers have said:Inventive, compassionate and tenacious, Wistrich…[is] a magnificent, radical, uncompromising warrior of a woman.Melanie Reid, The TimesWistrich's skill lies in her innovative use of legislation…she thrives on perseverance.Yvonne Roberts, The ObserverThrough these enraging and astonishing stories, Wistrich… shows us the best of humanity. [She is] empathetic, dogged, canny, always up for the fight.Fiona Sturges, The GuardianA history of her three-decade career, peppered by some of Britain's most significant cases of violence against women.Suzanne Moore, The TelegraphHighly accessible and beautifully written…Wistrich's strong sense of fairness and justice runs through every word.Chris McCurley, Legal ActionA devastating indictment of a justice system that routinely fails female victims of male violence.Richard Scorer, New Law JournalShownotes:https://www.justiceforwomen.org.uk/Both me and Harriet in this photograph, in 1988, at a protest against Section 28. Guess which is which correctly and I will gift you a free sub! Get full access to Julie Bindel's writing and podcasts at juliebindel.substack.com/subscribe

The stalwart defender of women's rights, Harriet Wistrich, is this week's difficult woman. Responsible for keeping John Worboys locked up and the founder and director of the Centre for Women's Justice. Harriet has worked tirelessly for 25 years to advance and protect women's rights listen to her experience fighting the patriarchal mountain that is British law.

Harriet Wistrich – Sister in Law: Shocking true stories of fighting for justice in a legal system designed by men...with TRE's Giles Brown

Lawyer Harriet Wistrich is the founder and director of Centre for Women's Justice. She joins Anita Rani to talk about her new book, Sister in Law, which looks into 10 of her hard-won cases over 30 years. They include Sally Challen's appeal against her conviction for the murder of her husband, the victims of the taxi driver John Worboys, and the women caught up in the 'Spy Cops' scandal. Cases that she says demonstrate that "terrifyingly often, the law is not fit-for-purpose for half the population".Boris Johnson's son Wilf's fourth birthday party has been gaining attention online, after pictures were shared on social media of his celebration featuring a monster truck bouncy castle with separate ball pit, and a bespoke balloon display. Have we finally reached the point of the ridiculous when it comes to children's parties? Journalist Anna Tyzack, who wrote an article about this very subject in the i newspaper, and one half of the comedy duo Scummy Mummies, Helen Thorn, join Anita to discuss. The risk of ACL injuries in female football players is up to six times higher than their male counterparts. Leeds Beckett University is leading a new study into why this risk rate is so high and the impact on athletes. Knee surgeon to the sports stars Andy Williams explains why this may be happening and footballer Emma Samways, of Hashtag United in Essex, tells us about her ACL injury from earlier on this year.Chef Asma Khan has just been named as one of the 100 most influential people of the 2024, by the Time magazine. Asma is the founder of the London restaurant, Darjeeling Express, which has a women-only kitchen, mostly made up of South Asian immigrants over the age of 50. Asma has been a vocal champion for gender equality, and she talks about the change she wants to see in the restaurant industry.Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Olivia Skinner

Former Northern Ireland First Minister and DUP leader Arlene Foster joins the programme to talk about a return to devolution in Northern Ireland and the fourth anniversary of Brexit. Author Fiona Williams is out with her debut novel, The House of Broken Bricks. She joins Emma to talk about the ways in which the book relates to her real life in terms of navigating issues of race and belonging, and why she wanted to write a story so intertwined with nature. Thames Valley Police has referred itself to the policing regulator after a BBC investigation revealed that officers ridiculed an assault victim while watching body-worn video that showed her groin. Emma speaks with the BBC's Noel Titheradge about his investigation as well as Harriet Wistrich about misogyny in the UK police force.It's out with heels and in with trainers. That's what is happening in France where, according to a poll, women are falling out of love with high heels - instead going for a chunky boot or comfortable trainer. To discuss this fashion shift, Emma is joined by Professor of Fashion History Dr Serena Dyer and French shoe designer Marie Laffont.Presenter: Emma Barnett Producer: Cece Armstrong Studio Manager: Duncan Hannant

