I’m looking out everyone sitting here today and it strikes me but you all have
today and it strikes me but you all have
today and it strikes me but you all have at least one thing in common every
at least one thing in common every
at least one thing in common every single one of you has legal rights but
single one of you has legal rights but
single one of you has legal rights but while you all have legal rights that
while you all have legal rights that
while you all have legal rights that doesn’t mean you can access justice
doesn’t mean you can access justice
doesn’t mean you can access justice there’s a gap between the two accessing
there’s a gap between the two accessing
there’s a gap between the two accessing justice means knowing your rights even
justice means knowing your rights even
justice means knowing your rights even existed in the first place and then what
existed in the first place and then what
existed in the first place and then what they mean for you individually if your
they mean for you individually if your
they mean for you individually if your rights have been violated accessing
rights have been violated accessing
rights have been violated accessing justice means having a way to enforce
justice means having a way to enforce
justice means having a way to enforce those rights that means finding the
those rights that means finding the
those rights that means finding the lawyer willing to take on your case
lawyer willing to take on your case
lawyer willing to take on your case having enough money to pay for their
having enough money to pay for their
having enough money to pay for their fees and if it gets that far paying for
fees and if it gets that far paying for
fees and if it gets that far paying for the court fees and even if you do get
the court fees and even if you do get
the court fees and even if you do get that far if you end up losing you may
that far if you end up losing you may
that far if you end up losing you may have to pay the other side’s legal fees
have to pay the other side’s legal fees
have to pay the other side’s legal fees on top of your own that’s a huge risk
on top of your own that’s a huge risk
on top of your own that’s a huge risk and a lot of money so even if you have
and a lot of money so even if you have
and a lot of money so even if you have legal rights accessing justice isn’t
legal rights accessing justice isn’t
legal rights accessing justice isn’t easy I became a lawyer because I wanted
easy I became a lawyer because I wanted
easy I became a lawyer because I wanted to change the way things were done and I
to change the way things were done and I
to change the way things were done and I thought using the law was my best shot
thought using the law was my best shot
thought using the law was my best shot the law is real it’s tangible if you
the law is real it’s tangible if you
the law is real it’s tangible if you change the law you change the rules
change the law you change the rules
change the law you change the rules underpinning society and that’s so
underpinning society and that’s so
underpinning society and that’s so powerful like when the law changed
powerful like when the law changed
powerful like when the law changed meaning being gay wasn’t a crime or that
meaning being gay wasn’t a crime or that
meaning being gay wasn’t a crime or that parents couldn’t beat their children or
parents couldn’t beat their children or
parents couldn’t beat their children or that forced marriages are a criminal
that forced marriages are a criminal
that forced marriages are a criminal offense and it’s not just the law it’s
offense and it’s not just the law it’s
offense and it’s not just the law it’s also the courts and how they hold
also the courts and how they hold
also the courts and how they hold governments and companies accountable
governments and companies accountable
governments and companies accountable like how American voters are using the
like how American voters are using the
like how American voters are using the English courts to find out how their
English courts to find out how their
English courts to find out how their personal data was used to influence
personal data was used to influence
personal data was used to influence elections or how the Supreme Court held
elections or how the Supreme Court held
elections or how the Supreme Court held that the government couldn’t trigger
that the government couldn’t trigger
that the government couldn’t trigger brexit without Parliament’s approval and
brexit without Parliament’s approval and
brexit without Parliament’s approval and while I’ve been a lawyer for years it
while I’ve been a lawyer for years it
while I’ve been a lawyer for years it wasn’t until last year that I came
wasn’t until last year that I came
wasn’t until last year that I came face-to-face with just how powerful the
face-to-face with just how powerful the
face-to-face with just how powerful the law can be but also how big the gap is
law can be but also how big the gap is
law can be but also how big the gap is between having rights and accessing
between having rights and accessing
between having rights and accessing justice this happened in the jungle
justice this happened in the jungle
justice this happened in the jungle refugee camp in
refugee camp in
refugee camp in haleh in France whereas working with
