Dame Vera Baird DBE KC is a British barrister and politician who has held roles as a government minister, police and crime commissioner, and Victims' Commissioner for England and Wales.
She was visiting the university to receive an honorary doctorate for her outstanding contribution to criminal justice policy and legislation, and her services to women and equality. She previously worked with Olivia Smith and Dom Willmott who served as academic advisors to her during her time as Victim Commissioner from May 2019 to Sept 2022.
Sexual violence researchers, doctoral researchers and professional service colleagues from across the school and university attended to discuss their work.
Emma Richardson discussed the work she is doing with UK police helping them to improve their questioning format with complainants of sexual violence as well as when victims call 999 to report domestic and sexual violence. Gemma Witcomb explained the research she has carried out on campus among staff and students which identified barriers to reporting sexual offences and unique experiences of LGBTQ+ populations. Mumin Abubakre, spoke about the work he is doing developing technologies to support victims of gender-based violence in Africa.
Doctoral Researcher Eleanor Manhong Li explained her doctoral research examining rape myths in China and the link between sexual violence stereotypes and confusion culture where discussing sexual acts is considered to bring shame on victims’ families. Selena Mariano spoke about her research among Italian judges and courts where she aims to tackle oppressive lines of questioning that victims of sexual violence encounter at trial
Lisa Brooks-Lewis, who heads up the university response to sexual violence and the Harassment and Sexual Violence Working Group on campus, showcased her work to improve the responses to sexual violence experienced by staff and students, and this was something that Vera seemed keen to contribute to, given her previous role as both Victim Commissioner and a defence barrister.
Vera discussed ways in which she hopes to support and contribute towards these projects. She concluded by congratulating Loughborough University staff for the depth and breadth of the gender-based violence work being conducted within the school.