Events

Panel 6: Gender Justice & the Crimes Against Humanity Treaty Initiative

Moderator: Juliana Laguna-Trujillo, Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice

Gender Apartheid
Sareta Ashraph, Center for Justice and Accountability and the Geneva Academy

Including the Slave Trade in the Draft Articles
Patricia V. Sellers, University of Oxford and the former Special Advisor for Slavery Crimes for the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court

Reproductive Violence Proposal & Overarching Gender Audit
Ashita Alag, Global Justice Center

Forced Marriage
Valerie Oosterveld, Professor in International Criminal Justice, Western University, Special Adviser to the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court on Crimes Against Humanity, Director (Acting), Centre for Transitional Justice and Post-Conflict Reconstruction

Participation of Victims and Survivors in the Discussions on the Draft Articles
Meera Nayak, Center for Human Rights Advocacy
Helena Szczupak, Center for Human Rights Advocacy

Navigating the Definition of Gender in the Draft Articles
Tanaya Thakur, South Asian University

The term "gender apartheid" has gained prominence in contexts where the systemic and institutionalized exclusion of individuals based on gender is prevalent. Notably, the situation in Afghanistan under the Taliban regime since 2021 has been characterized by such practices, severely restricting the rights and freedoms of women and girls. This CSW69 Virtual Side Event, “Addressing Gender Apartheid: Towards an Integrated System of Protection,” will explore the concept of gender apartheid, the proposal to gender apartheid in the prospective CAH Treaty, the realities of Afghan women living under gender apartheid, and protection mechanisms for women and girls forcibly displaced from Afghanistan.

This year, we celebrate, Honor, and amplify the Groundbreaking Legacy of the Comfort Women and the Women’s International War Crimes Tribunal for the Trial of Japan’s Military Sexual Slavery, marking its 25th Anniversary and reflecting on its impact today. Join us in examining the ongoing fight for justice, reparation, and compensation of the former Comfort Women as we explore how the Tribunal’s fight for justice remains crucial today in addressing war crimes against women in ongoing conflicts worldwide.

As we approach the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, Myanmar’s women and girls continue to face critical challenges that have intensified under the military coup and ongoing conflict since 2021. The rollback of democracy and human rights under authoritarian rule has drastically impacted the lives of Myanmar's women, who have been at the forefront of resistance movements while shouldering the disproportionate burden of violence, displacement, and economic hardship.

In a historic decision last December, the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution that paves the way for negotiations of a new treaty on crimes against humanity, beginning with preparatory sessions in 2026. A treaty would close a crucial gap in the current international framework on mass atrocities. States, activists, survivors, and academics are calling for a gender competent, survivor-centric, and intersectional approach in the development of the treaty. This side event will explore opportunities to advance gender justice in the treaty.

Reproductive violence is a form of gender-based violence that interferes with reproductive autonomy and rights, or that targets individuals because of their actual or perceived reproductive capacity. Although it may be associated or co-occur with sexual violence and other forms of gender-based violence (SGBV), it involves distinct harms. This event will explore the challenges and opportunities in documenting reproductive violence with a view to ultimately ensuring greater accountability.

The Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA), adopted in 1995, was a historic milestone in the global agenda for gender equality, aimed at implementing the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Thirty years later, along with the BPFA framework, new frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 5 on gender equality, and the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) framework have complemented efforts to advance gender equality. The proposed side event will provide an opportunity to contextualize global gender equality efforts within the specific and pressing challenges faced in Myanmar.

We warmly invite you to a dynamic CSW69 side-event, where we'll explore powerful ways to protect, promote, and fulfill the fundamental human rights of women, girls, and marginalized communities across diverse contexts. In today's complex political landscape, embracing pluralism and diversity isn't just beneficial—it's essential. Our conversation will highlight how pluralistic approaches can foster coexistence, inclusion, and genuine equality, even amid significant challenges. We'll also delve deeper into specific human rights standards, including the crucial intersection between conscientious objection and access to abortion services.

https://youtu.be/DCTw9-5iKgM?si=CCmcQHclLtdz0EK3