Submission of Gender Persecution Principles Recommendations
Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice has submitted comprehensive recommendations to the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) for updating the Gender Persecution Principles.
These recommendations, developed in partnership with leading practitioners and experts, aim to transform how gender persecution is addressed under international law. The submission follows a convening held on 21st October 2024, which brought together a diverse group of legal professionals, activists, and survivors which informed the submission and shaped the next steps in defining and addressing gender persecution.
Understanding Gender Persecution
Gender persecution involves the systematic and severe deprivation of fundamental rights against individuals or groups based on gender. Recognized as a crime against humanity, it has often been underutilized in legal proceedings despite its significant impact on marginalized groups.
Areas of Focus
The convening focused on four main pillars for addressing gender persecution:
- Prevention: Advancing early intervention mechanisms and developing gender-sensitive legal frameworks to mitigate risks.
- Protection: Strengthening safeguards for individuals and communities at risk, including anti-retaliation measures and tailored support for marginalized groups.
- Participation: Elevating survivors’ voices in designing and implementing justice initiatives to ensure survivor-informed processes.
- Recovery: Promoting reparative justice by addressing survivors’ mental, social, and economic needs while recognizing the cumulative impact of intersectional harms.
Key Recommendations
- Implementing intersectional prevention strategies to address overlapping vulnerabilities.
- Expanding legal accountability mechanisms, including the use of universal jurisdiction.
- Ensuring comprehensive protections for survivors during justice processes.
- Advocating for survivor-informed approaches that prioritize safety, trauma awareness, and inclusivity.
- Encouraging holistic reparations that account for individual and community-level harm.