Huffington Post includes comments by GJC President Janet Benshoof on the reason why the US has not yet ratified CEDAW.
Global Justice Center Blog
Global Justice Center's "August 12 Campaign" on lifting U.S. abortion restrictions on humanitarian aid gets editorial in The New York Times
The New York Times wrote "Humanitarian Aid for Rape Victims," an editorial about the August 12th Campaign led by the Global Justice Center urging President Obama lifting U.S. abortion restrictions on humanitarian aid for girls and women raped in armed conflict.
Click here to read the full article.
President Obama Urged to End U.S. Violation of the Rights of Rape Survivors in Armed Conflict
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—August 25, 2011
To coincide with the anniversary of the U.S. signing the Geneva Conventions, the Global Justice Center launched the global “August 12th”campaign to urge President Obama to immediately lift the “no abortion” restriction attached to all U.S. humanitarian aid for medical care given to girls and women raped and impregnated in armed conflict.
[NEW YORK, NY] – Thousands of girls and women raped and impregnated in armed conflict face additional suffering by being routinely denied abortions in humanitarian medical settings. The Geneva Conventions mandate “comprehensive” and “non-discriminatory” medical care to the wounded and sick during armed conflict and United Nations treaty bodies and courts characterize deliberate denial of abortion to impregnated rape victims as cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment. Yet, the United States (the “U.S.”) attaches a “no abortion” prohibition to all U.S. humanitarian aid, including for war rape victims whose rights are guaranteed under the laws of war. Therefore, the Global Justice Center (the “GJC”) coordinated a consortium of over 3,000 leading legal, human rights, public health and humanitarian organizations and experts from the U.S., Canada, Europe, Africa, and Latin & South America to urge President Obama to immediately lift the “no abortion” restriction attached to all U.S. humanitarian aid. Click here to view the GJC’s letter to the President.
Reality Check, “Why Is The U.S. Waging War on Women Raped in War?”
Reality Check publishes an article titled "Why is the U.S. Waging War on Women Raped in War?" by Kristina Kallas and Akila Radhakrishnan - both GJC team members.
This article discusses the crises caused by rape as a weapon of war, and the lack of adequate response from the US. The article explains that though the 1973 Helms Amendment to the Foreign Assistance Act allows for abortion funding in cases of rape in armed conflict, it has been interpreted differently. Post-abortion care for unsafe abortions is not enough, and these women and girls are still being denied the right to safe abortion services.
U.S. Abortion Restrictions on Humanitarian Aid Violate Geneva Convention: Campaign Underway to Petition President Obama
Sarah Morison, an attorney at the Global Justice Center, is the author of "U.S. Abortion Restrictions on Humanitarian Aid Violate Geneva Convention: Campaign Underway to Petition President Obama" for Our Bodies Our Selves Blog. Her article exaplains the ways in which the US government violates international law by restricting abortion access.