THE life and death of a celebrated women's rights campaigner will be celebrated at a conference in the North-East this weekend.

The day-long event, to be attended by Home Office Minister Fiona McTaggart, is being staged to mark the 100th anniversary of Northumberland-born Josephine Butler.

Born in 1828, Miss Butler devoted her life to campaigning for the abolition of slavery and the plight of vulnerable women. She founded the Ladies' National Association for the Repeal of the Contagious Diseases Acts, which compelled prostitutes to undergo forcible medical examinations.

During Saturday's conference, at St Nicholas Cathedral, in Newcastle, Ms McTaggart will talk about the Government's recently published prostitution strategy.

Other speakers include writer Anna Briggs, who has made a study of Josephine Butler, the Right Reverend Alastair Redfern, Bishop of Derby, and Nick Brown MP.