Description
With a focus on breast and cervical cancer awareness, this edition gives a 360 degree perspective of our broken justice system, how it is oppressive and harming the lives of women who come into contact with it, whether as women who have committed crimes, mothers of victims or women who kill who have been let down by the State. With a compelling insight into all aspects of the justice system – the life of a leading Legal Aid lawyer, Ravi Mahey from Duncan Lewis to Lawrence Jones, an HMPPS forensic psychologist’s inside view of a therapeutic community and what he thinks might work for people trapped inside the justice health system, stories of women affected by the justice system and a rot of protest art, we know you will love the 104 packed pages of this edition.
After the Wessley Review of the Mental Health Act, the government appears to be tinkering round the edges of the oppressive and coercive Act that can see people detained and medicated against their will with no judicial oversight for prolonged periods of time. Is this another missed opportunity to radically change the mental health system in the UK?
Our Ireland section asks how Justice Minister Helen McEntee magically disappeared the chronic overcrowding problem in the Irish women’s prison estate go away, with the flourish of her pen and a redefinition of what overcrowding means. Not a brick or a tape measure was harmed let alone used in her revolutionary act.
Far too many women are locked up for non-payment of fines in Ireland, so they are being imprisoned for poverty. How is this possible in a country that professes to be at the forefront of human rights and democracy, whose coffers are filled with tax bucks from every large US corporation wishing to avoid paying taxes they would pay in more conscientious countries, where tax redistribution means social justice. Welcome to Ireland, where a woman is sent to prison for 4 months or shoplifting a side of lamb to feed her family but a Supreme Court Judge is not prosecuted for breaking Covid Restrictions; certainly the land of contradictions and do as I say, not as I do.
Women in Ireland are closely aligned with the feminine deities and healing spirits. We meet Laura Darcy of Yarrow Lane Herbs who uses herbs and flowers in her healing and whose personal story will will uplift and inspire you; we love her flower power teas, named after ancient Celtic goddesses . They encourage us to grow a bit more wild in our gardens, to let the plants in – and Laura advocates for weeds like nettles and dandelions that have both resilience and great healing powers. Roisin O’ Neill has found freedom after prison with a fresh start in Ireland and her company Reflections of Gaia, making crystal jewellery. Catriona O’ Donoghue sets about building a sustainable life, upcycling previously loved items for her pop up shop which will open in Limerick later this summer. You will find everything from vintage glass and beautiful art to the contents of depopped closets of old clothes given a new lease on life.
Read more about our campaign to bring The Book to every MP in Parliament to create change through sharing personal experiences, insight and art as a rehabilitative, re-integrative force for good.
Art from the heart we call it.
Through protest, passion, healing and taking back our power come join our community to make the world a better and fairer place for all women.
