Helena Kennedy, an internationally renowned barrister and influential figure in the British Parliament, has been named the chair of a UK watchdog group tasked with investigating harassment and abuse in various entertainment sectors, such as music, film, TV, and theatre.
Celebrities such as Knightley, Delevigne, Fennell, and Ferguson penned an open letter calling on creative organizations to support the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority (CIISA).
As stated by The Hollywood Reporter, The head of Bectu mentioned to him that CIISA is set to launch in the next few years as it strengthens its financial backing.
The backing from leaders in the creative field and government to establish CIISA is crucial.
Enhancing and maintaining ethical standards in the creative industries has become increasingly important, especially in light of recent controversies involving figures like Russell Brand and incidents on programs like BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing.
Recognizing the necessity of an autonomous body to address issues like bullying and discriminatory harassment is seen as a pressing need by many.
Kennedy said, “The creation of an Independent Standards Authority for the Creative Industries is a very important development.”
“A high proportion of those working in the arts and in other cultural fields are self-employed and especially vulnerable to abusive and exploitative conduct.
“A carefully wrought framework is essential to creating fair and respectful treatment for everyone in these working environments. I also think the CIISA could provide a template for other sectors where such problems are also rife.
“This will be the ‘go-to’ body for anyone experiencing misconduct. I am looking forward to chairing the Board and helping in its establishment.”
Kennedy, a member of the House of Lords, has been honoured with the Order of the Thistle in Scotland for her remarkable work in human rights and social justice.
As a director at the International Bar Association’s Institute of Human Rights, she has been instrumental in advocating for PTSD defence in U.K. courts and fighting against violence targeting women and children.
Her impactful contributions include leading an inquiry on human trafficking in Scotland and orchestrating the rescue of 102 women judges and prosecutors from Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover.
Currently, she is dedicated to addressing war crimes and the alleged abduction of Ukrainian children by Russian forces in collaboration with Ukraine’s President Zelensky.
Heather Rabbatt and James Bond mogul Barbara Broccoli, founders of Time’s Up U.K., praised Kennedy’s appointment by stating:
“[We] founded Time’s Up U.K. back in 2018, focused on making practical interventions to bring about change in the industry dealing specifically with bullying, harassment and abuse.
“The idea of creating a new standards authority started with Time’s Up U.K. and has been in development with the creative industries round table and many other partners over the last few years.
“We are absolutely delighted that Baroness Helena Kennedy is our inaugural chair to launch CIISA this year.”
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