Happy International Women’s Day!

My name is Jelena Pia, and I am thrilled to serve as a new board member for the Global Justice Center, an organization that embodies my feminist principles and passion for gender justice.

Every day, but especially today, I am grateful to be a part of the GJC family.As a diplomat and activist, I have seen firsthand how GJC has fundamentally shifted the global conversation on issues relating to justice and accountability for sexual and gender-based violence in conflict.

As a representative of a small country, Andorra, at the United Nations, I was at the forefront of negotiations of international norms and treaties that set new standards for gender justice. The experience taught me the power of access and the injustice that comes with not allowing those who most need it to have a voice.

Joining GJC's board member allows me to continue my journey and stay true to my values. Throughout my career, I made sure to always remember what it means to be a woman from a small country. I know that strengthening women’s leadership and supporting the work of activists is critical to the women, peace and security agenda.

Earlier this month, GJC President Akila Radhakrishnan briefed the United Nations Security Council on accountability for conflict-related sexual violence.

As Akila emphasized to Council members, "When states and the United Nations fail to act, it sends a dangerous message that genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity can be committed with impunity."

We know that, at its core, sexual violence in conflict is an expression of patriarchy and inequality. From Burma to Iraq, the Global Justice Center is fighting to make sure perpetrators of sexual violence are not shielded from justice by antiquated and discriminatory domestic laws.

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On his first full day in office, the same day as the groundbreaking Women’s March, President Trump reinstated and expanded the devastating Global Gag Rule.

For two years, we have seen the consequences of this destructive and illegal policy—two years of clinics closing, women dying, and doctors being illegally denied their protected right to free speech.

The Global Justice Center is on the frontlines fighting for the rights of women and their doctors to make treatment decisions without interference from the US government. Change is possible, and together we can make the world a safer place for women. 

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This December marks 70 years since the ratification of the Genocide Convention, an anniversary that reminds us of the failed promise of "Never Again." 

To mark this important milestone, GJC released a groundbreaking legal analysis of the gender-based crimes of genocide. The report outlines how the continued failure to acknowledge the role gender plays in genocidal violence has undercut the development of an effective legal framework to prevent and punish genocide. 

The international community must learn from the shortcomings of seven decades of genocide prosecutions and failed prevention efforts. With accountability proceedings on the horizon for the Yazidis and Rohingya, the gendered crimes of genocide must not be ignored.

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In an historic step towards justice, a new international convention focused on crimes against humanity is in its final draft stages.

GJC is working to ensure that gender justice is at the forefront of this effort, particularly when it comes to forced pregnancy, the right to abortion, and the definition of gender.

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Earlier this month, our partners Nadia Murad and Dr. Denis Mukwege were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their work to end sexual violence in conflict. Sexual and gender-based crimes are in the international spotlight, and GJC is working overtime to make sure that these crimes are investigated and punished.

We just sent ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda our analysis of the crimes committed against the Rohingya, along with a letter urging her to prioritize sexual and gender based violence in the Court's investigation.

Photo: Frank Schwichtenberg / Own Work / CC BY-SA 4.0

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Last week, we released the first comprehensive legal analysis of the gender-based crimes committed against Rohingya women and girls in Rakhine State. Days later, ICC Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda announced the launch of a preliminary investigation into the deportation of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya into Bangladesh.

The UN Human Rights Council and General Assembly are both considering the establishment of a mechanism to collect and document evidence of crimes against the Rohingya. As the gears of justice begin to turn, we're working to ensure that a gendered analysis and a focus on justice for gender-based crimes are embedded in every conversation.

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August marks the anniversaries of two recent genocides: the Rohingya in Burma and the Yazidi in Iraq. These atrocities highlight the often overlooked but increasingly unavoidable gendered crimes of genocide. 

Systematic sexual violence was integral to the campaigns that targeted the Rohingya and Yazidi communities for annihilation.  Unless these crimes are recognized and prosecuted as genocide, the international community will continue to miss the warning signs and fail to intervene before the next genocide takes place.

Photo: Anna Dubuis / DFID / CC BY 2.0

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Today, the Global Justice Center submitted a formal comment to Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar detailing the ways in which proposed restrictions on Title X deny women their fundamental human rights.

The proposed restrictions on Title X, announced by the White House in May, threaten to cut off funding to any health care provider that refers, provides, or even mentions abortion, which will lead to dire consequences, primarily for low-income women. Doctors will be forced to withhold information from women, even when directly asked for it, and women will need to seek information about their medical options elsewhere.