Marin Alsop is one of the most famous conductors in the world. Ten years ago, she became the first woman to conduct the Last Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall. Now she is giving the European premiere of Too Hot To Handel: The Gospel Messiah!, a reimagining of Handel's Messiah Marin tells Hayley Hassell why she wanted to rework the piece, and looks back over her illustrious career as a conductor. The actor Diana Quick joins Hayley to discuss her role as Mrs Wentworth in a new series The Famous Five – and describe how the classic adventures have been brought to life with a new, fresh, modern reimagining of Enid Blyton's iconic stories.The Centre for Women's Justice is campaigning to prevent unjust criminalisation of victims and survivors of domestic abuse. Hayley is joined by director of the CWJ, Harriet Wistrich, and former director of Southall Black Sisters, Pragna Patel.What can we tell about medieval women's lives from studying their skeletons? Dr Sarah Inskip from Leicester University has been part of a team excavating Cambridge graveyards for a new research project called After the Plague. She has found evidence that some medieval women did very strenuous work that changed the shape of their upper bodies; others were trading and travelling across Europe, and many would have existed in chronic pain.Producer: Hannah Sander Presenter: Hayley Hassell

"It's not rocket science... you investigate the suspect, not the victim," – Harriet Wistrich.In this episode, Suzy Angus and Emma Bryson, survivors of sexual violence and founders of Speak Out Survivors, meet Dr Oona Brooks-Hay (Reader in Criminology at the Scottish Centre for Crime and Justice Research at the University of Glasgow) and Harriet Wistrich (Director of the Centre for Women's Justice) to discuss the difficulties in Scotland for victims and survivors to access justice. In particular, related to the outdated legal requirement for 'corroboration', which under Scots law means that only very specific types of evidence are admissible for the purposes of a criminal prosecution.Speak Out Survivors was founded in 2018 by survivors of sexual violence who all sought justice through the Scottish criminal justice system but were told it was not possible for a prosecution to go ahead. Although in each of our cases, there was evidence available, that evidence did not meet the very stringent requirements of corroboration. 

Soldiers were put on standby after hundreds of Metropolitan Police officers stepped back from firearms duties after an officer was charged with the murder of Chris Kaba last September. Home affairs correspondent Tom Symonds talks us through a dramatic day for the Met alongside Harriet Wistrich, the lawyer who represented the family of Jean Charles de Menezes after he was killed by police in 2005. And what next for HS2? Adam is joined by the BBC's transport correspondent, Katy Austin, alongside Manchester City Council Leader Bev Craig and former Network Rail director Anna-Jayne Hunter to discuss the possible next steps. You can join our Newscast online community here: https://tinyurl.com/newscastcommunityhere Today's Newscast was presented by Adam Fleming. It was made by George Dabby with Josh Jenkins and Sam McLaren. The technical producer was Gareth Jones. The senior news editors are Sam Bonham and Jonathan Aspinwall. TOPICS 01:17 - Metropolitan Police 18:09 - HS2

Actress Olivia Colman is the patron of the arts charity Tender, having previously played a survivor of domestic violence in the film Tyrannosaur. She speaks to Woman's Hour alongside Tender CEO Susie McDonald about the work they're doing to try and prevent domestic violence. A special police unit used to spy on left wing political and activist groups was not justified and should have been disbanded in its early days. That's one of the conclusions of the first part of a judge led inquiry into undercover policing, which covers the years 1968 to 1982. Sir John Mitting, Chair of the inquiry said most groups infiltrated by the Met's Special Demonstration Squad posed no threat. His report details tactics such as forming sexual relationships while undercover and using dead children's names to create false identities. Hayley Hassall is joined by ‘Alison' who had a five year relationship with an undercover officer, and by Harriet Wistrich, who is Director of the Centre for Women's Justice and part of the legal team that represented women in the inquiry. The writer, editor and disability activist Lottie Jackson has written a memoir called See Me Rolling. In it, she discusses the way that society views disability and the innate prejudices that we have. She also talks about fashion and how important it is in letting her express her identity. She joins Hayley. The journalist Afua Hirsch has made a new series of Africa Rising for BBC 2, about an African cultural renaissance. Afua visits three very different countries; Morocco, Nigeria and South Africa, and interviews young creatives who are expressing new ideas which are gathering momentum across the continent. Afua joins Hayley to talk about the female artists she met and their inspiring visions.

