Advocacy

A Gender-Just World

At Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice, advocacy lies at the heart of our mission to achieve a gender-just world.

Rooted in the principles of survivor-centered approaches and intersectionality, our work focuses on dismantling patriarchal and colonial systems while advancing international criminal law (ICL) to hold perpetrators accountable for gender-based crimes.

Our Focus Areas

  • 1

    Transforming Legal Standards

    We champion the integration of gender-sensitive approaches into international legal frameworks through research, campaigns, and training.

  • 2

    Advocating for Survivors

    Survivors are at the center of our advocacy, shaping legal and policy reforms to address intersectional vulnerabilities.

  • 3

    Influencing Legal Systems

    We collaborate with global stakeholders like the ICC to adopt gender-competent policies and judicial practices.

How We Work

  • 1

    Evidence-Based Advocacy

    Our advocacy is backed by research that highlights gaps in gender justice, contributing to actionable global strategies.

  • 2

    Capacity Building

    We provide training and resources to equip judges, lawyers, and policymakers with tools for addressing gender-based violence.

  • 3

    Collaborative Networks

    We build partnerships with advocacy groups, legal experts, and institutions to amplify global impact.

Recent Advocacy Activities

Reproductive Violence

We hosted a flagship conference in June 2024 on reproductive violence in international criminal law, gathering over 290 global experts, including judges, lawyers, scholars, activists, and survivors. The discussions highlighted legal gaps, survivor-centered justice, and innovative approaches to addressing forced pregnancies, sterilizations, and denial of reproductive healthcare. The event reinforced the need for intersectional strategies and localized leadership to tackle reproductive violence effectively.

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Gender Persecution Principles

In collaboration with experts and practitioners, we worked on shaping new principles for addressing gender persecution under international law. These efforts aim to improve prevention, protection, participation, and recovery for survivors while ensuring accountability for gender-based crimes, such as those witnessed in contexts like Afghanistan and Iran.

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The Hague Principles on Sexual Violence

Through our Call It What It Is campaign, we developed The Hague Principles on Sexual Violence—a framework to enhance understanding and recognition of diverse forms of sexual violence. These principles are already guiding international justice efforts, offering tools for survivor-centered and culturally sensitive responses to sexual violence crimes.

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Justice in Palestine

Our recent work highlights the systematic use of sexual violence as a tool of oppression against Palestinian detainees. Drawing on the Hague Principles, we advocate for the International Criminal Court (ICC) to recognize and prosecute these abuses. This includes acts such as forced nudity, invasive body searches, and sexual humiliation, which require broader recognition under the Rome Statute.

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Justice in Ukraine

We contributed to a shadow report on sexual violence and victim stigmatization in Ukraine, revealing entrenched stereotypes and systemic barriers in the justice system. Our recommendations emphasize the importance of continuous judicial training and adopting victim-centered approaches to ensure meaningful accountability.

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These activities underscore our commitment to advancing survivor-centered justice, strengthening international legal frameworks, and amplifying marginalized voices to address gender-based violence worldwide.