haleh in France whereas working with
haleh in France whereas working with unaccompanied children children who had
unaccompanied children children who had
unaccompanied children children who had legal rights but no way of enforcing
legal rights but no way of enforcing
legal rights but no way of enforcing them and so I went as a volunteer with a
them and so I went as a volunteer with a
them and so I went as a volunteer with a charity and a team of incredible human
charity and a team of incredible human
charity and a team of incredible human rights lawyers I’d never done anything
rights lawyers I’d never done anything
rights lawyers I’d never done anything like this before and I should have felt
like this before and I should have felt
like this before and I should have felt scared or nervous but I wasn’t I was
scared or nervous but I wasn’t I was
scared or nervous but I wasn’t I was excited
excited
excited we were actually going to use law to
we were actually going to use law to
we were actually going to use law to bring about change
bring about change
bring about change I met with Omar a 16 year old boy from
I met with Omar a 16 year old boy from
I met with Omar a 16 year old boy from Syria he’s so sweet with this great big
Syria he’s so sweet with this great big
Syria he’s so sweet with this great big really infectious smile he grew up in
really infectious smile he grew up in
really infectious smile he grew up in the countryside and he’d you know he’d
the countryside and he’d you know he’d
the countryside and he’d you know he’d never known violence certainly not Isis
never known violence certainly not Isis
never known violence certainly not Isis or airstrikes but they were the reasons
or airstrikes but they were the reasons
or airstrikes but they were the reasons he fled when I met Omar he could barely
he fled when I met Omar he could barely
he fled when I met Omar he could barely keep his eyes open none of the children
keep his eyes open none of the children
keep his eyes open none of the children could that’s because they spent their
could that’s because they spent their
could that’s because they spent their days asleep so they could spend their
days asleep so they could spend their
days asleep so they could spend their nights trying to get to England when I
nights trying to get to England when I
nights trying to get to England when I met Omar he’d been in the jungle an
met Omar he’d been in the jungle an
met Omar he’d been in the jungle an entire year and he tried every single
entire year and he tried every single
entire year and he tried every single night to come to England I was so
night to come to England I was so
night to come to England I was so anxious waiting for the decision on his
anxious waiting for the decision on his
anxious waiting for the decision on his case to come through I knew he was
case to come through I knew he was
case to come through I knew he was becoming more and more desperate in his
becoming more and more desperate in his
becoming more and more desperate in his attempts and each one even more
attempts and each one even more
attempts and each one even more dangerous but the decision did come
dangerous but the decision did come
dangerous but the decision did come through and I was there to meet him at
through and I was there to meet him at
through and I was there to meet him at the Eurostar terminal at some Pancras
the Eurostar terminal at some Pancras
the Eurostar terminal at some Pancras station where he was reunited with his
station where he was reunited with his
station where he was reunited with his brother and he was so happy and kind of
brother and he was so happy and kind of
brother and he was so happy and kind of surprised Lord actually worked and when
surprised Lord actually worked and when
surprised Lord actually worked and when he was in England with his brother and
he was in England with his brother and
he was in England with his brother and not alone in the jungle but that feeling
not alone in the jungle but that feeling
not alone in the jungle but that feeling that sense of victory it didn’t last
that sense of victory it didn’t last
that sense of victory it didn’t last long I went back to the jungle later
long I went back to the jungle later
long I went back to the jungle later that year just before the camp was
that year just before the camp was
that year just before the camp was demolished and this time I felt
demolished and this time I felt
demolished and this time I felt something different I realized the
something different I realized the
something different I realized the system was broken there were people who
system was broken there were people who
system was broken there were people who had
had
had rights but no way of enforcing them and
rights but no way of enforcing them and
rights but no way of enforcing them and instead it was back to teams of
instead it was back to teams of
instead it was back to teams of volunteers and charities to come up with
volunteers and charities to come up with
volunteers and charities to come up with a plan part of which meant coming up
a plan part of which meant coming up
a plan part of which meant coming up with questions to prove that these
with questions to prove that these
with questions to prove that these children were vulnerable and should