Over an 18-year period, former Metropolitan Police firearms officer David Carrick sexually assaulted and raped at least 12 women. The force has apologised to victims after it emerged Carrick had come to the attention of police on nine separate occasions, but no action had been taken. On the Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson gets more on the Met's response from Sky's crime correspondent Martin Brunt. Former Met officer Graham Wettone explains how complains against officers are dealt with, and Harriet Wistrich, director of the Centre for Women's Justice, explains why she believes those investigating police culture need to be given more power to uncover the truth. Podcast producer: Rosie Gillott Interviews producer: Tamara Bungaroo Valdes Podcast promotions producer: David Chipakupaku Editor: Philly Beaumont

Dame Cressida Dick, the first woman to lead the Metropolitan Police has resigned. We've covered every twist and turn of the many high profile crimes against women and girls involving the Met Police over the last two years. We get reaction from Kristina O'Connor, the daughter of Des O'Connor, who has her own experience of inappropriate Met Police behaviour. Also, Jamie Klingler from Reclaim These Streets, Zoe Billingham who's the former Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary and Harriet Wistrich, Director of the Centre for Women's Justice. We hear from Tukwini Mandela, one of Nelson Mandela's oldest grandchildren. Thirty two years to the day, Nelson Mandala was released from Robben Island. Tukwini is here to explore how much the UK population really knows about black history. We speak to Marie Penman who left her job with the charity-side of Raith Rovers football club because it signed David Goodwillie. He was the player who a Scottish civil court found to have raped a woman. Sheila Ferguson. who used to be one of the Three Degrees. is now in a new production of Chicago which is on tour. Sheila joins Anita to talk about new love, dating and hanging out with musical legends when she first started out.

British woman Sarah Ransome says she wanted to be at Ghislaine Maxwell trial when it started: not to testify but to see justice take its course. Like the four women who gave evidence, she says she's also a victim of Epstein's and Maxwell's. She tells us more about her story and Harriet Wistrich, founder of Centre for Women's Justice discusses the wider impact this case could have. Sheila Watt-Cloutier, is a world renowned human rights and climate change activist, who has made it her life's work to protect her Inuit culture and the Arctic regions where Inuit live, in Greenland, Canada and Alaska. She was born in Arctic Canada and launched the first legal petition linking climate change to human rights. We discuss the word 'spinster' and what it really means with Australian author Donna Ward. Her new book She I Dare Not Name: A Spinster's Meditations on Life., explores the meaning and purpose she has fought to find in a life lived entirely accidentally without a partner or children. BBC History is launching a 100 objects collection to mark 100 years of the BBC in 2022. Head of History Robert Seatter gives us a sneak peak into a few objects which represent the history of women at the BBC including a 1930s job advert looking to recruit the first women TV announcers, a cookbook by Madhur Jaffrey and a 1920s scrapbook from Evelyn Dove, the first black female singer to perform on BBC. British women weren't allowed to visit the Antarctic until 1983 but now scores of women are making major contributions to polar science. Morgan Seag who has just submitted her PhD in gendered institutional change in 20th century Antarctic science to the University of Cambridge and Jo Johnson who has visited Antarctica seven times tell us more.

Ghislaine Maxwell is facing the prospect of spending the rest of her life in jail after a jury in New York found her guilty of grooming and sex trafficking teenage girls to be abused by the sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein. What impact will this high profile case have on future cases f alleged sexual abuse against women and girls? Andrea talks to Harriet Wistrich, who is the founder and director of the Centre for Women's Justice and a solicitor. It's now 100 days that teenage girls in Afghanistan have been banned from going to school in the majority of provinces. Yesterday, former prime minister Gordon Brown who is now UN special envoy for global education said 'we're sleep-walking towards the biggest humanitarian crisis of our times in Afghanistan. Andrea discusses the situation, particularly for women and girls, with the BBC Correspondent Yalda Hakim. We've been talking to women about their scars. Today Laura, a burns survivor, tells her story Many will have had empty chairs at the Christmas dinner table this year, for lots of different reasons. In Susie Boyt's novel Loved and Missed there is a particularly memorable Christmas dinner scene. In order to see her daughter on Christmas Day Ruth has to improvise. Susie joins Andrea to describe how people try to help and love others in the most difficult of circumstances. Abia Akram is a Pakistani disability rights activist. She is the founder of the National Forum of Women with Disabilities in Pakistan, and a leading figure within the disability rights movement in the country as well as in Asia and the Pacific. She has been named as one of the BBC's 100 Women in 2021. She joins Andrea to discuss how she became involved in this work and what more there is to do. Presented by Andrea Catherwood Producer: Louise Corley

