Margaret Owen (born on 1932) is a human rights barrister; specialising in women’s rights.
Margaret Owen was born in London, England. Her ethnic heritage is Jewish. Her father is a solicitor and her mother is a doctor. Her family on her mother’s side had come to England to escape pogroms in Lithuania. Margaret's mother helped to set up the National Marriage Guidance Council. Margaret's father's side were more secular, and rather disapproved of orthodox Judaism. He was highly regarded as a very successful city solicitor. Margaret had two older brothers. She was seven when World War II broke out and with her school, South Hampstead High School and was evacuated to Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire. Margaret Owen OBE is a Cambridge educated barrister who, after working in various fields, now focuses on the rights of women and girls, especially, in developing countries. She founded the first international human rights organisation addressing widowhood issues and is currently the Director of Widows for Peace Through Democracy. However, she is also heavily engaged in other human rights concerns, and through these organisations, and through WPD, she is often in consultation with UK government officials on policy matters. She also works with the UN and with a large network of partner widows' organisations in Africa, South Asia and the Middle East. She was awarded the OBE in 2010, for services to human rights, particularly to widows overseas. [1]
Margaret is now a Door Tenant of 9 Bedford Row and she also regularly writes for their international law blog. She wanted to become an actress.She is also a founder member of GAPS UK (Gender Action on Peace and Security) and the UK Women’s NGO Alliance. She also works with the UN and with a large network of partner widows' organisations in Africa, South Asia and the Middle East. She was awarded the OBE in 2010, for services to human rights, particularly to widows overseas.