*** ANNOUNCEMENT *** FiLiA WELCOMES RAQUEL ROSARIO SÁNCHEZ TO OUR BOARD OF TRUSTEES

FiLiA welcomes Raquel Rosario Sánchez to our Board of Trustees

As a women’s rights charity, FiLiA is committed to building sisterhood and solidarity (locally, nationally, globally), to amplifying the voices of women (particularly those less often heard or purposefully silenced) and to defending women’s human rights. Our vision is a world free from patriarchy, where all women and girls are liberated.

On 25 November 2019, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, Raquel Rosario Sánchez became our Spokeswoman. Today, we are delighted to announce that she will be joining our Board of Trustees. You can read her Spokeswoman announcement, listen to a recent podcast we did with her, and read an article she wrote for FiLiA to mark Human Rights Day last year.

Raquel takes the post left vacant after barrister Julian Norman, co-founder of FiLiA, stepped down earlier this month, due to other commitments. In her statement, Julian said: “Women’s rights are needed more than ever. I have been privileged to help to steer FiLiA on its path from a conference to a women's rights charity. The depth and diversity of subjects covered, the expertise and experiences shared, and the fierce feminist analysis of the conference weekend, are down to the efforts and skill of the incredible FiLiA team and our conference speakers - all of whom to this day are volunteers.”

Raquel says: “Like all of us at FiLiA, I share an immense sense of gratitude to Julian, our co-founder. I am grateful to the FiLiA team for trusting me with this opportunity to continue to contribute to an organisation whose commitment to women and girls is palpable. Although our task may seem bleak, I am inspired by the fierce resolve driving all the women at FiLiA, and I look forward to stepping up my contribution of fire and energy, in the years to come.”

Sisterhood and Solidarity,

FiLiA Team

I first heard Raquel speak in the House of Lords at a WPUK meeting in October 2018. I was in awe of her intelligence, eloquence and ability to connect many varied concepts; highlighting the thread of male oppression of Women whilst ensuring a global perspective along the way. Raquel is extraordinarily brave too - she has endured vile abuse during her time at Bristol University and has responded by setting up a crowdfunder to cover the costs of a legal case against Bristol University for their failure to protect her. We were thrilled when Raquel agreed to become a spokeswoman with FiLiA last year, and could not be happier that she is joining us as a Trustee.

Lisa-Marie (CEO)

Raquel joins Kruti Walsh, Sally Jackson and Lisa-Marie Taylor on the Board of Trustees with FiLiA.