POLARIS POLitical Abuse, Representation and Inclusion in democratic Societies (POLARIS) 

We are a consortium from across Europe and Canada. Our goal is to make participation in politics and political activism safer for women and LGBTQI+ individuals safe. Read about our consortium – this page is constantly being updated so please bear with us!

This picture is on stick people holding hands in a circle. Each is a different colour of the rainbow. Their legs form a star shape in the middle. Underneath is the word POLARIS and the image of a star in the A.
A group picture of several people behind a Judge's desk. The are screens behind to the left and right, and an image with a crest directly behind the people. They are smiling.

Some of the POLARIS team members made it to Manchester in August (on the only two cold, rainy days!). The consortium held workshops in person, and invited the members that could not attend in person, to participate online.

A different angle of the court room, from the right corner, with the judge bench to the left and the rest of the room directly in front. There are seats with tables and microphones to the front and sides of the bench, making it a square shape with the judges bench at the front. People are sat randomly around the room. One person is sat at the front. They look like they are having an active discussion.

The Moot Court in the Manchester Law School was a fabulous event for the workshops.

The scene is of a pedestrianised street with high rise buildings in central Manchester. The hotel in front says Motel One. There are a group of people in front of the Emmeline Pankhust statue. They are looking at the statue.

We had an LGBTQI+ and feminist tour of Manchester to kickstart Day 1. Here we all are with the Emmeline Pankhurst statue. Her relative Helen Pankhurst is also on our Advisory Board!

A painted mural on the side of a restaurant just off Canal Street in Manchester. The wall depicts several icons associated with LGBTQI+ in Manchester. The wall is colourful. A group of people are stood in front looking towards the mural.

Our amazing and knowledgeable tour guide Josh told us all about the politicisation of LGBTQI+ in Manchester, including teaching us some words in Polari!