Cassandra Balchin

Cassandra Marlin Balchin (24 May 1962 – 12 July 2012) was an English freelance journalist, women's rights campaigner and human rights advocacy trainer. She was a leader and consultant for organisations including Women Living Under Muslim Laws and the Association for Women's Rights in Development (AWID).

Early life and education Balchin was born in England on 24 May 1962. and also spent time in Glemsford, Suffolk.

Balchin graduated from the London School of Economics in 1983 with a B.Sc. in government, having studied Russian government and history. She published Women, law and society: an action manual for NGOs and edited A handbook on family law in Pakistan. She raised awareness of how Muslim women in Bolton who were wed bylocal Imams may not be legally married in civil law. She was also critical of the British application of Sharia law, writing that:

Balchin was also co-founder of Musawah, the "Sisters in Islam" in Malaysia She was a co-founder of openDemocracy 50.50.

Death Balchin died from cancer on 12 July 2012, aged 50. She was survived by her two adult sons and her mother.