The Shadow Pandemic – Shining the media spotlight on violence against women and girls
The UN has described the worldwide increase in domestic abuse as a “shadow pandemic” alongside Covid-19
About this Event
We are delighted to partner with The London Press Club in supporting The Media Circle in hosting this special event shining a spotlight on violence against women and girls and its representation in the media.
The Shadow of the Pandemic brings together a phenomenal line-up of accomplished broadcasters and journalists to share their insights on why women and girls face increased levels of violence at this time, and what we can all do to ensure their stories are represented more widely in the media.
Panel Speakers:
- Ayesha Hazarika is a stand-up comedian, columnist for the Evening Standard, and a much sought-after political commentator and broadcaster, as well as a familiar face and voice on many satirical panel shows including The News Quiz and Have I Got News For You. Ayesha also presents her own show on Time Radio which covers politics, current affairs and culture. Between 2007 to 2015, she was a Labour party special adviser to Gordon Brown, Harriet Harman and Ed Miliband and helped draft the landmark Equality Act 2010. Her first book, Punch and Judy Politics: An Insiders’ Guide to Prime Minister’s Questions, was a top ten bestselling political book of 2018, and her critically acclaimed one woman show toured at the Edinburgh festival and around the country.
- Dr Isabelle Kerr is Centre Manager of the Glasgow and Clyde Rape Crisis Centre which is Scotland’s first Rape Crisis Centre, opened in 1976, and remains the longest operational in the UK, helping girls and women who have experienced rape, sexual assault and/or violence by providing free and confidential support. Isabelle was recently awarded an MBE and is honoured for her services to British Nationals, abroad and at home, and victims of sexual assault and gender-based violence. Isabelle brings over 35 years’ experience across the Third Sector including homelessness, youth and equalities work among others. She is experienced in the field of trauma and also teaches on this topic at Glasgow University. Isabelle is inspired by the bravery and resilience of survivors and motivated by the young women full of passion and energy keen to support other women and girls.
- Helen Lewis is a journalist and former deputy editor of the New Statesman. Her articles appear in The Atlantic, The Guardian and The Sunday Times. Her critically acclaimed first book, Difficult Women, A History of Feminism in 11 Fights offers up the imperfect and unfinished story of the battles for women’s rights and argues that that too many feminist pioneers have been whitewashed or forgotten in a modern search for inspirational heroines. The book has been a Sunday Times Bestseller, and a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week, amongst many other accolades.
- Dearbhail McDonald (Chair and Moderator) is a writer, broadcaster and journalist. She is the former group business editor of Independent News & Media in Ireland and presenter on BBC N Ireland radio. She is the author of Bust: How the Courts Have Exposed the Rotten Heart of the Irish Economy
This event also marks the launch of the new Media Makers series and Masterclasses from The Media Circle which are planned for 2021.
All donations raised will go towards The Circle’s Women and Girls Solidarity Fund.
Your donation will allow the projects we fund to urgently adapt and scale up their response over the coming months. You can learn more about these projects by clicking here.