Composer Shirley J. Thompson is the first woman in Europe to have composed and conducted a symphony within the last 40 years. She tells us about her new work Emanation, which she's written for the disabled-led ensemble BSO. Dame Darcey Bussell Former Principal of The Royal Ballet & Strictly Judge, President of the RAD & creator of Diversity Dance Mix, Dame Darcey Bussell tells us about her mission to rescue Britain's ballet dancers and raise spirits and money for struggling dance companies by creating the British Ballet Charity Gala at the Royal Albert Hall in London bringing together eight ballet companies in one evening of dance. We discuss the results of a BBC Freedom of Information request which asked police forces in the UK how many police had been accused of sexual misconduct. We hear from our reporter Melanie Abbott, from Ruth a former officer who found herself being sexually assaulted by a colleague and Harriet Wistrich from the Centre for Women's Justice. This year the government has announced an extra 19 million pounds for domestic abuse schemes in England and Wales the majority of which will go to towards perpetrator programmes. . But just how effective are they? We hear from John who has just completed a 20 week domestic violence prevention programme at the Hampton Trust and to Vicky Gilroy who is a facilitator on those prevention programmes at the Trust. In today's online digital world everything we do now on our phones or our computers—everything we look at, click on or say online—becomes “data”. Companies and governments increasingly share and use this information to make decisions about our lives. A small UK based team of experts called Foxglove is challenging how our data's used and they've had some remarkable successes over the last year. It's director Cori Crider tells us how the group successfully challenged the A Level grading algorithm last year. Presenter: Anita Rani Producer: Rabeka Nurmahomed Editor: Siobhann Tighe

Following International Women’s Day and Women’s History Month, Emma-Louise Fenelon spoke to Harriet Wistrich, founder of the Centre for Women’s Justice about the many ways in which the UK criminal justice system is failing women. 

Feminist lawyer, fierce campaigner for women’s rights, founder of the Centre For Women’s Justice, a charity and public interest law firm holding the state to account for violence against women and girls, and co-founder of campaigning organisation Justice For Women, Harriet Wistrich is a bonafide hero. In the first of our six long-form interviews with excellent women to celebrate International Women’s Day 2021, Harriet chats to Mickey about the dire stats around rape prosecutions, taking the Crown Prosecution Service to court, women who kill their abusers and the misogyny rife throughout the criminal justice system in England and Wales. Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/standardissuespodcast. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Samantha Cameron spent six years at number 10 Downing Street with her husband David in the glare of the media spotlights. She was there through the tumultuous years of the Scottish and EU referendums - issues which still rage today - witnessing some of the biggest political changes for generations. She was the youngest first lady for 50 years, juggling family life and a new baby with a high pressure job. She is credited with modernising the upmarket stationers Smythson and has now set up her own clothing brand Cefin. She talks to Emma about life at number 10, family, fashion and business. Rape victims at the heart of a landmark court case say they have been failed by the Crown Prosecution Service. A judicial review lodged against the CPS by the Centre for Women’s Justice (CWJ) and End Violence Against Women (EVAW) coalition is being heard in the Court of Appeal this week. They say that a change in tactic has led to a more cautious approach and a subsequent collapse in rape prosecutions. To discuss the issues Emma is joined by Harriet Wistrich, Director of the CWJ. Former rugby World Cup player Rachael Burford talks about setting up the Girls Rugby Club to give the game an international boost. Presented by Emma Barnett Producer: Louise Corley Editor: Karen Dalziel

