Global Feminists UNITE

Our unique Circle networks bring women together geographically or through their interests and professions to making lasting change for women and girls around the world.

To create solidarity and action. Space to rally resources and address inequality. No sphere of influence too small, our networks harness the collective, change-making power that happens when we come together to support women. Committed to igniting female economic empowerment and ending violence against women and girls, we believe that if you have the means, you should make it meaningful.

The Lawyer’s Circle Network

Melanie Hall QC, a founding member of The Circle and lawyer Miriam Gonzalez founded The Lawyers Circle in 2011. Members of The Lawyers Circle Network use their skills to empower women and girls by working on the legal aspects of women’s disempowerment. Our network of dedicated professionals working in the legal sector, range from junior lawyers to QCs, to partners of city law firms, all working together to leverage their expertise in support of women and girls.

The Lawyer’s Circle have been pivotal in the launch of three ground-breaking reports calling for a living wage for garment workers. In addition they made a UN Every Woman Every Child commitment to provide a gap analysis report proposing a legal framework surrounding women’s access to justice and legal accountability for maternal health in Tanzania. Working with various partners internationally and locally in Tanzania, following the White Ribbon Alliance and the Tanzanian Women Lawyers’ Association’s draft bill presented to the Tanzanian Parliament in 2012, members called for decision makers to be accountable for the 24 women dying needlessly in childbirth every day in Tanzania.
“We believe that for a right to be effective it must be actionable. Our proposal is to change the law to empower women to be able to assert their rights” — Karis McLarty, member of The Lawyer’s Circle.

Other projects include work with Oxfam on their Raising Her Voice project, in which they analysed the implementation of the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women (or Maputo Protocol) in Kenya; working with Equality Now to undertake a legal survey concerning gender-based violence in Kenya. They supported a group of Kenyan lawyers who developed a test case to establish a broad ambit for positive obligations to protect women from gender-based violence. The Lawyers Circle’s biggest fundraising event was held at the Royal Geographical Society.

Group of lawyers with Annie Lennox
Livia Firth at the launch of The Circle report
Melanie Hall Chair of the Lawyer's Circle

THE OXFORD CIRCLE NETWORK

The Oxford Circle was launched in 2012 and is chaired by Leanne Duffield. Members of The Oxford Circle Network were inspired by their previous Chair Dr Becky Cox and her courage to tell her story of domestic abuse. Gender-based violence can affect any woman or girl in any community.

October 2017 marked The Oxford Circle’s 5th anniversary and we celebrated with a high tea at the elegant Malmaison hotel in Oxford. Guest speaker Dr Brenda Kelly, a consultant obstetrician and specialist in FGM, shared the moving stories of the women she treats at the Rose Clinic in Oxford and the challenges they face.  The Oxford Circle are constantly active, with members taking part in everything from running half marathons, creative paddle-boarding events dressed as witches for Halloween, holding inspiring Jumble Fever sales, author talks, a Women of Oxford Trail, and even secret dance parties.

Oxford Circle jumble sale
Oxford Circle meeting up
Jumble Fever Fundraising event

THE MEDIA CIRCLE NETWORK

The Media Circle Network is chaired by Eve Conway, Rotary International’s Programmes Director, and Muna Khogali, and it brings international media practitioners together. They are a diverse group of professionals, including filmmakers, PR experts, designers, photographers, journalists, executive producers, digital media specialists and more. They would love to invite more media professionals to be part of their resourceful team as they shape how media can empower some of the most marginalised and vulnerable women and girls globally.

Members of The Media Circle, connect, amplify, advise and fundraise in support of The Circle’s projects so that together we can raise awareness of the issues caused by gender-based inequality. Most recently they have organised two vital events in association with the London Press Club on the power of the media in raising awareness of gender-based violence. The events featured inspiring women from around the world including: Asma Shirazi, journalist and broadcaster; Pakistan Edoamaowo Udeme, journalist and founder of Network Against Domestic Violence Foundation, Nigeria; Hasina Safi, Afghanistan’s Former Acting Minister for Women; Shireen Huq, co-founder of Naripokkho, women’s rights organisation, Bangladesh.

Eve Conway Chair of The Media Circle
Members of The Media Circle
The Media Circle fundraising

The Asian Circle Network

The Asian Circle network was founded by Santosh Bhanot and launched at the Houses of Parliament. They aim to increase South Asian women’s ability to participate in their communities by strengthening their voices, gaining equality and improving their earning potential.

The Asian Circle partnered with Oxfam India on an ambitious project in rural Adivasi communities in Chhattisgarh and Odisha to challenge the social acceptance of sexual and domestic violence against women. There’s a long road ahead but this project has already made a huge difference to women and girls’ lives. This project has helped the government, the police and judiciary to apply the laws that protect women, with support centres that offer medical care, legal advice, counselling and shelters for survivors of gender-based violence. The Asian Circle also founded Chai Day, an annual fundraiser.

Asian Circle members
Asian Circle members celebrating Chai Day
Launch of Chai Day fundraising

THE MUSIC CIRCLE NETWORK

The Music Circle Network is a collection of leading women in the music industry, including Dawbell’s Kate Etteridge, Murray Chalmer PR MD Sarah Henderson and Founder of Deviate Digital Sammy Andrews to name a few.

The Circle and music have had a long heritage, including partnerships with Universal Music, Island Records, Apple Music and more. The Music Circle has organised a variety of successful fundraising events. Including a favourite- A Night of a Thousand Bushes, a fundraiser inspired by Kate Bush, a number of Jumble Fever events in London, supporting our Girls Global Dance Hour Initiative and more. Most recently The Circle launched its Music Icons Auction with donations of hand-written signed lyrics from Annie Lennox, Billie Eilish, Alicia Keys, Taylor Swift, Angelique Kidjo and Brandi Carlile.

Musicians performing at a Circle Network fundraising event
Fundraising with The Music Circle Network
Gemma Cairney performing

THE CIRCLE ITALIA NETWORK

The Circle Italia was founded by Antonella Antonelli, Editor of Marie Claire, Italia, and Circle Ambassador. Members from the world of fashion, arts, communications, film, and business come together to create, raise funds, and generate awareness of the need for equality.

The Italian Circle fundraise for many projects including Mama Morocco which supports mothers whose children are undergoing hospital treatment. The Italian Circle raised funds and awareness for the plight of Moroccan mothers and providing specialised training for nurses and initiatives such as ‘Mom Kit’ which will contain vital items for the time they spend in hospital during their child’s recovery.

View their Italian website and their full list of events and projects.

Women fundraising for Circle Italia
Circle Italia fundraising project Mama Morroco
Women sitting in a circle

Become a member today to help ensure long-lasting change for women and girls everywhere.