Abi Richards
I’m a Masters's student at the University College of London who is thoroughly interested in the field of human rights and women's rights. I’m very lucky to have been brought up in a family where I’ve been encouraged to work my hardest and believe I can do anything. However, during my time in education, especially while studying sociology at the undergraduate level, I have come to understand that women, in so many areas, begin at a disadvantage due to structural inequalities. I believe everyone should be fighting for the equality of their peers. And although women’s rights have seen some amazing progress, it’s never over until there is full global equality for women and men.
A Misogynistic System Said to Protect Us: Addressing Violence Against Women in the UK Police
The grounds for this written piece sit within its necessity. The recent publicity on the events of former Metropolitan police officers Wayne Couzens and David Carrick who carried out attacks on women demonstrate the extent of sexual violence that is accepted in this system. This piece focuses specifically on the accepted and internalized misogyny…
Death of Mahsa Amini: The World’s Response and Resistance
On the 13th of September 2022, Mahsa Amini was arrested by morality police in Tehran, Iran, for not abiding by the state’s mandatory hijab law. On the 16th of September, Amini died after going into a coma in morality police custody. An Iranian coroner stated that Amini had underlying health conditions that led to her…
Gendered Impacts of Climate Displacement
International and governmental responses to any crisis, such as the pandemic, have previously excluded women and dismissed the gendered impacts. This article examines the gendered impacts of climate change and displacement. It comprises four main sections. I) The first section examines the extent of the climate crisis today and how this disproportionately affects developing countries. II)…
The United Kingdom’s Decision to Cut Foreign Aid is having Catastrophic Effects on Women’s Reproductive Rights and Sexual Health.
The continued cut to foreign aid from the UK government has proved to be catastrophic for many countries in crisis and the NGOs providing support to them. Yemen, often considered the world’s worst humanitarian crisis, has had international aid from the UK violently cut by more than 60%. This has pushed more than 100 UK Charities…
The Burden of Unpaid Care on Women
According to the OECD Development Centre, it is estimated that across the globe, women carry out two to ten times more unpaid care than men. This unwritten expectation that women should carry out these tasks is long-standing. Gender stereotypes and norms have become deeply entrenched in society’s psyche. This article examines the burden of unpaid care…
Alternative Forms of Justice for Victim-Survivors of Sexual Violence
Seeking justice after experiencing sexual violence can be a complex process for victim-survivors. For many, seeking conventional justice (through a criminal justice system) can provide a strong sense of reclaimed physical space in their lives. However, for some this may not be the right decision. Indeed, for many victim-survivors around the world, turning towards a justice…
Turkey Withdraws From the Istanbul Convention Putting Women’s Rights At Great Risk
On the 20th of March 2021, Turkey announced its withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention. Sparking international outrage, the withdrawal acts as a disappointing setback to the progress of gender equality. Putting Turkish women’s rights in a precarious position, the Turkish government has demonstrated its lack of dedication to ending violence against women and domestic violence. This…
The Intersections Between Gender and Disability: Listening to Every Woman.
International Women’s Day is not just a day to celebrate the progress and improvement of women’s rights across the globe, but also an opportunity to look at the areas we must focus on. On this International Women’s Day, it must be remembered that every woman has a different experience within society. Adopting an intersectional and inclusive…
Acid Attacks on Women in India: Why We Failed to Tackle It?
Acid attacks have been defined as a form of violence, in which acid or another corrosive substance is thrown at a person – usually, a woman or a girl – with the intention of maiming, torturing, or killing them(Action Aid, 2020). Women make up 80% of acid attack victims making these types of attacks highly gendered…
Women’s Safety At Work in The Post Me Too Era
Women’s Safety At Work Women’s safety at work was a completely neglected subject for decades until more and more women started speaking up about their own experiences of facing discrimination and harassment. A study on 1500 women suggested that 52% of women had experienced unwanted sexual behaviour at work (The Everyday Sexism Project). Furthermore, a 2017…