children were vulnerable and should
children were vulnerable and should therefore be allowed into the UK as part
therefore be allowed into the UK as part
therefore be allowed into the UK as part of the government’s new scheme and so as
of the government’s new scheme and so as
of the government’s new scheme and so as part of this plan I went back to the
part of this plan I went back to the
part of this plan I went back to the jungle and I met with faatima a 16 year
jungle and I met with faatima a 16 year
jungle and I met with faatima a 16 year old girl from Eritrea and Fatima and
old girl from Eritrea and Fatima and
old girl from Eritrea and Fatima and Omar are not their real names like so
Omar are not their real names like so
Omar are not their real names like so many 16 year old girls Fatima had put
many 16 year old girls Fatima had put
many 16 year old girls Fatima had put you know like effort into her hair and
you know like effort into her hair and
you know like effort into her hair and her nails it sort of bits of chick
her nails it sort of bits of chick
her nails it sort of bits of chick polish on them she was so brave but her
polish on them she was so brave but her
polish on them she was so brave but her body betrayed her she was shaking I
body betrayed her she was shaking I
body betrayed her she was shaking I asked her what are you most afraid of
asked her what are you most afraid of
asked her what are you most afraid of she she didn’t want to answer I tried in
she she didn’t want to answer I tried in
she she didn’t want to answer I tried in a different way do you have nightmares
she said she did she used to have
she said she did she used to have nightmares of drowning and that’s
nightmares of drowning and that’s
nightmares of drowning and that’s because on her way to Europe her boat
because on her way to Europe her boat
because on her way to Europe her boat capsized and she watched her fellow
capsized and she watched her fellow
capsized and she watched her fellow passengers drown but not anymore
passengers drown but not anymore
passengers drown but not anymore now she had dreams of something else she
now she had dreams of something else she
now she had dreams of something else she had dreams of trying to get onto trucks
had dreams of trying to get onto trucks
had dreams of trying to get onto trucks in the middle of the night of losing her
in the middle of the night of losing her
in the middle of the night of losing her friends and her companions and of being
friends and her companions and of being
friends and her companions and of being alone bad things happen to her when she
alone bad things happen to her when she
alone bad things happen to her when she was alone and as I was thinking of how
was alone and as I was thinking of how
was alone and as I was thinking of how best to ask the next question she just
best to ask the next question she just
best to ask the next question she just turned to me and asked why do you have
turned to me and asked why do you have
turned to me and asked why do you have to ask all these questions why isn’t it
to ask all these questions why isn’t it
to ask all these questions why isn’t it enough that I’m a child and I’m alone in
enough that I’m a child and I’m alone in
enough that I’m a child and I’m alone in this place and that’s when it hit me I
this place and that’s when it hit me I
this place and that’s when it hit me I was so ashamed I was ashamed that it
was so ashamed I was ashamed that it
was so ashamed I was ashamed that it wasn’t enough that she’s a child and
wasn’t enough that she’s a child and
wasn’t enough that she’s a child and alone I was ashamed of having to ask
alone I was ashamed of having to ask
alone I was ashamed of having to ask these questions
these questions
these questions I was ashamed of our government but
I was ashamed of our government but
I was ashamed of our government but deeper than that was the sense of
deeper than that was the sense of
deeper than that was the sense of betrayal I had believed the law would
betrayal I had believed the law would
betrayal I had believed the law would provide a solution but it wasn’t enough
provide a solution but it wasn’t enough
provide a solution but it wasn’t enough what’s the point of a right you don’t
what’s the point of a right you don’t
what’s the point of a right you don’t know about what’s the point of a right
know about what’s the point of a right
know about what’s the point of a right you can’t even enforce there is no point
you can’t even enforce there is no point
you can’t even enforce there is no point they’re not even worth the paper that
they’re not even worth the paper that
they’re not even worth the paper that written on Fatima and Omar had legal
written on Fatima and Omar had legal
written on Fatima and Omar had legal rights but they had no way of accessing
rights but they had no way of accessing
rights but they had no way of accessing the system they needed to in order to
the system they needed to in order to
the system they needed to in order to enforce them the very people who needed
enforce them the very people who needed
enforce them the very people who needed the law the most couldn’t use it
the law the most couldn’t use it
the law the most couldn’t use it something needed to change and I’m I’m
something needed to change and I’m I’m
