11th October at the Brighton Centre, attended by 2,400 women.  As a direct result we raised over £1250 in individual donations. We are so grateful to FiLiA for the platform it gave us.

Our Chair Jean Calder was invite to speak for 10 minutes in the opening session, just after Katy Bourne, Sussex

Police and Crime Commissioner, who opened the conference, followed by Jenny Stroud and Sue Delafons of the wonderful Brighton & Hove Women’s History Group.

Jean Calder said: “It was nerve-wracking speaking to such a huge audience, but it seemed to go well. There was a great deal of interest at our stall from women from all over the country – and the world. We spoke to women from from Devon to Corby and the north of Scotland, and from Australia to Canada and the DR Congo. Mary’s story fascinated them. Several said they were moved to tears by her courage and the fact she’d been forgotten. We believe the statue will be a huge draw to international visitors. Several promised they would come back to see it.”

FiLiA is a charity operating across many countries which campaigns, it says, “for a world free from patriarchy where all women and girls are liberated.” The people attending the conference heard from 250 speakers from around the world. In a series of talks and workshops, there was discussion of a range of topics affecting women – from maternity rights and birth defects due to industrial pollution, through to rape in war and all forms of sexual and domestic violence (or as some speakers called it ‘state-torture’ and ‘non-state torture’). The primary focus was on how to combat violence against women and girls.

In that regard, it was disappointing to witness each morning aggressive noisy protesters hurling abuse at the women going in to the Centre. They did not succeed in disrupting the conference and thanks are due for this to FiLiA personnel, Brighton Centre staff and officers of Sussex Police.

We are very grateful to FiLiA. Its remarkable work largely relies on the work of volunteers.  We know how difficult that can be, especially in such challenging times.