Sheffield to focus on social justice

22nd March 2017

Sheffield will turn the spotlight on tough issues such as human trafficking, recovering from drug addiction and policing during a week of hard-hitting public events.

Social Justice Week (April 3-7), organised by Sheffield Hallam's pioneering centre for human rights, the Helena Kennedy Centre for International Justice, is a week of free events across the city that seeks to engage local communities in understanding the challenges and barriers to achieving social justice. The opening event of the week on Monday 3 April, Women's Access to Justice, will tackle issues such as sexual violence, human trafficking and domestic violence (The Workstation, 9am - 4pm). Key speakers for the event will include Cristel Amiss from the Black Women's Rape Action Project and Sheffield Hallam's Dr Sunita Toor, who is currently working with a number of police forces in India to improve women's access to justice. On the same day, Chocolate of Peace, a documentary about the Peace Community of San José de Apartadó, Colombia, will be shown at Sheffield Hallam's Void Cinema (5pm - 7pm). Day two (Tuesday 4 April, 1pm - 4pm) will include a workshop run by PhD students who are conducting research with 'marginalised' community members. The event at Sheffield Hallam's Collegiate Campus will include a guest speaker, Kieran Lynch (‎Criminal Justice Programme, Public Health England), who will discuss an example of research conducted with prison communities. On Wednesday 5 April (1pm - 4.30pm), the focus will be policing with the Public Law and Policing: Policing the Future panel event. Taking place at Hallam's Collegiate Crescent, this event will touch on issues such as surveillance, drugs, firearms, privatisation of the policing of public spaces, and the challenge of policing in the context of vulnerable groups in society. With Brexit now looming ever closer, the role of the European Court of Human Rights will be explored on Thursday 6 April (4.30pm - 7pm) at a panel event. Special attention will be paid to how the potential exit from the Council of Europe's human rights system will affect UK citizens, EU residents in the UK and human rights protection in Europe at large. Social Justice Week 2017 will conclude with the Desistance and Recovery Academy Conference at The Workstation on Friday 7 April (9.30am - 4.30pm). This one-day event, led by world-leading voice on desistance and recovery, Professor David Best, will focus on research, society and policy impact, and international perspectives on desistance and recovery. Professor David Best, head of criminology at Sheffield Hallam, said: "Social Justice Week brings together a diverse range of individuals and organisations linked by their commitment to the principles of social justice to talk about innovations and achievements and to build on these shared values. "We have focused this year's event on some very challenging and thought-provoking themes that are of concern to all of us. It is vital, now more than ever, to make sure the more vulnerable people in society are being given access to adequate support and access to justice, and our events will both raise awareness of these issues and give voice to evidence and opinions that may not be readily accessible. "By working with our partners, and helping educate the wider public, we can turn the spotlight on marginalised groups and empower them through collective decision-making and discussions, and through doing so advance our own ambitious and wide-reaching programme of applied social research and engagement." Social Justice Week events, which will take place at venues across the city, are free to attend and open to members of the general public. Click here to see the list of events and to register.