Description:

In many conflicts around the world today, civilians and non-combatants alike continue to suffer at the hands of parties to armed conflict. The ongoing, persistent, and widespread use of sexual and gender-based violence in armed conflicts as a tactic of war is a flagrant and unacceptable violation of international humanitarian and human rights law. It is an incontrovertible truth that women and girls are disproportionately affected by sexual and gender-based violence. This is especially true for those who experience multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination, and who are from marginalized groups such as refugees and migrants, internally displaced persons, indigenous women, and persons living with disabilities. Governments, international organisations, and civil society must stand in solidarity with survivors not just in words, but also through actions by actively defending their human rights and agency. As part of these efforts, Canada is organising a roundtable on the theme of “Promoting Credible, Ethical, and Transparent Information-Sharing by Human Rights Defenders to Support Justice for Victims and Survivors of Conflict-Related Sexual Violence (CRSV).” This side event will take place on the margins of the United Nations Human Rights Council’s 47th Regular Session.

Participants:

• Abid Shamdeen, ExecutiveDirector, Nadia’s Initiative
• Akila Radhakrishnan, President, Global Justice Center
• Jina Moore, Editor In Chief, Guernica Magazine
• Yared Hailemariam, Director, Ethiopian Human Rights Defender Center

Description:

Grassroots women’s rights activists from Burma/Myanmar spoke for a press briefing on the military coup and its disproportionate impact on women. Occurring less than a week after UN Security Council and UN General Assembly action on the crisis in Burma/Myanmar, the briefing presented demands for the international community from the women of Burma, who have been a central target of military violence for decades.

The briefing featured activists with the Women’s League of Burma, Karenni National Women’s Organization, and Kachin Women’s Association Thailand. In the months since the February 1 military coup, these organizations have regularly challenged international bodies like ASEAN to center the challenges and demands of women in Myanmar.

Participants:

• Naw Hser Hser, General Secretary, Women’s League of Burma
• Moon Nay Li, Advocacy and Information Officer, Kachin Women’s Association Thailand
• Representative (unnamed for security purposes), Karenni National Women’s Organization
• Misun Woo, Regional Coordinator, Asia Pacific Forum on Women, Law, and Development
• (Moderator) Grant Shubin, Legal Director, Global Justice Center

Description:

In March, Newlines published its groundbreaking Uyghur Genocide Report that found China in breach of the 1948 Genocide Convention. While parliaments, policymakers, and world leaders have been debating this issue, many conversations are missing the critical element of a gendered analysis of genocide. Our panel of gender and legal experts will discuss how genocide is a gendered crime, examine the genocide being perpetrated against the Uyghurs, and weigh in on how the U.S. and other countries can hold China accountable.

In March, Newlines published its groundbreaking Uyghur Genocide Report that found China in breach of the 1948 Genocide Convention. While parliaments, policymakers, and world leaders have been debating this issue, many conversations are missing the critical element of a gendered analysis of genocide. Our panel of gender and legal experts will discuss how genocide is a gendered crime, examine the genocide being perpetrated against the Uyghurs, and weigh in on how the U.S. and other countries can hold China accountable.

Participants:

• Emily Prey (Moderator), Senior Analyst, Newlines Institute
• Grant Shubin, Legal Director, Global Justice Center
• Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, Director, International Bar Association Human Rights Institute

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Description:

Since the February 1 military coup in Burma, there has been unprecedented widespread support for justice and accountability for military atrocities perpetrated against the people of Burma. This has included supportive statements from leaders within the pro-democracy National Unity Government (NUG). However, questions remain about how these new calls for accountability will complement and support ongoing efforts for international justice, which focus largely on abuses committed against the Rohingya.

During this online event, activists from Burma will give an update from the ground and international justice experts from around the world will share an update of the ongoing international justice processes against Burma at the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, and in Argentinian courts through a Universal Jurisdiction case. Panellists will also share insight on how the NUG could work for international justice efforts to build more solidarity among all of Burma’s people, including the Rohingya and other major ethnic minorities.

Participants will include:

• Akila Radhakrishnan (Moderator), President, Global Justice Center.
• Tun Khin, President of Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK.
• M. Arsalan Suleman, Foley Hoag, legal counsel to The Gambia in its case against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice.
• Erin Rosenberg, International Legal Expert and former Legal Officer at the ICC Trust Fund for Victims.
• Thinzar Shunlei Yi, Activist, Action Committee for Democracy Development .
• Ambassador Stephen Rapp, Former Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Issues and Distinguished Fellow at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum’s Simon-Skjodt Center for the Prevention of Genocide.

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