News Item

~~~~29 AUG 2019, GRAND HALL PARLIAMENT, WELLINGTON

The Law Foundation is pleased that Professor Vanessa Munro, an international expert of rape law reform from the University of Warwick (UK), will be delivering the 2019 Shirley Smith Address.

The address entitled “Judging Juries: The ‘Common Sense’ Conundrums of Prosecuting Violence Against Women” will be delivered while Professor Munro is in NZ to take part in workshops on reforming trial process in adult acquaintance rape cases – her trip being funded by the Law Foundation.

The event, organised by the Women in Law Committee of the NZ Law Society’s Wellington Branch, will be held at Grand Hall, Parliament at 5.30-7pm Thursday 29^th Aug.

All practitioners and the public are free to attend, but RSVPs are essential to ensure entry into the Grand Hall – please email chambersadmin@chambers.co.nz

The Shirley Smith Address is an annual event held in honour of an esteemed and pioneering New Zealand woman lawyer, Shirley Smith. Shirley was committed to ensuring social justice for marginalised people, particularly in the criminal field – a commitment clearly shared by Professor Munro.

Further information about the event and about Professor Munro

Professor Munro is in New Zealand to take part in two workshops being run by Professor Elisabeth McDonald and Paulette Benton-Greig, who will present findings and reform proposals from their research into rape cases – adult acquaintance cases and comparator cases from Specialist Sexual Violence Court Pilot.

Law Foundation in conjunction with the Borrin Foundation has awarded up to $16,355 towards bringing international speakers to the workshops and and towards workshop costs