Survivor of abuse by MI5 agent wins damages settlement
The Director General of MI5 has apologised to a woman who was victimised by a neo-Nazi informant while he was working for the Security Service.
11 years’ imprisonment for ‘therapist’ sexual abuser after case initially closed by police
On 12 March at Lewes Crown Court Gerald Peck was sentenced to 11 years’ imprisonment for sexual offences and has been ordered to pay the survivor £10,000 to cover the cost of the therapy she has since needed.
Centre for Women’s Justice welcomes national Independent Legal Advice service for rape survivors and extension of ‘Operation Soteria’ to the court
The Ministry of Justice has announced their long-awaited plans to fund an independent legal advice service for victim-survivors of rape.
The legacy of Sarah Everard – Five years on 3 March 2026: A national conversation on Violence against Women and Girls, but slow pace of change
As we remember the horrendous events and revelations that followed the disappearance of Sarah Everard, five years ago today, Centre for Women’s Justice reflects on the changes that have been made to policing and the government response to violence against women and girls.
Comment on Jane Andrews case, ‘The Lady’
In anticipation of ITV’s new drama series ‘The Lady’ said to portray the ‘true crime story’ of a ‘rags to riches’ Royal aide of Sarah Ferguson, former Duchess of York, Harriet Wistrich, CEO of Centre for Women’s Justice, who represented Jane Andrews at her appeal in 2003, comments
Court to consider criminal appeal by Merseyside woman convicted of murder in 2015
On27 January, The Court of Appeal will consider legal submissions and fresh evidence in support of an appeal by Amanda O’Shaughnessy, who stabbed her violent partner, David Butterworth, in December 2014.
CWJ welcomes progress on addressing victims’ unjust criminalisation but warns urgent legal reforms still needed
We welcome key commitments in the government’s long-awaited Freedom from Violence and Abuse strategy published yesterday. However, the strategy fails to introduce urgently needed protections for victim-survivors accused of offending.
Government to publish long-overdue VAWG Strategy on 18 December
We set out our expectations for how the strategy will approach criminal justice reform.
Super-Complaint Launched Over ‘Excessively Lengthy’ Police Investigations into Sexual Offences
Soaring police delays have left over 37,000 survivors of sexual offences waiting for more than three years for their cases to be investigated over the last decade, according to survivor organisations launching a rare type of action against policing today.
FIGHTBACK
Our new film ‘Fightback’, highlights the plight of women convicted of the murder of male partners who were violent and abusive towards them.
'The Unthinkable' Book Giveaway - Terms & Conditions
The terms and conditions for the social media giveaway to win a copy of ‘The Unthinkable’.
'Bad experiences not bad character' Campaign win
Government commits to law change that will restrict victims’ previous experiences of rape and sexual violence being used against them in court.
Government adopt CWJ proposals to give rape victims a fair hearing
The Government has announced a series of reforms to allow rape victims a fairer hearing at trial.
CWJ demand action to address life-threatening delays to rape trials
Rape Crisis England and Wales have released new research showing the devastating impact of the Crown Court backlog on victims and survivors of rape and sexual abuse. The new report, Living in Limbo, updates the data from their 2023 report, Breaking Point, which showed the extent of the damage already being done by a desperately under-resourced court system. This new report reveals the ongoing, and compounding harm since then.
CWJ welcomes government plans to expunge unjust ‘child prostitution’ convictions
Centre for Women’s Justice is delighted to see measures introduced by the government in the Crime and Policing Bill to disregard and pardon historic “child prostitution” convictions.
CWJ response to launch of Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s MI5 probe
CWJ welcomes statements made by the Prime Minister and the Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office, announcing that the Deputy Investigatory Powers Commissioner Sir John Goldring will lead an independent investigation into MI5 – following revelations of improper conduct in proceedings about a secret agent ‘X’.
CWJ comment on The Jury: Murder Trial (Series 2) - The trial of a woman who killed her violent boyfriend
The second series in Channel 4’s BAFTA winning series, The Jury, to be screened from 26 August reconstructs the murder trial of a young woman who killed her violent boyfriend.
CWJ response to Investigatory Powers Tribunal’s judgment on MI5’s false evidence in the case of ‘Beth’
The President of the Investigatory Powers Tribunal has handed down a judgment on the implications of MI5 relying on false information in proceedings about its abusive agent, ‘X’.
CWJ’s initial response to publication of Law Commission’s landmark report on sexual offences
The Law Commission are today (22 July 2025) publishing a report on their consultation examining the law, guidance, and practice relating to the use of evidence in sexual offences cases.
New research reveals how the criminal justice system colludes with perpetrators of coercive control to criminalise their victims
In our new research report, ‘Doing his job for him’: how the criminal justice system fails victims of coercive control who are accused of offending’, we present the accounts of seven victims of coercive control who were unfairly criminalised as a result of their own experience of abuse and recommend reforms in law, policy and practice.