Women - as victims, defendants and witnesses - suffer very significant structural disadvantage within the criminal justice system. A large proportion of women incarcerated in prisons, mental health institutions and immigration detention have suffered sexual abuse and domestic violence. Women who are primarily victims of violence but have either fought back against male violence or been held to be lacking in credibility are being criminalised and punished most severely.

The Centre for Women's Justice was founded in 2016 with the aim of bringing together specialist lawyers, academics and other experts in the field of violence against women, along with those working on the frontline as activists, survivors and service providers, to bring strategic law challenges and ensure access to justice for victims of male violence.

Treebeard has provided core funding to Centre for Women's Justice since 2018.