Women's Initiatives for Gender Justice

27/01/2025

📣We’re excited to launch our "Stronger Together" Strategic Framework 2025-2030! 🌟 A feminist roadmap to amplify solidarity and action with worldwide. Available in English, French, Spanish, and Arabic.
🌍🔗https://whrdic.org/strategic-framework

Facilitation: @ BKI
Design: @ vidushiy

26/07/2024

🌟 Conference Report: Reproductive Violence in International Criminal Law 🌟

On June 11, 2024, Women's Initiatives for Gender Justice co-hosted a hybrid conference on Reproductive Violence in International Criminal Law in collaboration with Dr. Rosemary Grey, the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) of Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Legal Mobilization Platform, the Strategic Litigation Project (Atlantic Council), the Global Justice Center, and the Sydney Centre for International Law (University of Sydney).

This event brought together over 60 in-person and 230 online participants, including judges, lawyers, scholars, activists, and survivors, marking a significant step forward in addressing reproductive violence in international criminal law.

Highlights from the conference include:

✨ In-depth discussions on the spectrum of reproductive violence.
✨ Expert insights on accountability and legal reform.
✨ Survivor stories and their powerful calls for justice.

We are deeply grateful to all participants and speakers for their invaluable contributions. Together, we are advancing justice and accountability for survivors.

The conference report is now available to download: https://4genderjustice.org/reproductive-violence-in-international-criminal-law-conference/

For conference recordings, educational resources, and feedback survey, visit our website: https://4genderjustice.org/reproductive-violence-in-international-criminal-law-conference/

The Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice works globally to ensure justice for women and an independent and effective International Criminal Court.

24/07/2024

З нагоди 2-ї річниці ратифікації Україною Стамбульської конвенції, раді презентувати результат об’єднаних зусиль ULAG, Ла Страда-Україна/La Strada-Ukraine Equality Now European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC) та Women's Initiatives for Gender Justice – Тіньовий звіт до Групи експертів з протидії насильству щодо жінок та домашньому насильству ( ) при Раді Європи щодо ситуації з притягненням до відповідальності за сексуальне насильство щодо жінок та дівчат в країні.

Наш тіньовий звіт визначає проблеми в законодавстві та роботі системи кримінального правосуддя в Україні. Особливу увагу приділили негативному впливу ґендерних міфів та стереотипів на всіх етапах кримінального процесу, а також стигматизації уцілілих та жертв насильства.

Ці проблеми є дискримінаційними бар'єрами, що перешкоджають доступу потерпілих до правосуддя, і підкреслюють поширений скептицизм і необґрунтовану недовіру до розповідей жінок і дівчат, які пережили ці злочини.

Ми пропонуємо рекомендації щодо кількох пріоритетних питань, які, в разі їх успішної реалізації, з часом стануть основою для подальших реформ, спрямованих на приведення України у повну відповідність до її зобов'язань за Конвенцією.

Завантажуйте звіт (англійською мовою) та діліться з нами своїми думками: https://4genderjustice.org/statements/grevio-report-launch-sexual-violence-and-stigmatisation-of-victims/

Цей звіт було підготовлено завдяки щедрій підтримці Канадської програми миротворчих та стабілізаційних операцій уряду Канади та Open Society Foundations.

Українська версія буде доступна незабаром.

Щоб дізнатися більше про прогрес та рекомендації щодо покращення захисту постраждалих від гендерно зумовленого насильства в Україні, ознайомтесь нещодавно опублікований тіньовий звіт Асоціація жінок-юристок України "ЮрФем" для GREVIO з рекомендаціями щодо вдосконалення чинних законодавчих, судових та адміністративних механізмів захисту постраждалих від гендерно зумовленого насильства в Україні.

Ви можете знайти їхній звіт тут: https://jurfem.com.ua/en/jurfem-shadow-report-for-grevio-was-published-on-the-official-page-of-the-council-of-europe-dedicated-to-the-istanbul-convention/

Міністерство соціальної політики України Урядова уповноважена з ґендерної політики Катерина Левченко Марина Бардіна Офіс Віцепрем’єрки з питань європейської та євроатлантичної інтеграції Офіс Омбудсмана України Офіс Генерального прокурора Національна поліція України Верховний Суд

23/07/2024

📢 Statement on Concerns Over Judicial Deliberations in Al Hassan Trial Judgment

The recent trial judgment in the Al Hassan case by the International Criminal Court (ICC) has raised concerns regarding judicial deliberations and their implications for justice.