something needed to change and I’m I’m not going to stand here today in front
not going to stand here today in front
not going to stand here today in front of you and say that I found the solution
of you and say that I found the solution
of you and say that I found the solution because I haven’t and it’s still not
because I haven’t and it’s still not
because I haven’t and it’s still not working when it comes to these children
working when it comes to these children
working when it comes to these children there are still hundreds of them alone
there are still hundreds of them alone
there are still hundreds of them alone and trapped in France and the rest of
and trapped in France and the rest of
and trapped in France and the rest of Europe but what I can say is what it
Europe but what I can say is what it
Europe but what I can say is what it meant for me for me it meant changing
meant for me for me it meant changing
meant for me for me it meant changing how I viewed the law not just looking at
how I viewed the law not just looking at
how I viewed the law not just looking at legal rights but looking to the entire
legal rights but looking to the entire
legal rights but looking to the entire system of how you can access justice and
system of how you can access justice and
system of how you can access justice and there are so many barriers to overcome
there are so many barriers to overcome
there are so many barriers to overcome when accessing justice but one of them
when accessing justice but one of them
when accessing justice but one of them is money and so I decided to leave my
is money and so I decided to leave my
is money and so I decided to leave my job as a lawyer and I joined a nice
job as a lawyer and I joined a nice
job as a lawyer and I joined a nice startup called crowd justice crowd
startup called crowd justice crowd
startup called crowd justice crowd justice is a crowdfunding platform built
justice is a crowdfunding platform built
justice is a crowdfunding platform built for legal cases it uses technology to
for legal cases it uses technology to
for legal cases it uses technology to make the law accessible to everyone by
make the law accessible to everyone by
make the law accessible to everyone by enabling people to raise money for their
enabling people to raise money for their
enabling people to raise money for their legal cases now you can set up a
legal cases now you can set up a
legal cases now you can set up a crowdfunding page describing describing
crowdfunding page describing describing
crowdfunding page describing describing your case what you’re seeking to achieve
your case what you’re seeking to achieve
your case what you’re seeking to achieve why it’s important and then reach out to
why it’s important and then reach out to
why it’s important and then reach out to your community to raise money it’s not
your community to raise money it’s not
your community to raise money it’s not just David against Goliath but thousands
just David against Goliath but thousands
just David against Goliath but thousands of David’s coming together to take on
of David’s coming together to take on
of David’s coming together to take on Goliath and in this way
Goliath and in this way
Goliath and in this way crowdfunding is changing the rules of
crowdfunding is changing the rules of
crowdfunding is changing the rules of the game when it comes to accessing
the game when it comes to accessing
the game when it comes to accessing justice and it’s doing so in three ways
justice and it’s doing so in three ways
justice and it’s doing so in three ways first crowdfunding levels the playing
first crowdfunding levels the playing
first crowdfunding levels the playing fields it breaks down the divide between
fields it breaks down the divide between
fields it breaks down the divide between those who have money and those who don’t
those who have money and those who don’t
those who have money and those who don’t now everyone can access the legal system
now everyone can access the legal system
now everyone can access the legal system not just those who can abort it
not just those who can abort it
not just those who can abort it second crowdfunding empowers communities
second crowdfunding empowers communities
second crowdfunding empowers communities when you donate to a legal case that has
when you donate to a legal case that has
when you donate to a legal case that has a real tangible outcome at the end of it
a real tangible outcome at the end of it
a real tangible outcome at the end of it you’re given a voice a voice you may not
you’re given a voice a voice you may not
you’re given a voice a voice you may not otherwise have had like earlier this
otherwise have had like earlier this
otherwise have had like earlier this year a Quaker and the Methodist minister
year a Quaker and the Methodist minister
year a Quaker and the Methodist minister broke into ba systems to try and disarm
broke into ba systems to try and disarm
broke into ba systems to try and disarm a missile bound for Saudi they did so to
a missile bound for Saudi they did so to
a missile bound for Saudi they did so to save lives in Yemen for the greater good
save lives in Yemen for the greater good
save lives in Yemen for the greater good in crowdfunding their legal defense
in crowdfunding their legal defense
