This article includes details about Veritas Justice’s upcoming 16 Days of Action event:
Every year Veritas Justice runs an event as part of the 16 Days of Action Against Domestic Violence. This December, our event, TechTalks, will address the increasingly common but consistently misunderstood issue of cyber-enabled stalking.
What are the 16 Days of Action and why are they important?
Originating as the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, the 16 Days of Action runs from 25th November to 10th December. This time allows for companies, agencies, victims and survivors to collectively stand together to raise awareness of key global gender-based issues, advocate for change, and reflect on what has passed. Some important themes and issues that are highlighted during this period are: Violence against women and children, stalking and harassment, femicide, mental health, coercive control, so-called honour based violence and FGM, financial control and more.
Anyone can get involved with the 16 Days of Action to stand up for equality, fairness and safety for all. Methods include social media campaigns, blogging, writing, tweeting, exhibitions, local projects and more. The more of us that stand together and use this time to educate ourselves and others, the more profound change will be.
Our Event:
This year, Veritas Justice will be hosting TechTalks: The Age of Antisocial Networking. On Monday 2nd December 2019, Nick Podd, Prof. Liz Yardley and Dr. Jane Monckton-Smith will be delivering a day-long event tackling the problem of stalking in the digital age. Some areas to be discussed include:
The harms of omnipresence, surveillance techniques, spyware, trackers and other forms of digital monitoring, exploring links between time investment, technology and violence, social media, online dating, cyberstalking, pracitical tips for minimising risk, and more…
This event is set to be educational, informational and interactive, providing practical insights on how to keep victims, and yourself, safe in an increasingly complex, digital society.
16DaysTechTalks
The speakers:
Professor Elizabeth Yardley – Professor of Criminology, Birmingham City University
Liz is passionate about making a difference to the lives of those affected by violence and challenging the myths and stereotypes around crime. Being an academic enables Liz to achieve these aims by doing research that sheds further light on the darkest elements of society and by training the criminal justice professionals of the future.
Liz’s areas of expertise are as follows:
- Homicide;
- Domestic abuse and coercive control;
- Technology in violence;
- Media portrayals of violence.
Dr. Jane Monckton-Smith – Forensic Criminologist, University of Gloucestershire
My research is focused around interpersonal violence, and especially how we can prevent homicide. I work with professionals in reviewing homicides and training. I also work with families bereaved through homicide to help them with criminal justice processes.
I work as an advisor in stalking, coercive control and homicide to a number of outside agencies, including police and specialist charities.
Current projects include:
- Tracking offender behavioural patterns in domestic homicide;
- Design of stalking responses;
- Family participation in DHRs.
Nick Podd – Director & Cyber Security Specialist, Veritas Justice
Nick has over 25 years’ experience working in both physical and data security within the military and blue chip organisations. He is qualified in Ethical Hacking and countermeasures, and trained in advanced penetration testing. He also has experience with electronic security systems, along with personal, building and asset security.
At Veritas, Nick trains professionals and others in how to identify the characteristics of cyberstalking and to interpret the legislation. He also advises service users in cyber safety and performs ethical interventions to ensure that their devices are fit for purpose. In addition, Nick works closely with Barnardo’s running workshops for front-line staff and providing support and advice to parents.
How to book:
You can book tickets through Eventbrite, linked below.
Please note, this event costs £35, with a discounted rate of £20 for third sector practitioners. Lunch will be provided.
Travel information:
TechTalks is being held in the Main Conference Room of Community Base, Brighton. This venue is located in Brighton’s city centre. It is a two-minute walk from Brighton Train Station and the town centre, making it easily accessible via public transport such as trains and buses. There are also numerous car parking facilities close by, including North Road Car Park and Brighton Train Station car park.
We hope to see you there.
