On October 31, 2000, the United Nations Security Council handed down a bold vision mandating the full, equal, and meaningful participation of women in all aspects of peace and security. Sadly, much of the progress made since then remains rhetoric rather than a reality for most women around the world.

Even worse, what progress we have made is under threat from powerful, patriarchal governments. Countries like the United States and Russia continue to make clear their hostility to the women, peace, and security agenda.

Stand with us as we fight back attacks and push for progress on this critical tool in the fight for gender equality.

The first-ever virtual Global Justice Awards have come and gone, and we couldn't be happier with our night of celebration and collaboration. Thanks to you, we feel as emboldened as ever to continue our fight for gender equality.

We had the honor of presenting awards to Dr. Senait Fisseha and the Women's League of Burma, women who truly embody what a #FeministInspiration means to the staff of the Global Justice Center and to gender justice advocates around the world.

We are nothing without our incredible allies and supporters. Let's win a feminist future together.

To continue our reflection on what it takes to build a feminist future ahead of the virtual Global Justice Awards on September 17th, we've asked the GJC community to share their feminist inspiration with us. It has been encouraging and exciting to see so many meaningful stories so far!

We saw a contribution from Global Justice Awards host committee member Oshiya Savur, who recognized fellow "glass ceiling shatterers." Canadian Senator Marilou McPhedran shared her hopes for an intersectional and inclusive feminist future. And our president, Akila Radhakrishnan, delivered a video tribute to her inspirations: her mother and GJC’s founder, Janet Benshoof.

The Global Justice Awards will be a celebration of our feminist past and future so please register for the free event now. And don’t forget, we are still accepting submissions, so be sure to share your inspiration with us!

Dear Friend,

In this age of runaway nationalism, GJC has never wavered in its fight for both fully realized human rights protections and systems of accountability to enforce those protections.

During last week's UN Security Council Debate on conflict-related sexual violence, we stood in solidarity with brave activists taking member states to account for their failure to meaningfully act to protect the rights of victims.

Back in the US, we blasted Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and his illegal "Commission on Unalienable Rights" as the draft of the commission's final report was released.

Human rights need committed, zealous defenders. We thank you for fighting with us.

Dear Friend,

Over the last several years, we've witnessed a nationalist slide away from multilateralism and against international institutions. GJC knows global institutions are critical to protecting human rights, so this month, we ramped up our work to bolster them.

We came out firmly and quickly against President Trump's executive order sanctioning International Criminal Court officials. Over at the UN Human Rights Council, we joined the call for an independent inquiry into police violence and racism in the US. And we stood in solidarity with the World Health Organization as the US withdrew funding.

Our international institutions need to be empowered and supported. We hope you'll continue to fight with us as we work to protect them.

Dear Friend, 

A critical aspect of the International Court of Justice's historic ruling to prevent genocide against Rohingya was the requirement for Myanmar to regularly report on its compliance with the order. Last Saturday, Myanmar faced its first reporting deadline and the Global Justice Center used the opportunity to hold the government accountable for its actions, or lack thereof, since the January order.

The simple truth is that Myanmar has not done enough to protect Rohingya. So we used every tool at our disposal this month to educate and interrogate the global community on Myanmar's record.

We hope you'll join us as we continue the fight for justice for victims of sexual violence and other genocidal crimes.

Dear Friend,

Dear Friend,

We're in the midst of a historic crisis that affects every human being on this planet. Now more than ever, we need strong international cooperation and the protection of human rights. Yet, the Trump administration's "Commission on Unalienable Rights," established to tear down these institutions, continues to meet.

That's why we sued them this month.

This commission must be stopped before it further destroys international institutions and undermines hard-fought human rights. We hope you'll support this urgent case on behalf of human rights defenders everywhere.

For too long, issues of gender have been relegated to the sidelines during high-level forums on international law. At worst, gender is omitted entirely. GJC is proud of our trusted reputation as the feminists in legal spaces, and over the next month, we'll get a chance to demonstrate this strength in a big way.

GJC President Akila Radhakrishnan will be participating in several international law events in March, including delivering a speech at the International Law Conference on the Status of Women, and joining panels at major events hosted by Tufts University and the Jacob Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights.

We're also hosting a major conference on the inextricable role of gender in the crime of genocide on March 13-14. This conference will gather some of the world's leading experts and activists so register now!

No matter the room, GJC will always center gender quality and women's rights. Thank you for being in this fight with us.

For decades, the Rohingya experienced and documented extreme discrimination, oppression, and violence at the hands of their government. And they watched the international community turn a blind eye to this suffering. But last week, the Rohingya finally received a sense of justice that has eluded their community for generations.

The court granted provisional measures, which order Burma to take immediate action to prevent genocide. This includes ensuring military and police forces cease all genocidal acts, preserve all evidence of genocidal acts, and report on compliance with these measures.

With our decades of experience fighting for gender justice and equality in Burma, the Global Justice Center was a major voice on social media and in press coverage of the historic ruling.

In one of the most powerful moments of international justice in recent memory, Myanmar stood before the International Court of Justice last week as The Gambia delivered accusations of mass killing and rape against the Rohingya. Victims of genocide finally got their day in court.

The Gambia's Minister of Justice, a driving force behind the case, opened the hearings by reminding the world that "It’s not only the state of Myanmar that is on trial here, it’s our collective humanity that is being put on trial.” In her much-anticpated testimony later in the week, Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi painted a false picture of an internal military conflict and ignored victims of sexual violence.

As a longtime expert on Myanmar, The Global Justice Center was in The Hague along with partners to monitor the hearings and plan next steps. In the coming months, GJC will intensify its work seeking justice for victims of sexual and gender-based violence and other human rights abuses in Myanmar.