An award-winning author, columnist, journalist, activist and a pioneering voice on immigration, diversity, and multiculturalism, Yamin Alibhai-Brown is arguably one of the most influential women in Britain. A self described 'leftie liberal, anti-racist, feminist, Muslim' she is a familiar face on our TV screens and on the newsstands, and is well known for her quick-wit and articulate commentary on gender identity and creating social change. Alibhai-Brown came to the UK in 1972 from Uganda after completing her undergraduate degree in English at Makerere University. As a journalist she has written for The Guardian, Observer, The New York Times, Time Magazine, Newsweek, The Evening Standard, The Mail and other newspapers and was a weekly columnist on The Independent for eighteen years. She was the first regular columnist of colour on a national newspaper in the UK, the first female Muslim too. For over twenty five years she has been consulted by various institutions and businesses on race and gender equality, and has met and advised politicians, peers and ministers on diversity and inclusion policies in Britain’s complex democracy. She is, it has to be said, a total powerhouse.In this in-depth podcast I chat to Alibhai-Brown about her background, views and career. We talk at length about confronting sexism, racism, ageism and lookism. We cover the immense pressure on women over 45 in the media to look good, and chat about how she feels about getting older. We also speak in detail about Alibhai-Brown's latest book: 'Ladies Who Punch: Fifty Trailblazing Women Whose Stories You Should Know' which celebrates fifty daring and indomitable women who have punched their way through life and challenged the world order to fight for their human rights. Both famous and lesser known, the line-up includes Sophia Singh, the forgotten suffragette; detective superintendent Shabnam Chaudhri, the first Asian/Muslim to hold that role in the Met; and Harriet Wistrich, the inimitable human rights lawyer. Then there's Reni Eddo-Lodge, Caroline Criado Perez, Laura Bates and more (even women Alibhai-Brown doesn't like, but recognises for their extraordinary actions). Featuring interviews with the women themselves and cheering on those who are fighting for equality, this brilliant book of fearless ladies is a tonic during what is turning out to be an exceedingly crappy year.Producer and audio engineer: Linda Ara-TebaldiHost: Alyson WalshGuest: Yasmin Alibhai-BrownMusic: David SchweitzerArtwork: Ayumi TakahashiDigital technician: Tom Hole at StirtingaleCoordinator: Helen Johnson

Harriet Wistrich is founder and director of the Centre for Womens Justice 2016, a multi partner organisation aimed at bringing cases holding the state to account in relation to violence against women and girls. She is also a solicitor of many years experience, winner of the Liberty Human Rights Lawyer of the Year award 2014 and Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year 2018. She also a founder of the campaign group Justice for Women and trustee of the charity, the Emma Humphreys Memorial Prize. She has acted for Sally Challen, for the two women who sued the police in the Worboys case and challenged the parole board decision to release him and for Fiona Broadfoot and others in their challenge of the governments disclosure and barring scheme requiring them to disclose criminal records for soliciting. Harriet joins Pippa Banham in conversation about her vital work for women, the law and feminism.Update: Further to our interview with Harriet Wistrich in which we discussed this case and pending appeal we are absolutely delighted by the Court of Appeal's recent judgment giving permission to proceed with a judicial review of the CPS policy & practice on charging rape cases. Huge congratulations to Harriet and all the team at the Centre for Women's Justice for this important work.LINKSCENTRE FOR WOMEN'S JUSTICETWITTER - CWJTWITTER - HARRIET WISTRICHFACEBOOK - CWJ

Harriet Wistrich is founder and director of the Centre for Womens Justice 2016, a multi partner organisation aimed at bringing cases holding the state to account in relation to violence against women and girls. She is also a solicitor of many years experience, winner of the Liberty Human Rights Lawyer of the Year award 2014 and Legal Aid Lawyer of the Year 2018. She also a founder of the campaign group Justice for Women and trustee of the charity, the Emma Humphreys Memorial Prize. She has acted for Sally Challen, for the two women who sued the police in the Worboys case and challenged the parole board decision to release him and for Fiona Broadfoot and others in their challenge of the governments disclosure and barring scheme requiring them to disclose criminal records for soliciting. Harriet joins Pippa Banham in conversation about her vital work for women, the law and feminism.Update: Further to our interview with Harriet Wistrich in which we discussed this case and pending appeal we are absolutely delighted by the Court of Appeal’s recent judgment giving permission to proceed with a judicial review of the CPS policy & practice on charging rape cases. Huge congratulations to Harriet and all the team at the Centre for Women’s Justice for this important work.LINKSCENTRE FOR WOMEN’S JUSTICETWITTER - CWJTWITTER - HARRIET WISTRICHFACEBOOK - CWJ

“Gendered power dynamics underpin the AI debate,” says Ivana Bartoletti. She’s an expert in data privacy and has set up a network called, Women Leading in AI. Ivana believes AI is linked to inequality and oppression. She talks to us about getting more women into coding, our addiction to being online and female cyborgs like Alexa and Siri. Why is the issue of HPV only discussed in relation to younger people? That's a question put by Helen, one of our listeners. The HPV vaccine is currently given to girls and boys in the UK, but would it help if older women got it too? We chat to Helen, as well as Imogen Pinnell from Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust. The Domestic Abuse Bill 2020 is having its third reading today in the House of Commons. It's taken two years to get to this point. Today we talk to Harriet Wistrich, Director of the Centre for Women’s Justice. She talks to Jane about the Bill’s significance, but more specifically about women prisoners who've offended partly because they've been victims of domestic abuse. She wants a further amendment to be added to the Bill which would give them legal protection. We also hear from Gisela Valle, Director of the Latin American Women’s Rights Service. And we meet Evie Mackenzie. She's part of a winning school-team, who've discovered a way to cut down on plastic waste. It involves mealworms! We chat to Evie and her teacher Thandiwe Banda.

