Liz Kelly
Elizabeth A. Kelly CBE is a British professor and director of the Child and Woman Abuse Studies Unit, London Metropolitan University, former head of the, now defunct, Women's National Commission, and co-chair, along with Marai Larasi, of the End Violence Against Women Coalition.
Career
Kelly has written numerous papers and articles relating to violence against women and children, and has been a guest editor on the journal Child Abuse Review.Her review of why so many alleged rapists go unprosecuted and unconvicted, which she conducted for the Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate, stated, "that at each stage of the legal process, stereotypes and prejudices play a part in decision-making".
In her book "The Hidden Gender of Law", Kelly argues "there is no clear distinction between consensual sex and rape, but a continuum of pressure, threat, coercion and force". She claims that all women experience sexual violence at some points in their lives.
Kelly's publication "Surviving Sexual Violence" defines sexual violence as including "any physical, visual, verbal or sexual act that is experienced by the woman or girl, at the time or later, as a threat, invasion or assault, that has the effect of hurting her or degrading her and/or takes away her ability to control". Such a definition was criticised by Wendy McElroy, describing it as "disastrously subjective" also noting "regret is not a benchmark of consent".
Kelly was awarded the CBE in the 2000 New Years Honours, for services to combating violence against women and children.
Recognition
She was recognized as one of the BBC's 100 women of 2017.Books
Chapters in books
Journal articles
Papers
For the CWASU
- End of award report to the ESRC.
- Funded by the ESRC.
- Funded by Equal Opportunities Commission and the Roddick Foundation.
- Funded by the European Commission Daphne II Programme.
- Unpublished report, parts of which are quoted in
- A report commissioned for the Office of the Children’s Commissioner's Inquiry into Child Sexual Exploitation in Gangs and Groups.
-
Home Office
- Evaluation of Domestic Violence Protection Orders for the International Crime and Policing Conference 2015.
Other papers
- A literature review ahead of report commissioned by HMCPSI and published the following year.
- Commissioned by HMCPSI to inform their thematic review into the investigation and prosecution of cases involving allegations of rape.