MEWSo aims to defend and protect women from violence both at home and in the wider community
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News, views & updates from MEWSo
October 2020
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MEWSo to hold Conference on Migrant Women
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Friday 30 October, 3-6pm, put it in your diary and join MEWSo to discuss the specific issues facing London's migrant women - domestic abuse, domestic violence, modern-day slavery - due to their uncertain immigration status. We will be joined by notable speakers also concerned and campaigning on the issue, and there will be plenty of opportunities for you to give your views on how we go forward in demanding their human rights. The conference's online details will be posted on our website nearer the time. So keep a look out and come join the debate. Remember:
Friday 30 October, 3-6pm.
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Ban Tests, Yes, But Educate Too
MEWSo welcomes France's new law banning the Virginity Certificate. It's a great step forward, says MEWSo Founder & Executive Director Halaleh Taheri, who has campaigned on these issues for years. But banning is only a first step.
"All virginity tests, whether they provide certificates or a verbal confirmation, should be banned. But there also needs to be more education in communities and schools about the myths and the inherent dangers to girls and women from these deep-rooted, misogynistic customs." she says.
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"Education must take place alongside prevention otherwise the virginity industry will simply go underground like the days when abortions were illegal. Ultimately it is the Government's responsibility to protect women who do not need these tests or the humiliation. It's about upholding women's human rights."
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Like A Virgin: Exploding Myths
A new video about the virginity industry is now on MEWSo's YouTube channel playlist. In it, Halaleh Taheri explains about MEWSo's campaign, Hymenoplasty Matters, which aims to educate communities and ban tests and surgeries related to the industry.
The film, made by Natasha Feroze, a broadcast student at City University, includes notable contributions from Baroness Nicholson, Mary Dines of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, and Anup Manota of Karma Nirvana, a helpline for the victims of honour-based abuse.
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On The Case
Look out for Halaleh Taheri's contribution to the Sunday Times investigation of the virginity industry, testing and hymenoplasty. Due out soon.
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MEWSo has held a series of discussions in our workshops on health and wellbeing in line with our partnership with the BME Health Forum. Specifically, in light of an almost guaranteed second wave of Covid-19, our aim is to raise awareness of Westminster's Contact Tracing Scheme to help people stay safe. We have also been looking into the prevalence of dementia in the communities we serve. If you want more information on these topics, see the Covid-19 information on our website, call: 07579 801 366 or email: office@mewso.org.
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Check out MEWSo's new Woman's World workshop for our Arabic-speakers (see flyer above). You decide what you want to learn and we'll try our best to make it
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happen. Don't forget, our English conversation class is still going strong, every Thursday 11am-1pm so come along to polish up your language skills.
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And, express yourself artistically in our art & crafts workshop, every Tuesday from 11am-1pm.
To take part in any or all of these classes just email: office@mewso.org or call: 07579 801 366.
To access our creative writing sessions specifically tailored for LBTQ+ women and to find out dates and times, call: 07579 801 365 or email: Sodabeh.Gashtasebi@mewso.org.
Always keep a look out for more opportunities from MEWSo to learn & create with women from your community.
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We are always on the look out for volunteers. If you would like to contribute and feel you can commit a couple of hours a week, then please do get in touch.
We need bi-lingual volunteer Befrienders to support women from Middle Eastern, North African and Asian communities living in London.
The women may be elderly and live alone, or isolated because they don't speak English, be from the LBTQ+ community and at risk of discrimination, hostility & harm, or simply need someone to talk to.
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If you would like to do something rewarding and worthwhile, call: 07579 801 366 or email:
office@mewso.org. Thank you.
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Welcome Cathleen
We are pleased to welcome Cathleen Clarke as MEWSo's new Campaign Coordinator.
Cathleen is an activist and professional campaigner with a flair for organisation and communications. She joins us having previously worked in local, regional and national campaigns for the People's Vote Campaign; for Emily Thornberry MP (Shadow Secretary of State for International Trade); and for the Labour Party.
She, says, she's looking forward to working with MEWSo to expand its reach with stakeholders and in the media.
You'll learn more about Cathleen in the coming months.
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And, Introducing Ellie...
Ellie has been MEWSo's Fundraising Manager for a year having come from the world of International Development. But her experience goes back a long way; from fundraising for local authorities to working for charities that cover the globe. Read on ...
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MEWSletter written by Audrey Thompson, MEWSo Communications Coordinator
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