Free Hybrid Seminar – Covid Module 2 Report – What does this mean for children’s and vulnerable peoples’ rights? What’s in and what’s missing?

This event will be part of Garden Court Chambers Children’s Rights Team’s seminar series celebrating World Children’s Day on 20th November 2025 – the anniversary of the signing of the UNCRC.

This event will mark World Children’s Day – the anniversary of the signing of the UNCRC. The panellists are all Garden Court barristers who represented Core Participants in the Covid Inquiry Module 2 on Core UK decision-making and political governance. This will be an opportunity for reflections on the Covid Inquiry’s findings and recommendations and an exploration of where there are likely to be policy changes and where children’s rights and vulnerable people’s rights may be better protected in future. 

Speakers 

Liz Davies KC (Chair), Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
Liz is a social housing silk ranked in Chambers & Partners and the Legal 500. She acts as a consultant to Crisis and has represented Shelter and Housing Law Practitioner’s Association pro bono in interventions. She specialises in all aspects of housing law, with a particular expertise in homelessness and allocation of social housing. She also practises in areas of community care and Children Act cases, particularly where accommodation might be an issue. She has a particular specialism in domestic abuse and represented Southall Black Sisters and Solace Women’s Aid in the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, Module 2.

Allison Munroe KC (Co-Chair), Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
Allison has a mixed practice specialising in Family Public Law, Inquests/Inquiries, Crime and Mental Health. In all spheres of her work, she has focused upon acting for vulnerable clients with a particular emphasis on the protection of their civil liberties. Allison has extensive expertise and experience working on large scale Inquests and Public Inquiries of national and international importance. She represented a number of the bereaved families in the historic Hillsborough Inquests (2014-2016). Presently she represents some of the Bereaved Families in the Grenfell Tower Fire Public Inquiry, as well as survivors and residents. Allison is shortlisted for the Family Law KC of the Year Award at the Family Law Awards 2025.

Marina Sergides, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
Marina specialises in all aspects of social housing law. She has extensive experience in nuisance possession proceedings, section 204 homelessness appeals, unlawful eviction and harassment claims, disrepair claims, judicial review, human rights, public law defences, disability discrimination and ASBO in the civil courts. Marina representing women and girls, with a particular focus on domestic abuse in Module 2 of the UL Covid-19 Inquiry. She represented Southall Black Sisters and Solace Women’s Aid, led by Liz Davies KC, instructed by Helen Mowatt of Public Interest Law Centre (PILC). Marina is currently also instructed in Module 10 of the UK Covid-19 Inquiry, representing two core participants: the JUSTICE Group (which includes 12 front line legal groups) and the Domestic Abuse Group.

Jennifer Twite, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
Jennifer is a specialist in youth justice and children’s rights. Her public law practice involves taking challenges regarding the disclosure of criminal records, criminal-justice-related judicial reviews and community care. Jennifer has been involved in a number of high-profile cases involving the rights of children within the criminal justice system at all levels up to the Supreme Court. She also undertakes criminal appellate work including referrals to the Criminal Cases Review Commission. She co-authored ‘Youth Justice Law and Practice’ and sits as a Deputy District Judge in the Magistrates’ Court. She also regularly provides training to professionals on youth justice issues Jennifer has expertise in strategic litigation, having been Head of Strategic Litigation at Just for Kids Law for seven years before joining Chambers.

Thalia Maragh, Barrister, Garden Court Chambers
Thalia’s practice at the English Bar has been predominantly defending in serious crimes and acting for bereaved families in Article 2 inquests. She has a growing international practice. Thalia acts for bereaved families in Article 2 inquests and is a leading junior in Inquests and Public Inquiries. She is currently instructed on behalf of Covid Bereaved Families for Justice UK (CBFFJ UK) in the Covid-19 Public Inquiry over several modules. She has also appeared in several leading inquests and public inquiries. She represented the families in the Hillsborough Inquests, the bereaved, survivors and residents in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry (in phases 1 and 2), a person of interest in the Public Inquiry into the Manchester Arena Bombings and survivors of sexual abuse in the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA).

Reserve your in-person or online ticket
In-person tickets are limited by the venue’s capacity. After you have completed the form, we will be back in touch to confirm whether a place is available at the event.

If you have booked an online ticket, we will send joining details to all those who have signed up on the day of the event. If you have not received the link by 2pm on 20th November, and it is not in your junk inbox, please email webinars@gclaw.co.uk.