in crowdfunding their legal defense costs they gave everyone the chance to
costs they gave everyone the chance to
costs they gave everyone the chance to speak out against the sale of arms to
speak out against the sale of arms to
speak out against the sale of arms to Saudi and last week they were found not
Saudi and last week they were found not
Saudi and last week they were found not guilty or maybe at speaking out against
guilty or maybe at speaking out against
guilty or maybe at speaking out against climate change by supporting the
climate change by supporting the
climate change by supporting the Portuguese children who were affected by
Portuguese children who were affected by
Portuguese children who were affected by the forest fires this summer and a
the forest fires this summer and a
the forest fires this summer and a landmark piece of litigation in the
landmark piece of litigation in the
landmark piece of litigation in the European courts these are groups who are
European courts these are groups who are
European courts these are groups who are using technology to give people a voice
using technology to give people a voice
using technology to give people a voice and together they’re achieving things
and together they’re achieving things
and together they’re achieving things none of them had thought possible third
none of them had thought possible third
none of them had thought possible third and finally what’s so powerful about
and finally what’s so powerful about
and finally what’s so powerful about crowdfunding is that it means you’re not
crowdfunding is that it means you’re not
crowdfunding is that it means you’re not alone I was scared to leave my job as a
alone I was scared to leave my job as a
alone I was scared to leave my job as a lawyer or something I’ve been doing for
lawyer or something I’ve been doing for
lawyer or something I’ve been doing for years to join a new startup I hadn’t
years to join a new startup I hadn’t
years to join a new startup I hadn’t realized it until then but being a
realized it until then but being a
realized it until then but being a lawyer had become part of my identity
lawyer had become part of my identity
lawyer had become part of my identity but standing up for what you believe in
but standing up for what you believe in
but standing up for what you believe in is scary it takes a brave individual in
is scary it takes a brave individual in
is scary it takes a brave individual in a team of talented lawyers to take on
a team of talented lawyers to take on
a team of talented lawyers to take on the government and to bring about change
the government and to bring about change
the government and to bring about change but now for the first time they’re not
but now for the first time they’re not
but now for the first time they’re not alone now they’ve got the support of all
alone now they’ve got the support of all
alone now they’ve got the support of all those people who have donated to their
those people who have donated to their
those people who have donated to their crowdfunding campaigns we’re only just
crowdfunding campaigns we’re only just
crowdfunding campaigns we’re only just beginning to see the scale of
beginning to see the scale of
beginning to see the scale of harassment across industries but earlier
harassment across industries but earlier
harassment across industries but earlier the sea-air group of women did make that
the sea-air group of women did make that
the sea-air group of women did make that brave decision to speak out about a male
brave decision to speak out about a male
brave decision to speak out about a male musicians treatment towards them they
musicians treatment towards them they
musicians treatment towards them they got hit with a defamation claim to keep
got hit with a defamation claim to keep
got hit with a defamation claim to keep them quiet but they won’t be silenced
them quiet but they won’t be silenced
them quiet but they won’t be silenced and a crowdfunding of their legal
and a crowdfunding of their legal
and a crowdfunding of their legal defense costs they’ve shown us the power
defense costs they’ve shown us the power
defense costs they’ve shown us the power of the community when it comes together
of the community when it comes together
of the community when it comes together how you can use the law to stand up for
how you can use the law to stand up for
how you can use the law to stand up for what you believe in and you don’t have
what you believe in and you don’t have
what you believe in and you don’t have to do it alone
to do it alone
to do it alone and so finally if there’s one thing I’d
and so finally if there’s one thing I’d
and so finally if there’s one thing I’d like you to take away today it’s that
like you to take away today it’s that
like you to take away today it’s that the law is powerful and you can use it
the law is powerful and you can use it
the law is powerful and you can use it to change the way things are done and
to change the way things are done and
to change the way things are done and now for the first time the rules of the
now for the first time the rules of the
now for the first time the rules of the game have changed now you’re not alone
game have changed now you’re not alone
game have changed now you’re not alone thank you
”
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