THE UNIVERSITY of Worcester will host a conference to explore the resilience of women in the refugee crisis as part of ‘International Women’s Day’.
The event, which will take place at the University’s Riverside Building today (Wednesday), will celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women across the world, and their courage and strength in the face of the current crisis.
Organised by the University’s National Centre for the Study and Prevention of Violence and Abuse (NCSPVA), the event will also feature presentations from some of the University’s postgraduate students, as well as from representatives of academic, charity and media backgrounds, to give different perspectives on the issue.
Prof Jenny Phillimore, director of the University of Birmingham’s Institute for Research into superdiversity, will speak on gender and refugee integration, whilst Caroline Gregory, an editor, writer, traveller and aid worker, will speak on the experience of gender when working in refugee camps.
Beverley Gilbert, senior lecturer in the NCSPVA, who co-organised the event, said: “Everyone can play a part in helping to drive better outcomes for women and girls across the globe, to create a more gender inclusive world.
“We’re using International Women’s Day to celebrate the social, economic and cultural achievements of women and specifically this year, to recognise the courage of refugee women and girls who come to the UK to start a new life, hopefully with security and safety.”
Kirsty Fraser, a University of Worcester Masters student, who will be speaking at the event, said: “I’ll be highlighting the importance of solidarity within the refugee crisis and exploring what that means.
“I’ll also be drawing on my experiences of working with women in the Dunkirk refugee camp.”
The event will run from 2pm to 6pm and cost £25 per person.
Visit www.worcester.ac.uk/discover/ncspva-events to book a place of for more information.
