The Hindu Lawyers Association broke new ground on 24 November 2016 by celebrating Sita’s Diwali, supporting the interests of women in law and society.
The issue of gender inequality in the legal profession is particularly highlighted by reviewing statistics at entry level whereby over 50% of solicitors are female with a gradual decrease of female representation at each stage of promotion. It is generally considered that statistics do not show the overall picture of a situation however raise a big question as to what needs to be done for women to be promoted to senior management level. This event was organised to open up the conversation on this matter hearing the stories of some of the leading female Hindu lawyers in the profession.
An insightful introduction was provided by Lynn Wells from Eversheds introducing initiatives which promote women within the workplace. This was followed by a presentation by the barrister Harini Iyengar who encouraged women to be themselves in the workplace, supporting the causes which they believe in. The event was concluded by Judge Usha Karu, the only female circuit judge in the Inner London Crown Court who provided an insight into her inspirational career path.
For some women in the South Asian community, differential treatment is not limited to pursuing their career ambitions but extends to actions by their own community leading to inadequate provisions being available to suit their menstrual cycle. Pink Ladoo and Binti Period are now combatting these issues, and seek to educate the community to change these social norms. The Hindu Lawyers Association invited both Rajvinder Khaira of Pink Ladoo and Manjit Gill of Binti Period to speak about these important causes and to promote to ‘smash shame’.
Overall, the presentations, the Binti Rose campaign, and display of artwork by the artist Kully Rehal provided an exhilarating atmosphere of equality and social justice.