The Secretary of State for Education Gavin Williamson has confirmed that all schools will close in England and Wales and there’ll be no GCSE or A Level exams this summer. How are schools and pupils proposing to cope? Ruby is a 17-year old pupil in Somerset, due to take her A levels shortly. Charlie is 25 and is doing an access course to be a paramedic. It involves cramming 2 years of A-levels into 1 year. Carolyn Roberts is the Head Teacher at Thomas Tallis School in South London. A legal challenge over alleged changes to Crown Prosecution Service policy on bringing charges in rape cases was dismissed by the high court this week. The Centre for Women’s Justice brought the case on behalf of the End Violence Against Women Coalition following concerns over steep falls in rape charges and convictions in recent years - at a time when an increasing number of women have been making rape complaints to police. Human rights lawyer, Harriet Wistrich, clarifies why the case was brought and someone we are calling Olivia explains why she wanted her case to be one of the 21 cases included as evidence. The writer Sali Hughes has been talking to women about objects in their lives that are important to them. The things we cherish aren’t always vintage, or even antique - or even expensive. The TV presenter and chef Andi Oliver talks about a one-of-a-kind blanket knitted by her mother. And in today’s family secret is that of a woman we are calling ‘H’ whose whole life has been shaped by the sense that there was something she wasn’t being told. Finding out the truth at the age of 17 at a family party and the realisation that everyone else in the family knew all along made her ill. H tells Jo Morris her story.

Helen Mirren tells us about her new film the Good Liar and why even she has fallen for a scam. We talk about a DIY home urine or swab test currently being trialled as an alternative to the cervical smear with Imogen Pinnell from Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust Line. We hear from two female police officers about their difficulties reporting allegations of domestic abuse against their partner who also works for the police. The human rights lawyer and founding director of the Centre for Women’s Justice, Harriet Wistrich talks about launching an official Super-Complaint where repeated allegations of 16 cases of domestic abuse where made only for the cases to be dropped. We discuss the safety of vaccinations with Professor Helen Bedford from UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, Professor Adam Finn a Professor of Paediatrics at the Bristol Children’s Vaccine Centre and from Dr Tonia Thomas from the Vaccine Knowledge at Oxford University. Rising soul artist Celeste talks about her music and the support of BBC Introducing. She performs her new single, Strange. Father and daughter Mark and Emily Simmonds talk about overcoming mental illness and their book Breakdown and Repair.

Presenter: Tina Daheley Producer: Kirsty Starkey According to Freedom of Information requests made by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism almost 700 cases of alleged domestic abuse involving police officers and staff were reported in the three years to April 2018. An official “super-complaint” is to be launched and central to that are at least 12 cases where women have made allegations of domestic abuse and sexual violence against an officer, only for the case to be dropped and, on occasion, for the alleged victim to be arrested and intimidated. We’ll hear from Harriet Wistrich lawyer and founding director of the Centre for Women’s Justice who are bringing the complaint and two female Police officers, one serving and one former, who are bringing a claim against Gwent Police. Jann Haworth is the co-creator of The Beatles' iconic Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover. Regarded as one of the leading figures of the British Pop Art movement she was also seen as a pioneer in the face of the 1960’s American feminist movements. Creator of soft sculpture, she is an advocate for the representation of women in the art world and talks to Tina about her current exhibition at Pallant Gallery in Chichester. Amaryllis Fox was just 21 when she was recruited by the CIA. Posing as an art dealer she infiltrated terrorist networks in the Middle East and Asia. She’s written a memoir ‘Life Undercover’ about her career with the CIA and joins Tina to discuss. Interviewed Guest: Harriet Wistrich Interviewed Guest: Jann Haworth Interviewed Guest: Amaryllis Fox

