Helena Kennedy sticks to her principles

Helena Kennedy sticks to her principles

Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Browsing the curriculum vitae of Baroness Helena Kennedy, you
cannot help but be impressed, if not a overwhelmed. She holds so
many titles, positions and achievements in a wide range of areas
that it is a bit daunting to address her.

To start with, she is the chair of the British Council, the
UK's international organization for educational and cultural
relations, a position that she said was suitable for her because
it brings together so many areas that she is interested in.

And what exactly are they? Well, practically everything.

If it all has to be simplified, Kennedy works predominantly in
the field of law, given her background as a lawyer.

"Back in school, I always liked to debate and I've always been
interested in the law. I realized that it's a great agent for
change. I especially like criminal law, because it's so much
about the human condition ... I like that," said Kennedy at a
luncheon with journalists here.

She has acted in many of the prominent cases of the last
decade, including the Brighton bombing trial and Guildford Four
appeal.

She also undertakes judicial reviews, public inquiries and the
issue of sex discrimination at work. Her award-winning book Eve
was Framed, on women and the criminal justice system, was
published in 1992.

Kennedy has produced and hosted a series of television
programs on the law, mostly with the BBC, including Blind
Justice, Heart of the Matter' and Raw Deal, on medical
negligence, and Hypothetical.

The television work stopped though, because she said it was no
longer appropriate for her in her capacity as a member of the
House of the Lords.

But, she still has something to say about television,
especially court TV.

"I'm against televised court. I think it never gives a very
real understanding of what is taking place. Because what you see
is the selective parts chosen by journalists. Television cameras
can also intimidate witnesses and make them not tell the full
truth. The other thing is, lawyers, judges can all play up to the
cameras," said Kennedy, who is also an advisor to the queen.

"However, I think the court should be public and journalists
should report it. But having televised court, it probably
interferes with justice. The public will think they know what the
case is about when they have only see bits of the case."

Given her long and impressive achievements in law, she was
once awarded The Times Lifetime Achievement in Law, she has been
approached by many lawyers on her visit here, asking about law
reform.

"The legal system here seems to have lost the confidence of
the general public. It is important to constantly review what is
happening in court. And it's essential to have an independent
judiciary and lawyers who are courageous and pursuing justice,"
she said.

Human rights courts, she added, were a very important
development in having reconciliation and trust.

"It is also important to address grievances from the past,
because if not, it will halt what you attempt to do in the
future.

"In Britain, we recently had a public inquiry into a Northern
Ireland shooting 30 years ago, or the Bloody Sunday event.
Because there won't be any peace if we don't do this. It doesn't
mean that you put anyone in prison, but it means that you have a
recognition that wrong was done," said Kennedy, who also chairs
the Human Genetics Commission.

Born 52 years ago in Scotland, she appears to be like a
regular housewife. She is assertive and straightforward, but
still friendly and warm.

"I think everyone agrees that I'm an extremely independent
minded woman," she laughed.

"I'm a good friend of the prime minister, his wife is my
colleague. But I'm a critical friend. If the government is wrong,
I tell them. But I guess they (Tony and Cherie Blair) are OK with
that."

A member of the Labour Party ("I chose it because I've always
been a campaigner for the underdog"), Kennedy was made baroness
by the party in order to penetrate the House of Lords.

"So, I'm a Labour baroness, or red baroness ... or pink
baroness!" she laughed.

Kennedy is also a woman activist, as she has done various work
on women and justice, and chaired many women's councils and
organizations.

"Discrimination still exists, no matter how developed the
country is. But we also have to remember, that our struggle has
not been long, compared to what has happened for hundreds and
hundreds of years," said Kennedy, who is married to a surgeon and
has a daughter and two sons.

It is education, she added, that makes a difference. It is
also important to have a bigger number of women in the
government.

"I'm in favor of affirmative action. I think you would wait
forever to see women become equal with men if you wait for the
natural processes. In Britain, we have recently passed
legislation which allows a degree of affirmative action in
getting women into political parties, to make sure that the party
brings them on."

Many women, she said, are against the action, saying that
political ascension must be based on merit.

"Because many women are tutored in male ways of seeing the
world. It is true, we don't want stupid women in government and
we have no shortage of clever women. But merit is only a valuable
measure if women are involved as men have decided so far."

Despite relatively long experiences in many fields, Kennedy is
apparently still a girl compared to other members of the House of
Lords.

"Yes, they actually call me a girl! They are so ancient," she
laughed.

When asked how she found so much energy to do so many
activities, she just shrugged like those things do not absorb her
energy at all.

"Just do what you enjoy doing, and you'll find the energy."

Will she ever stop and retire? Not likely.

"More, we need to be more. We need to do more, more, more...
That's what I always say to the government."