The Far Eastern Economic Review published a letter to Ban Ki-moon written by GJC President Janet Benshoof and U Aung Htoo, in which they urge the Secretary-General to address the violations of international humanitarian law that have been ignored by Myanmar.
"Human rights is universal - it equally applies to all human beings and it is the collective wisdom of all faiths, religions and peoples." -Shirin Ebadi, San Francisco Jewish Communtiy Center, May 18, 2009
When Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Iranian human rights lawyer Shirin Ebadi spoke these words "in conversation" with GJC President Janet Benshoof on May 18th, the packed auditorium at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco broke into applause. It was a historic and profound evening, as these two legal pioneers explored topics ranging from how Iranian feminists in the lead-up to the elections forced candidates to talk about human rights and equality and the important role international law has and must play in enforcing equality and universal human rights.
Much has happened in Iran since this remarkable evening, but the principles that were discussed remain unchanged. The day before the elections in Iran, Dr. Ebadi wrote in a Washington Post editorial that "the true mark of success in Iran will be an election that follows due process...a healthy, functioning and fair legal system is the people's long-term guarantee for greater human rights." As we now know, the Iranian election and the government's response in the following days and weeks regrettably did not follow this ideal.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - May 8, 2009
[NEW YORK, NY] - The Global Justice Center proudly announces the establishment of the Michael Sandler Fund for Global Justice. Michael Sandler was the Founding Board Chair of the Global Justice Center and gave $650,000 to support pre-founding pilot projects and the initial start up funding to the Center. In just three years, his investment promoted gender justice and the highest global legal standards for equality. The fund seeks to honor his lifetime commitment to social justice issues by matching the $650,000 that he gave to the Global Justice Center in the last years of his life.
Women Under Siege quotes GJC President Janet Benshoof on the issue of U.S. ratification of CEDAW with the 2002 reservation on abortion intact, which would prevent women from accessing reproductive health services.
The Nation quotes Janet Benshoof, President of the Global Justice Center, on reproductive justice and CEDAW.