Dany Cotton the Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade talks about how she dealt with trauma in her years as a firefighter. Dr John Green Chief Psychologist for Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust and Gill Scott-Moore CEO of Police Care UK discuss how best to help first responders with their mental health. We discuss the power of grime music to politically engage young people with the campaigner Amika George, Dr Joy White who has a Phd in Grime and the author and performer Debris Stevenson. The Great British Bake off winner from 2015 Nadiya Hussain talks to us about how her pets help her relax. Dr Katherine Garzonis a psychologist, the author of gardening books Hollie Newton and the food writer Bea Wilson tell us how they switch off. Children’s Laureate Cressida Cowell tells us why we all need to find someone like us in literature and why more diversity is needed in books - especially for children. We also hear from Aimee Felone a publisher and the author Patrice Lawrence. Harriet Wistrich, the lawyer and founder of the Centre for Justice for Women tells us about growing up and losing her disabled brother Matthew. We also hear from the Playwright Atiha Sen Gupta who’s disabled brother Nihal died when he was 17 year old and she was just thirteen. Presented by Jane Garvey Produced by Rabeka Nurmahomed Edited by Jane Thurlow Interviewed guest: Dany Cotton Interviewed guest: John Green Interviewed guest: Gill Scott-Moore Interviewed guest: Amika George Interviewed guest: Joy White Interviewed guest: Debris Stevenson Interviewed guest: Nadiya Hussain Interviewed guest: Katherine Garzonis Interviewed guest: Hollie Newton Interviewed guest: Bea Wilson Interviewed guest: Cressida Cowell Interviewed guest: Aimee Felone Interviewed guest: Patrice Lawrence Interviewed guest: Harriet Wistrich Interviewed guest: Atiha Sen Gupta

Harriet Wistrich is a human rights lawyer and founder and director of the Centre for Women's Justice. Her cases are consistently in the news – the fight to keep the so-called ‘black cab rapist’, John Worboys in prison and the release of Sally Challen, who had been imprisoned for the murder of her abusive husband. As part of our Takeover week Harriet discusses surviving a disabled sibling, her admiration for Claudia Clare a ‘subversive ceramicist’, the treatment of women accused of lying about a rape allegation, and why Zem Zem Mohammed, an Eritrean refugee, is someone she holds in great esteem. She may not be a household name but we know her cases well. How does a feminist lawyer relax who works tirelessly for the good of women she believes are being mistreated by the criminal justice system? And what compels her to continue to seek justice? When Harriet Wistrich was just eleven years old her disabled brother, Matthew, died. It was the 1960’s and a time when disabled people were institutionalised, shut away and not spoken about. She speaks to her friend’s daughter, Atiha Sen Gupta, a playwright, who also lost a disabled brother, Nihal, in 2001 when he was 17 and she was 13. What did their different experiences of loss highlight for Harriet in terms of grief, guilt and how society's attitudes to disability changed in that 30 years? As a human rights lawyer Harriet’s focus is on the treatment of women in the criminal justice system. What happens to women who have alleged rape and who then find themselves charged with perverting the course of justice when it’s suspected they have lied? She discusses how the system needs to change with Gillian Jones QC who worked on the case of Jemma Beale. Zem Zem Mohammed escaped Eritrea at the age of 18 and spent five traumatic years crossing the Sahara to Sudan and then to Libya and to the UK to claim asylum via Italy and Malta. Now 37, settled with her husband and two children, she works as a Health and Safety inspector on the railways at nights wearing a hard hat over her hijab. Her extraordinarily resilience and entrepreneurial spirit was something Harriet Wistrich wanted to celebrate as part of her Woman’s Hour takeover Claudia Clare is an artist who uses her ceramics to record and celebrate stories of feminist activism. We find out why she thinks ceramics are the best way to be what she says is subversive. Presenter: Jane Garvey Producer: Kirsty Starkey Interviewed Guest: Harriet Wistrich Interviewed Guest: Atiha Sen Gupta Interviewed Guest: Gillian Jones Interviewed Guest: Zem Zem Mohammed Interviewed Guest: Claudia Clare

The actress Amanda Abbington, who's well-known for her part in Sherlock, is now in a harrowing new play about teenage depression. It's called The Son and has just opened at the Kiln Theatre in North London. It's about 16 year old Nicolas who is going through a difficult time after his parents' divorce. He misses school, lies and self-harms. Amanda plays his mother and joins us in the studio. Also with us is Dr Bernadka Dubicka, Chair of the Faculty of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry from Royal College of Psychiatrists. She talks to us about some of the important themes in the play.We speak to Harriet Wistrich, the lawyer of Sally Challen, the woman in prison for killing her husband. Yesterday her murder conviction was quashed by the Court of Appeal. She now faces a retrial. Her lawyer wants her conviction downgraded to manslaughter because they say she was a victim of coercive control. Asma Khan calls herself a "house cook" but she's set up a central London restaurant which is completely run by women. Her rotas are made up of four hour shifts so her staff can combine work with family commitments. It just makes sense she says and helps women enter the workplace. Asma's new cookery book is a bestseller on Amazon. She joins us to talk about food, work and family. More ‘Bump, Birth and Beyond'. We catch up once more with our group of listeners who are telling us about their new babies. They're now one years old. We hear from the dads today, and one of the grannies, to find out how the new babies have affected their mental health.

