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Keep Prisons Single Sex Crowdfunder

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yourhairiswinterfire · 25/06/2021 15:55

They're raising money to continue their work if anyone can support/share.

Text from the CF:

When we first started almost 12 months ago, we consisted of a few boxes of stickers and a Twitter account run by 1 person as she recovered from covid. We have now grown. Some of our work you may be aware of.

In Parliament we have formed a growing and committed team of MPs and Peers across the political spectrum. KPSS has been responsible for 20 questions asked in both houses about the sex-based rights of women in prison. It was through one of these that we discovered that from 2021 the MoJ will report data on the number of GRC holders in prison.

In Scotland we are talking to MSPs about the specific issues that women in prison in Scotland face and are working to build on our existing alliances.

In Policy we have been consulted on the development of policy. It was through our work that we discovered that two policies relevant to women in prison are under review. This knowledge enabled all groups working for women’s sex-based rights to take action.

We have made over 10 consultation submissions to defend the rights of women in prison.

In the Media we have become a ‘go to’ for journalists who want a quote or to discuss the background to a story. Our letter calling for female prisoners to only be housed with prisoners of the same sex was published in the Telegraph. This was signed by former prison officers, barristers and academics including Professor Rob Wintemute, who co-authored the Yogyakarta Principles.

We have been invited to write for other organisations. We have been interviewed by various GC outlets. These have had over 12,000 views: important publicity for women in prison.

We have formed working relationships with other groups both in the GC and prisons sector to contribute our specialist knowledge.

Internationally we have expanded our work, most notably in the USA where we have a dedicated Campaign Director. Our work here has included: partnering with WHRC-USA on a nationwide FOIA initiative, submissions to State legislature, media and producing materials for in-person campaigning and protests

From 1 woman we have grown to a team of volunteers, all of whom give their time and energy for free (as so many of us do!). But becoming a more professional organisation with a broader reach takes money. Your support through t-shirts and donations is hugely appreciated, but there is always a shortfall. To date we have been making up the difference out of our own pockets.

This crowdfunder will enable us to get to the next level and to increase our reach in terms of media platforms, content creation and distribution, advertisements, etc. There are many excellent groups doing excellent work. There are lots of requests for donations. We are no more worthy than any of these.

But we are the only group whose sole focus is the sex-based rights of women in prison. We will never deviate from this. We will never compromise. If we can’t get it right for women in prison, who can we get it right for?

Thank you so much for whatever help you can give us.

Can be found at crowdfunder, or by going to their Twitter (it's their pinned tweet).