The fragmented decision by Trial Chamber X underscores the challenges of achieving unanimity, as the charges were decided by majority rather than unanimously, with varying compositions of the majority for different charges.

This disjointed approach and the divergent opinions among the judges have undermined the coherence of the judgment, creating challenges in delivering justice for survivors of gender-based crimes.

Read our full statement: https://4genderjustice.org/statements/statement-on-concerns-over-judicial-deliberations-in-al-hassan-trial-judgment/

18/07/2024

To mark the 2nd anniversary of Ukraine’s ratification of the Istanbul Convention, Women's Initiatives for Gender Justice joins hands with the Ukrainian Legal Advisory Group (ULAG), La Strada Ukraine, Equality Now, and the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC) to submit a Shadow Report to the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) at the Council of Europe on the situation on accountability for sexual violence against women and girls in the country.

Our shadow report identifies challenges in the legislation and practices of the criminal justice system in Ukraine, with a focus throughout on the negative impact of gender-based myths and stereotypes on all phases of the criminal justice process, and the stigmatization of victims.

These challenges constitute discriminatory barriers preventing access to justice for victims, and highlight the pervasive scepticism and unwarranted disbelief of the accounts of women and girls who experience these crimes.

We offer recommendations to GREVIO on several priority areas which, if successfully implemented, would serve as a basis for further reform over time, to bring Ukraine fully in line with its Convention obligations.

Download the report (in English) and let us know your thoughts. 👇

🔗: https://4genderjustice.org/statements/grevio-report-launch-sexual-violence-and-stigmatisation-of-victims/

This report was developed with the generous support of the Canadian Government’s Peace and Stabilization Operations Program and the Open Society Foundations. A Ukrainian version of the report will be available soon.

For further reading on the progress and recommendations for improving protections for survivors of gender-based violence in Ukraine, make sure to read the recently published Ukrainian Women Women-Lawyers Association "JurFem" shadow report for GREVIO on recommendations for improving the current legislative, judicial and administrative mechanisms to protect the survivors of gender-based violence in Ukraine.

You can find their report here: https://jurfem.com.ua/en/jurfem-shadow-report-for-grevio-was-published-on-the-official-page-of-the-council-of-europe-dedicated-to-the-istanbul-convention/

17/07/2024

Today is the .

Let’s take this opportunity to reflect on criminal justice in recent geopolitical developments and its contribution to achieving a gender-just world.

⚖️ We need to be mindful of double standards in political support given to international criminal justice initiatives.

🗣️ Closer to home, the recent International Criminal Court Al Hassan trial judgment is giving us reason for concern about the culture of joint judicial deliberation within the Court and its impact on gender-related judicial advancements.

🚺 We need to work together to facilitate further mutual learning on reproductive violence. From international conferences and publications to training programs and interdisciplinary research, we need to enhance our current responses to reproductive violence in international law.

We’ve worked for the past 20 years to strengthen the international criminal justice system.

We will continue to champion intersectional equality, amplify survivors' voices, and work together to secure a gender-just future for all. ✊

15/07/2024

📣 Two years on from Ukraine’s ratification of the , what are the main challenges in investigating and prosecuting within the Ukrainian criminal justice system?

🗓️ On 18 July, Women's Initiatives for Gender Justice will submit our Shadow Report to the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) at the Council of Europe, co-authored with the Ukrainian Legal Advisory Group (ULAG), the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC), La Strada International and Equality Now.

Sign up here to receive the report: https://forms.office.com/e/kKugs3B2Hx

03/06/2024

Ahead of the Reproductive Violence in International Criminal Law conference next week, check out this blog post on Protections for Reproductive Violence in the ICC https://t.co/mZWfvrhxZl

And don't forget to register for the conference if you haven't already https://t.co/tkG77uSnXo

24/05/2024

📢 There is still time to register for our Conference on 11 June on reproductive violence and its adjudication within the existing international criminal law (ICL) framework.

More information about the event and how to register below: https://www.iss.nl/en/events/reproductive-violence-international-criminal-law-2024-06-11

28/03/2024

At next week’s session, UN Member States can show support for a gender-competent and survivor-centric treaty on crimes against humanity. Join 300+ organizations and individuals fighting to ensure they seize this opportunity.

The Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice works globally to ensure justice for women and an independent and effective International Criminal Court.