Laura Richards and Lisa Zambetti discuss Sally Challen's murder conviction and successful appeal on March 1st, the pioneering coercive control law and the lawyer, Harriet Wistrich, who is holding the state to account when they let women down.This is a special episode to mark International Women's Day and pay tribute to Harriet and other leading advocates who tirelessly lobby, campaign and raise awareness of injustice on behalf of women who have lost their voice and been let down.#IWD2018 #HerNameISSallyNotesJustice 4 Womenhttps://www.justiceforwomen.org.uk/Coercive Control Law and Statutory Guidancehttps://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/482528/Controlling_or_coercive_behaviour_-_statutory_guidance.pdfDASH Risk Identification, Assessment and Management Modelwww.dashriskchecklist.co.ukLaura's 'Policing Domestic Violence' Bookhttps://www.laurarichards.co.uk/books/Sign the petition for serial stalkers and domestic abuse perpetrators to be included on the violent and sex offenders registerhttps://www.change.org/p/rt-hon-theresa-may-mp-create-a-stalker-s-registerSPONSORED BYSunbasket... go to sunbasket.com/realcrime for a special offer.Also by The Princeton Reviewprincetonreview.com/realcrime

WLRN's 18th edition podcast is packed with information and stories about prostitution, pornography and the sex trade. Though this topic is a difficult one to discuss, WLRN is committed to facing the truth about the conditions under which women live worldwide. For this reason and since we have never addressed this issue head-on before in a podcast, we are going over our normal hour length to offer up this collaborative work that is nearly two hours long. We were able to get in touch with some of the world's leading experts and activists on this topic including Samantha Berg, Julie Bindel, Sabrinna Valisce and Renee Gerlich. Each of our guests have unique and powerful things to say about the male-driven rape industry that plagues us in these latter stages of global patriarchal capitalism. In addition, hear our WLRN world headlines as written and presented by Amanda. Tired of patriarchal news coverage of global events? Take a listen to our headlines that come at the beginning of each podcast. And finally, enjoy the scathing and rich language employed by our resident female separatist, Sekhmet SheOwl as she holds leftist men accountable to the neolibral politics of the sex trade and calls for women everywhere to fight it in solidarity. Samantha Berg is a journalist, activist, and radical feminist. Originally a reproductive rights and anti-poverty advocate, in 2002 she began working against prostitution, specifically seeking to reduce men’s demand for paid sex. In recent years Samantha been organizing conferences and public events to build community among radical feminists. You can read Samantha’s published articles at the blog Johnstompers.com Julie Bindel is an English writer, feminist, and co-founder of the law-reform group Justice for Women, which opposes violence against women and helps women who have been prosecuted for killing violent male partners. She is the author of The Map of My Life: The Story of Emma Humphreys (with Harriet Wistrich, 2003), Straight Expectations (2014), and The Pimping of Prostitution (2017). This last book is set to be released this month in London at a public event that will feature women speaking out against the sex trade. http://www.palgrave.com/us/book/9781137558893 Sabrinna Valisce experienced prostitution in the South Pacific under three legislative models and is now the South Pacific representative of SPACE International. http://www.spaceintl.org/She is a former volunteer with the New Zealand Prostitutes Collective but left when it became clear decriminalization was unable to fix sex trade problems. She participates in strategy meetings for Abolitionist Model implementation in Victoria working alongside frontline services, organizations, MPs, police officers and researchers. As of November 2017 Sabrinna will be joining the board of Herspace, a unique Trauma Informed Service for women harmed by sexual exploitation. Renee Gerlich is an artist, writer and feminist activist living in Wellington New Zealand. She spoke with WLRN's Julia Beck about an art exhibit she curated last month called Too Much Truth about the global sex trade. You can read her writings here: https://reneejg.net/ Musical selections for this edition are "Me and a Gun" by Tori Amos and "Invincible" by Pat Benatar.