News
Global Justice Center launches "August 12 Campaign" to mark the 62nd Anniversary of the Geneva Conventions by urging President Obama to issue an executive order lifting U.S. abortion restrictions on humanitarian aid for girls and women raped in armed conflict
July 4, 2011
Thousands of girls and women raped and impregnated in armed conflict are routinely denied critically needed abortions in places like the Democratic Republic of Congo, Burma and Sudan, despite hundreds of millions of dollars in humanitarian aid made available to victims in conflict. These victims are denied abortions for myriad reasons, but one major reason is the blanket abortion restrictions the US places on all its foreign assistance, including humanitarian aid. These US restrictions contain no exceptions for rape or to save the life of the woman and have the effect of preventing all foreign governments, NGOs and humanitarian aid providers receiving US funds from providing the option of abortions to girls and women raped in armed conflict. More.
Global Justice Center President Janet Benshoof Speaks on "A Rights-Based Approach to Violence Against Women" at the FPA & Commonwealth Secretariat International Symposium in London
June 30, 2011
On June 20, 2011, the Foreign Press Association in London (FPA) hosted an International Symposium on 'Women as Agents of Change: Why women are fundamental to political, economic and social transformation' in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat to mark the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day. The event reflected Commonwealth's theme for 2011 and explored the role of women in conflict and peace and the need for their inclusion in political and economic life. More.
Global Justice Center President Janet Benshoof Speaks on "A Rights-Based Approach to Violence Against Women" at the FPA & Commonwealth Secretariat International Symposium in London
June 30, 2011
On June 20, 2011, the Foreign Press Association in London (FPA) hosted an International Symposium on 'Women as Agents of Change: Why women are fundamental to political, economic and social transformation' in collaboration with the Commonwealth Secretariat to mark the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day. The event reflected Commonwealth's theme for 2011 and explored the role of women in conflict and peace and the need for their inclusion in political and economic life. More.
Global Justice Center and Other Women's Health Advocates Call for the Obama Administration to Make the US a Leader in Pushing for Reproductive Rights Worldwide
June 3, 2011
A recent article in Conscience Magazine describes the work of women's health advocates and the frustration they are experiencing with the current Administration. Fortunately, the GJC sees a new and unique opportunity for the current Administration to overturn the policies that prohibit access to abortion for girls and women raped in armed conflict. More.
Global Justice Center sees victory in response from US to Norway's Recommendation at UN Human Rights Council, which sets up Obama to issue an Executive Order lifting the US restrictions against abortion tied to all humanitarian aid.
April 5, 2011
On March 18, 2011, the US responded to Norway's Recommendation saying that the US could not remove the blanket abortion restrictions on humanitarian aid because of "currently applicable restrictions."More.
On International Women's Day, GJC salutes the NY City Bar Association for challenging the legality of the US abortion prohibitions imposed on US humanitarian aid for women raped in armed conflict
March 8, 2011
On March 4, 2011, the Association of the Bar of New York, on behalf of some 22,000 members, wrote to President Obama urging the Administration to lift the abortion prohibitions put on all US humanitarian aid for women and girl survivors of rape used as a weapon of war.More.
At UN Human Rights Council, Norwegian Government Recommends that the United States Remove its Restrictions that Deny Abortions to Victims Raped in Conflict
November 11, 2010
Norway became the first country to challenge the legality of the anti-abortion conditions that the United States imposes on all of its foreign aid, in a question posed at the Universal Periodic Review of the United States before the Human Rights Council in Geneva. More.
A Call for All Member States of the Human Rights Council: End the Gross Violations of the Rights of Girls and Women Raped and Impregnated in Armed Conflict, to Non-Discriminatory Medical Care, Including Abortions, Under the Geneva Conventions
November 3, 2010
Thousands of girls and women, impregnated by rape in armed conflict are routinely and illegally denied life saving abortions in places like the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Burma and Sudan. The right to non-discriminatory medical care for these victims, which includes the option of abortion, is enshrined in common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions. More.
Ten Years Later: Enforcing Security Council Resolution 1325 for the Women of Burma
October 26, 2010
The passage of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (SCR 1325) in 2000 was a legal milestone for women's equality. For the first time, the UN Security Council not only recognized the gender-specific impact of conflict and historic gender discrimination in criminal accountability, it also underscored the need for women to participate in post-conflict reconstruction. Ten years later, the military junta in Burma continues to flout this legal obligation through the routine and systematic use of gender based crimes and the utter exclusion of women from peacebuilding processes. To ensure respect for the legal obligations set out in SCR 1325, the international community must address the situation on the ground for women in Burma, and women of Burma in exile. More.
GJC President Janet Benshoof speech featured in FIDH-BLC publication entitled: "Advancing Human Rights and Ending Impunity in Burma: Which External Leverage?"
October 19, 2010
The International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and, Global Justice Center partner, the Burma Lawyers Council (BLC) released a report entitled: "Advancing Human Rights and Ending Impunity in Burma: Which External Leverage?". The report catalogues the presentations of leading exiled Burmese organizations, international and regional human rights NGOs, as well as renowned international legal experts from an FIDH-BLC joint seminar in May 2009. More.
GJCNews Summer 2010: International Justice Day
July 20, 2010
Download.On July 17th the world celebrated International Justice Day, the anniversary of the adoption of the Rome Statute, the treaty that created the International Criminal Court. In honor of this important landmark, the Global Justice Center reaffirms its commitment to enforcing these international human rights laws to create a more just world. In this GJCnews, we share how we are working to use the law to end the impunity of the military in Burma and ensure that the men, women, and children in Burma finally realize justice and peace. More.
GJC proudly supports UNIFEM petition "Say no to Sexual Violence in Conflict" and the Global Open Day for Women and Peace
June 2010
Sign the petition here. The Global Justice Center supports UNIFEM's petition to implement United Nations Security Council resolution 1325 for the equal participation of women in peacekeeping and protection from sexual violence. More.
For press or speaker inquiries, contact Natasha Roland, Development and Communications Associate at 212-725-6530 x204
See our news archives for more GJC news:
2011 News Archive
2010 News Archive
. 2009 News Archive
2008 News Archive
2007 News Archive
2006 News Archive
Return to the News and Events page.