Justice & Women's Day with Baroness Kennedy
An Exclusive Conversation with Baroness Helena Kennedy
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An Exclusive Conversation with Baroness Helena Kennedy
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Published
16 February 2024
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The Royal Docks School of Business and Law (RDSBL) is honoured to announce an exclusive event featuring Baroness Helena Kennedy KC, one of Britain's most distinguished lawyers and an internationally renowned human rights champion. The event, scheduled for Tuesday, March 5, 11am-12pm will take place at the USS campus, Stratford. The special occasion which will mark International Women's Day will be hosted and chaired by the esteemed Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of East London, Professor Amanda Broderick.
Helena Kennedy is a Barrister of over 50 years’ experience. She is a King’s Counsel and a member of the House of Lords in the UK Parliament. She is a Master of the Bench at Gray’s Inn and has been Master of an Oxford College, during which time she established the Institute of Human Rights at Oxford University. Presently, serving as the Director of the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), an independent entity within the International Bar Association (IBA), established in 1947, which is the world’s leading organisation of international legal practitioners, bar associations and law societies. She is also the President of Justice, a law reform and human rights charity, working to reform the UK justice system with a focus on the most vulnerable and marginalised in society. In 2023, she was appointed by the Office of the President of Ukraine as Co-Chair of Bring Kids Back UA - a high-level group of experts focused on returning forcefully deported children to Ukraine.
In this special event, Baroness Kennedy, a UEL Honorary Doctorate in Law, will engage in an "In Conversation" session with the Vice-Chancellor and President of UEL, Professor Amanda Broderick to explore various aspects of her remarkable journey in law. The discussion will cover Helena's reflections on prominent legal cases, her commitment to law reform, especially in areas related to sexual and domestic violence, and her tireless efforts for greater representation of women at senior levels in the legal profession and judiciary.
Image Credits: Photographer Credit: Robert Perry
In addition, Baroness Kennedy is the patron of the Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice, which offers support to disadvantaged students who have overcome significant barriers in order to continue with their education at the university level. Each year, the Helena Kennedy Foundation invites FE Colleges and Sixth Form Colleges to nominate a student to receive a £2,250 bursary sponsored by the University of East London to support their progression to higher education as well as receive mentoring and 1-2-1 support from the Foundation.
In 2023, five students were awarded Bursaries to start their degree courses at UEL which included Oskar Buler from New College Pontefract to study Law with International Relations and Jainaba Jobe from Newham College for a degree in Clinical Psychology.
Saadiya Ahmad, Director of Careers and Enterprise and the Legal Advice Centre, said
"As we mark International Women's Day, it is a profound honour to welcome Baroness Kennedy to the University of East London. Colleagues and Students stand to gain valuable insights from her distinguished career at the Bar and inspiring perspectives on gender equality, accessibility to education and her work in human rights. We are pleased to collaborate with the Helena Kennedy Foundation and contribute to the partnership that facilitates students' access to UEL for their higher education."
The Royal Docks School of Business and Law is home to several courses including LLB (Hons) Law and LLM Human Rights Advocacy.