Blackstock Road ‘Making Safer Places’ Meeting, 11th November 2008, 6pm – 7.30pm at FinFuture

Women’s Design Service is working with FinFuture in order to build on the valuable work which has taken place in relation to improving community safety in the Blackstock Road area. We want to broaden that partnership to involve local women and invite you to discuss the various ways in which you can be involved.

As part of our EHRCfunded project on “promoting good relations” we are developing our 2making safer places" work and want to encourage refugee women in Islington to participate. We have resources for childcare support, travel and to translate for women who speak other languages especially Turkish, Arabic, Somalian and Spanish.

Our meeting will be held on Tuesday 11th November 2008 at FinFuture offices. 225-229 Seven Sisters Road from 6pm – 7.30pm and we extend a warm welcome to all women who have concerns about community safety and hope to see you there.

Campaign to Reform Lapdance Club Licensing

WDS is backing a campaign by the Fawcett Society to have lapdance clubs licensed as Sex Encounter Establishments. This would allow local authorities to introduce conditions and restrictions through the planning system, and local people would get to say whether or not they wanted such clubs in their areas. Currently lapdance clubs only require a Premises License – just like any ordinary pub or karaoke night.

What’s the problem?

o        Lapdance clubs are a part of the commercial sex industry and normalise the sexual objectification of women.

o        Research has found that areas around these clubs can become ‘no-go’ areas for women..

o       The 2003 Licensing Act conflicts with the Gender Equality Duty, which requires local authorities to promote gender equality in all they do.

o       The 2003 Act denies local authorities the right to apply conditions and restrictions on lapdance clubs, including decisions in relation to the number of clubs allowed in one area, the presence of ‘private booths’ in the clubs, and the required distance between performers and customers.

What you can do:

Petition the Prime Minister by adding your name to calls for lapdance clubs to be licensed as Sex Encounter Establishments.

Write to your MP before 18th June asking them to support EDM 1375 and Roberta Blackman Woods' 10 Minute Rule Bill calling for licensing reforms. You can download a model letter from Fawcett’s website.

More information about lapdance clubs here

More information about the Fawcett’s Sexism and the City campaign here or contact: kat.banyard@fawcettsociety.org.uk; 020 7253 2598

Gendersite launched

Gendersite now live! The definitive online resource for gender and the built environment: www.gendersite.org Women’s Design Service and Queen Mary University of London have been finded by UrbanBuzz to create this site which provides a searchable database of publications, research findings and articles which address gender issues in the built environment.

Bringing Women Together

CEHR-funded project for refugee women in Islington

Making Safer Places bags for sale

Available now: 100% Cotton printed bags promoting our Making Safer Places work. These can be purchased using PayPal.

Long-handled bags £4	Short-handled £4