Trigger warning – Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse is widespread disease found in all communities. 1 in 4 women have experienced some type of sexual abuse yet only 15% report it to the police and even less attempt to claim some type of compensation or retribution.
The reasons for this are many including the fact that many of us don't have enough information or support regarding the legal process or even how compensation schemes work. Hawaa Empowerment aims to change this by providing a free educational workshop where we will be discussing the civil remedies available to survivors of sexual abuse and assaults.
It will equip attendees with knowledge about how to disclose or report abuse, how to claim compensation, the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority and the process involved in bringing a civil claim for compensation. Case studies will be used to illustrate what compensation can be claimed for. This event is aimed at survivors and those who work with survivors, to empower them to disclose the abuse they have suffered and seek remedies which will allow them to move forward and start the process of healing.
The training is a collaboration between Hawaa Empowerment and Zahra Awaiz-Bilal, a specialist abuse lawyer at Bolt Burdon Kemp, who represents survivors in their claims against various organisations as well as in claims directly against abusers. She has 10 years’ experience of working solely with survivors and helping them take the necessary steps to seek justice. Zahra has a wealth of knowledge about the issues which matter to survivors and she understands that bringing a claim is not always just about compensation but often, more importantly, about acknowledgment and recognition of the wrong that has been done. Zahra is accredited by the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers as a Senior Litigator and she is also a member of the Association of Child Abuse Lawyers.
This is a safe space where attendees are more than welcome to attend anonymously. Recordings will not be permitted and personal information will not be shared.