Global Justice Center

The Global Justice Center (GJC) is an international human rights and humanitarian law organization aiming to advance gender equality by helping to implement and enforce human rights laws.[1] Headquartered in New York City and led by Akila Radhakrishnan, the GJC is a member of the United Nations NGO Working Group on Women, Peace and Security.[2] The GJC works with national and international Non-governmental organizations, the United Nations, the International Criminal Court, and others to effect change.[3][4]

Global Justice Center
Founded2005 (2005)
TypeNon-profit NGO
FocusHuman rights activism
HeadquartersNew York City, United States
Area served
Worldwide
ProductNon profit human rights advocacy
Key people
Janet Benshoof
(Founder)
Akila Radhakrishnan
(President)
Websiteglobaljusticecenter.net

History

The Global Justice Center was founded in 2005 to help pressure governments and institutions to enforce and implement treaties and international human rights laws that advance gender equality.[5]

Priority Areas

The Global Justice Center's work falls within two main priority areas: Fighting for Sexual and Reproductive Rights and Demanding Justice for Sexual and Gender-Based Violence:

Fighting for Sexual and Reproductive Rights

The Global Justice Center believes that sexual and reproductive health and rights are essential to gender equality. For the past decade the Global Justice Center has been at the forefront of efforts to ensure access to these rights, and we will continue fighting to make sure that all individuals have full access to the rights guaranteed under international law.

Abortion Access in Conflict

GJC's work in the realm of abortion provision for war rape victims stems from their conviction of states’ “positive obligations to provide non-discriminatory medical care under the Geneva Conventions,”[6] which, according to their interpretation, “entitles all victims of armed conflict — including those brutalized by rape — to complete and non-discriminatory medical treatment.”[7]

Illegal US Abortion Policy

The Global Justice Center continues to challenge US abortion funding restrictions, including the Helms Amendment, Global Gag Rule, and Domestic Gag Rule, as violations of international law. GJC has worked to repeal[8][9] the United States’ Helms Amendment of 1973 which states that, “no foreign assistance funds may be used to pay for the performance of abortion as a method of family planning or to motivate or coerce any person to practice abortions.”[10] GJC argues against an overly restrictive interpretation of the Helms Amendment that includes all abortions, and along with the Government of Norway has called on the United States to allow for abortions for war rape victims.[11] On 12 August 2016, the Global Justice Center launched a White House petition asking US President Barack Obama to issue an executive order to lift the ban on abortions in cases of "rape, life endangerment and incest."[12]

Demanding Justice for Sexual and Gender-Based Violence

The Global Justice Center believes that the prevalence of sexual and gender-based violence, often with no accountability, is a central barrier to gender equality. GJC is dedicated to dismantling the patriarchy embedded in many legal systems and ensuring a gender inclusive and rights-based approach to justice and accountability.

Mass Atrocity Crimes

GJC works to pressure international groups and institutions to use a gender lens when enforcing the Genocide Convention, arguing that current enforcement fails to adequately account for the differential experiences of women in conflict and the gender-based genocidal tactics often used in contemporary warfare, such as sexual slavery.[13] In December 2015, for example, the GJC pressured the International Criminal Court to investigate gender-based genocidal actions perpetrated by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS).[14]

GJC uses international law and international standards to challenge discriminatory legal policies and practices on sexual and gender-based violence.[15] GJC works with Burmese organizations to increase women's involvement in the Burmese Government[16] and submitted evidence to the CEDAW review of Burma.[17][18]

References
  1. "ICC asked to investigate abduction by Boko Haram of 276 Nigerian girls". Retrieved 2016-06-27.
  2. "About Us - Global Justice Center". www.globaljusticecenter.net. Retrieved 2016-06-27.
  3. commscicc (2015-04-17). "#GlobalJusticeWeekly – Nigerian girls still not brought back". Retrieved 2016-06-27.
  4. "US Policy Denies Emergency Abortion Globally for War Rape Victims | passblue". Retrieved 2016-06-27.
  5. "About Us - Global Justice Center". www.globaljusticecenter.net. Retrieved 2016-06-28.
  6. "The Right to an Abortion for Girls and Women Raped in Armed Conflict" (PDF).
  7. "Humanitarian Aid for Rape Victims". The New York Times. 2011-09-07. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-06-28.
  8. "Humanitarian Aid for Rape Victims". The New York Times. 2011-09-07. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-06-28.
  9. "Thanks to This US Law, Boko Haram Rape Victims Can't Get Abortions". Retrieved 2016-06-28.
  10. "Helms Amendment | U.S. Foreign Policy & Funding | The Issues | CHANGE". www.genderhealth.org. Retrieved 2016-06-28.
  11. "Humanitarian Aid for Rape Victims". The New York Times. 2011-09-07. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-07-13.
  12. "6 Days of Action on Helms Social Media Toolkit" (PDF). Global Justice Center. Retrieved Aug 15, 2016.
  13. http://www.globaljusticecenter.net/our-work/demanding-justice-for-sexual-and-gender-based-violence/mass-atrocity-crimes. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. "Global Justice Center and Bar Human Rights Committee of England and Wales Applaud UN Commission of Inquiry on Syria for Recognizing Yazidi Genocide by ISIS". Retrieved 2016-06-28.
  15. http://www.globaljusticecenter.net/our-work/demanding-justice-for-sexual-and-gender-based-violence/discriminatory-legal-systems. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  16. "Myanmar Marks International Women's Day With Ceremonies in Cities". Radio Free Asia. Retrieved 2016-06-28.
  17. Meganathan, Malarvili. "As Myanmar comes under CEDAW review, rights groups present legacy of stigma, victim-blaming". www.mmtimes.com. Retrieved 2016-07-12.
  18. "Shadow Report" (PDF).
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