Last stop of the day is the Kurdish Community Centre in Portland Gardens N4. It is the start of the three-day festival celebrating women. Tonight I am on a panel of four women – two of the others of whom are famous Kurdish human rights campaigners and we are speaking on: ‘Kurdish Women – Fighting for Freedom Against Violence’.

The struggle of Kurdish women is astonishing – the violence against them (and of course other women too – sadly it’s universal) is too terrible.

But so is the reaction of our police – sadly. You may have read recently of Banaz Mahmod – the so-called Honour Killing. Domestic violence is what that was – men dominating women’s lives as if we are still their chattels. Makes me sick. But Banaz went to the police six times – and they took virtually no notice.

A woman in the audience this evening raised her hand to say that it happened to her too. She went to the police eight times – and they did not help her. I said to the women there – that if they find themselves in that position and the police do nothing after even the first time they go for help – then they must go to their Member of Parliament. For if I have a Kurdish (or any) women come to me who says she is in danger and the police are doing nothing I will raise it in Parliament and in the media and anywhere to get attention. The police have come a long way on rape and domestic violence – but clearly not nearly far enough.

After the Winkfield visit, it was on to Karyn Parker’s house in Hornsey. Karyn is a registered childminder in Haringey – and exemplar.

Three parents are there to meet with me (some who used Karyn for years past and present) and their children. Jo, Vera and Tracy are mums who without the peace of mind of knowing that their offspring are safe and sound – and more to the point – loved, would not be able to go to work as they do. I know that one only too well myself. It was clear that the children of mixed ages had a lovely environment, were stimulated and socialised and safe. As Jo said to me – you want a childminder who as much as possible does what you would do. And that’s the point.

Karyn is now mentoring other child minders. This is the real nuts and bolts of equality for me. Without good affordable childcare – women cannot get back to work. So I was really delighted to meet Karyn (who is absolutely wonderful) – and delighted to do so in support of National Childminding Week – which is why I was there!

Following my morning advice surgery at Wood Green Library, I went to the launch of the Renate Campbell Trust Deaf Job Club at the Winkfield Resource Centre. In short – this will be a facility, for the deaf and hard of hearing, where staff will be there to help them into work. This might comprise support in putting a CV together or learning skills – as well as educating employers and providing training awareness for staff.

Renate is the daughter of former Labour councillor Mary Neuner, who in middle life literally woke up one morning deaf. Mary worked tirelessly to improve things for the deaf and this launch today is on the back of her efforts. Mary was a real driving force and it is terribly sad that she, herself, died only recently. At least she knew that this was going to happen.

It is one of those things in life, you know. Most people don’t even know someone who is deaf. Most people don’t know someone in a wheelchair. And what people don’t have in their own lives appears as strange and alien. And I am sure that employers or would be employers think that deaf people won’t be able to do the job or it will cost them to have one working for them. And yet – if it is your mother or brother who is deaf, or blind or in a wheelchair or whatever – then they are just people – same as you or me. I have this total belief in a better world where the differences are as nothing compared to what we have in common. And that cuts across not just disability – but culture, race and religion too!

A little while ago I spoke at the All Party Group on Overseas Development about the future for international development. It was one of a series of speeches – one each from each of the main parties – and I see the series has now been written up on the ODI blog. Interesting to see how they compare what the three of us all said!

Met with OFCOM earlier today following my raising of the issue of pirate radio stations illegally broadcasting in my area and adversely affecting London Turkish Radio – which is in my constituency.

I can’t go into details about the specifics of what they will be doing to act on this particular issue – but am assured that act they will.

I had a master-class in the issues around radio, bands, enforcement and so on. One issue that sticks up quite clearly is the complete nonsense of the difficulties of catching and raiding illegal stations and the costs involved therein – compared with the ‘punishments’ meted out when someone is caught and convicted.

The average fine is somewhere around £118. There’s nothing wrong with the penalties that can be meted out – they are up to and including two years imprisonment – and other countries treat this seriously and apply such penalties. But for reasons I don’t understand – here the judiciary doesn’t to the same degree. No wonder they’re raided one night and then start up again the very next day. It’s financially still advantageous for them to do so as the fine and the cost of the equipment taken don’t come to anything like the money they make per week – and clearly they have no fear that the court will lock ’em up.