Women’s Initiative for Gender Justice

The Women’s Initiative for Gender Justice is this NGO in Den Haag that advocates for gender justice through the ICC. They’re incredibly kickass and work with the women most affected by the conflicts under investigation by the ICC through both the legal end and a programming end. Basically…. This org may be exactly what I want to do.

Three women met with us. Apparently they get a lot of requests for presentations, but are often unable to complete them. However, January is a slower month for them, and Hampshire has met with them before. They do political and legal advocacy about gender-based violence, capacity and movement building with women activists in armed conflict, conflict resolution in peace processes, monitor conflicts, contribute to publications, send e-letters, and work with other NGOS. They’re actually working with WITNESS, the video advocacy organization that STAND teamed up with for Pledge2Protect last November.

The Women’s Initiative for Gender Justice originated from the Women’s Caucus for Gender Justice, with the idea that a judicial solution to post-conflict transformation and current situations of violence does not fully solve the problems encountered in war-torn areas. They believe that women need to be involved in order to find an effective solution. Instead of viewing rape as a side effect of war and women as spoils, they argue, as many of us do, that rape is a systematic weapon of war and must be punished and treated differently in international criminal law.

They also advocate for victim participation in the ICC, and have helped many of the 1312 victims who have been accepted to participate in the Bemba case. These victims will all be eligible for reparations and have an opportunity to have their voices heard. They have been huge in the ICC’s development of a trust fund for victims through the ICC. They are constantly in contact with the court and prosecution, and have given amicus briefs to ask judges to ask the Office of the Prosecutor to reinvestigate certain cases. They also encourage women activists in areas of war and destruction to record the cases of gender-based violence so that there will not be impunity for these crimes.

The Women’s Initiative does field trainings for women on peace talks and processes and how to deal with domestic and international law. This. Fucking. Rocks. It is absolutely so important that women know their rights in these situations and learn about ways to advocate for themselves and their families. This gives them a path to both justice and reparations.

So… they basically rock. I really want to look into internships with them for this or next summer.

Love,
Mac