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This week, President Trump nominated Brett Kavanaugh to replace Justice Kennedy on the Supreme Court. Kavanaugh has ruled against the rights to birth control and abortion throughout his career. His nomination threatens the protections of Roe v. Wade and signals the growing disparity between the United States and international human rights norms.

With ten years of experience on the progressive interpretation of international law under our belts, we know how to use the power of the law to protect the rights of women and girls around the world.  

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The Global Justice Center’s Board of Directors is thrilled to announce that Akila Radhakrishnan has been named the President of the Global Justice Center (GJC). Ms. Radhakrishnan has worked at the Global Justice Center since 2010, most recently serving as the organization’s Vice-President and Legal Director.

“We are delighted that Ms. Radhakrishnan has accepted this position,” says Tracy Higgins, Chair of GJC’s Board of Directors. “Ms. Radhakrishnan served as acting President during a difficult time of grieving and transition for the organization over the past six months. Her leadership during that time, together with her legal expertise and commitment to the organization made it abundantly clear that she is the best person to lead GJC into the future.”

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This week, the White House announced new restrictions on Title X that threaten to cut off funding to any health care provider that refers, provides, or even mentions abortion, leading to dire consequences, primarily for low-income women.

This dangerous policy will deny women their fundamental rights under the US Constitution and international human rights law.

After years of experience fighting against US abortion restrictions on foreign aid, the Global Justice Center has the expertise necessary to counter this new Domestic Gag Rule.

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The Trump administration proposed a domestic “Gag Rule” last night, banning health centers that provide, refer, support, or assist women in accessing abortion services from receiving Title X funding. This dangerous policy will deny women their fundamental human rights.

Like the Global Gag Rule reinstated by President Trump in 2017, the Domestic Gag Rule will coerce doctors into staying silent about the option to terminate a pregnancy (except in extremely limited circumstances) under threat of losing their government funding. In effect, the Domestic Gag Rule will prevent doctors from providing complete and accurate medical guidance to women. Even if a patient asks directly where she can obtain an abortion, a Title X provider will not be able to provide her with direct information in order to allow her to access her constitutionally protected right.

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Since 2005, the Global Justice Center has worked with our partners in Iraq to hold perpetrators of gender-based crimes accountable in order to ensure a rule of law based on gender equality.

Today, your support is critical as we lead the effort to ensure justice for ISIS’ genocide against the Yazidi in Iraq.

As our recent legal brief illustrates, and as our Staff Attorney Grant Shubin made clear in a New York Times Letter to the Editor, “If prosecuted under Iraq’s penal code, basic crimes of ISIS’ gender-based violence will go unpunished.”

Photo: DVIDSHUB / CC BY 2.0

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Janet always said that “For there to be justice, peace and security in the world, there has to be equality of women in fact.”

She founded the Global Justice Center to help create that world, where women and girls have equal access to justice under the law and in practice. 

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An official appointed by Trump said during a closed-door meeting at the UN that the United States is a "pro-life country." 
Legally, it's not.

The official also tried to negotiate the removal of any references to "sexual and reproductive health" in a UN document. Every day, the Trump Administration shows its willingness to take even more radical anti-choice positions than past Republican administrations.  

Photo: Steenaire / CC BY 2.0

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From the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements to the #SheDecides Campaign, women are speaking up to demand equal rights and representation. It is up to us to make sure that this sea change creates permanent advances that positively impact women’s lives for generations to come.

On International Women’s Day,
#PressforProgress with the Global Justice Center.

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Today is the 20th anniversary of V-Day, a global movement to stop violence against women and girls. On this day, GJC is focused on the women and girls raped in war who are denied lifesaving medical care.

US restrictions on foreign aid regularly deny abortion services to women and girls raped in war. The Trump administration made these restrictions exponentially worse by reinstating and expanding the Global Gag Rule.

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Thank you for marching with the Global Justice Center in honor of our fearless founder, Janet Benshoof. Janet fought her entire life to advance women's equality and we are grateful to you for honoring her with us and for carrying on her powerful legacy.

• You can see a slideshow of selected images from the march on GJC's Facebook page. 
• You can also see the full album of pictures on our Flickr page.

Thank you again. It was wonderful to march alongside you and we hope to see you again soon!

Photo: Global Justice Center / All Rights Reserved

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Join GJC this weekend as we celebrate the incredible life of our founder, Janet Benshoof.

• This Saturday, GJC will be leading a delegation in Janet's honor at the Women's March in NYC. You can join us as we walk in Janet's footsteps. For more details and to RSVP click here.
• This Sunday, starting at 11 AM, you can watch a livestream here of the memorial service for Janet, featuring speakers from all aspects of her life. 
• Follow us on Twitter and Instagram for updates.

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