2007 Events Archive
Ending Impunity, Forging Accountability: Implementation of SC Resolution 1325 in Myanmar
New York, 26 October 2007
The panel's intention was to discuss the current situation in Burma and how the use of Resolution 1325 and international instruments such as the International Criminal Court, arms embargoes, and the establishment of an Arms Trade Treaty could influence the current situation, protect women, and prevent similar conflicts from occurring.
UNSCR 1325, Strategies for Ways Forward
New York, 25 October 2007
Representatives from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan spoke about the current status of gender policymaking and challenges to women and security within the context of SCR 1325 in their respective countries.
UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace and Security WorkShop
May - September 2007
Mandated by the OSCE Action Plan for the Promotion of Gender Equality, ODIHR organized, in cooperation with UNIFEM CIS, the first regional UNSCR 1325 initiative in Central Asia (regional roundtable in Kazakhstan, September 2006). With the exception of Turkmenistan, all Central Asian countries were represented. Building on this initiative, ODIHR now plans to undertake a series of workshops in Central Asia for in-depth focus on national level implementation in the respective five countries.
Operation 1325 Seminar
June 12-15, 2007
The Swedish organization Operation 1325 invited GJC Managing Attorney Olivia Kraus to speak at a seminar entitled: "Bridge Building: A Platform for Dialogue," where she brought a unique perspective as a lawyer. This seminar was attended by eight delegates from women's organizations in Sudan, Israel and Palestine. Olivia spoke about how these women could use international law to improve women's rights and access to justice in their home countries.
Women's Rights in Islam Program
May 23, 2007
This program presented three perspectives of the rights of women under Islamic law: classical legal rights and obligations, modern legal interpretations, and current professional and legal issues facing Muslim women in America and the Middle East.
CSIDs 8th Annual Conference
April 27, 2007
Olivia Kraus attended the conference and delivered a paper entitled "Gender Equality and the Rule of Law: The Role of the Judiciary in Changing Discriminatory Norms - A Case Study with the Iraq High Tribunal" on a panel entitled " Islamic Feminisms: Rereading Texts and Tradition". Interestingly, the main topic of the day seemed to be the battle over the hijab. None of the other speakers discussed sexual violence, honor killings or Iraq.
Symposium on Gender-Relevant Legislative Change in Muslim and Non-Muslim Countries
March 30-31, 2007
GJC Counsel Olivia Kraus and Middle East Consultant Malaak Abdeljaber attended this symposium. While the organizers held the symposium out to be about women, legislation and Islam, the reality was far different. Almost none for the speakers spoke directly about legislative change, and when they did it was retrospective and not with an eye towards future change. None of the speakers mentioned international law or Tribunal, CEDAW was mentioned only once in passing and in general the larger perspective of human rights was ignored.
10th Annual Edith I. Spivack Award
March 26, 2007
The 10th annual Edith I. Spivack Award, given by the Women's Rights Committee of the New York County Lawyers' Association, was presented on March 26, 2007 to Janet Benshoof during a 6 p.m. ceremony at the organization's headquarters at 14 Vesey Street, followed by a reception.
51st Session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)
February 27 - March 9, 2007
In a panel discussion at Colombia University Law School on February 27th entitled "How War Crimes Tribunals are Advancing Women's Rights," the Global Justice Center's President and Founder, Janet Benshoof, discussed her personal experiences with organizing and executing a conference on international women's human rights with the judges on the Iraqi High Tribunal.