Helena Kennedy QC made an Honorary Fellow of Lucy Cavendish College

Helena Kennedy QC (pictured with President of Lucy Cavendish College, Janet Todd) is a member of the House of Lords and chair of Justice, the British arm of the International Commission of Jurists.

She is a bencher of Gray's Inn and President of the School of Oriental and African studies, University of London. She was the chair of Charter 88 from 1992 to 1997, the Human Genetics Commission from 1998 to 2007 and the British Council from 1998 to 2004. She also chaired the Power Inquiry, which reported on the state of British democracy and produced the Power Report in 2006.

She has received honours for her work on human rights from the governments of France and Italy and has been awarded more than thirty honorary doctorates. She is currently acting in cases connected to the recent wave of terrorism – including the conspiracy to bomb Transatlantic Airlines and Operation Crevice.

Janet Todd, President of Lucy Cavendish College said: “Helena Kennedy is a champion of civil liberties and human rights. Like Lucy Cavendish College, she is devoted to widening participation in further and higher education and so we are delighted that she has joined us as our new Honorary Fellow. We look forward to working with Baroness Kennedy to ensure that women over 21 are aware that there is a college in Cambridge uniquely for them”.

Following her induction ceremony, Baroness Kennedy gave a talk entitled ‘Risk and the Culture of Blame’.

Part of the University of Cambridge, Lucy Cavendish is the college where women over 21 and from every possible background come to study. Lucy Cavendish women have gone on to be successful writers, solicitors, barristers, doctors and teachers and have joined government departments and major international organisations; they are found in all walks of life and on every continent.

The 220 students are divided equally between Undergraduates and Graduates. Students from every corner of the UK mix with women from across the globe. Students who have studied for A-levels and the International Baccalaureate work alongside others with ‘Access’ qualifications. Women come at any age to study any subject offered by the University of Cambridge.