International Justice


Refugee widows with their children in the Ugandan town of Ntoroko. © AI.

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International Justice Day 2005:

End Impunity for the Worst Crimes of Violence Against Women by Building Support for the International Criminal Court

For the first time in history, serious crimes of violence against women – including rape, sexual slavery, forced prostitution, and trafficking – have been recognized as crimes against humanity and war crimes.
This groundbreaking legal development is thanks to the International Criminal Court (ICC) – the world’s first permanent court able to hold individuals criminally responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.

The ICC can play a unique role in combating violence against women. The ICC has adopted rules and procedures to ensure that women survivors are not discriminated against or traumatized in court. For example, ICC judges and staff are required to reflect a fair balance of genders and to have expertise in crimes of sexual violence. Victims will be provided with counseling and other support, and may be entitled to reparations so that they can rebuild their lives.

The ICC is designed to act as a catalyst for national justice systems, providing an incentive for domestic l prosecutors to undertake their own investigations, and serving as model for reform in domestic laws and procedures. Since the ICC came into being in 2002, nearly half of the world’s governments have ratified its statute. The US government is the only government in the world that is actively opposed to the Court.

July 17 is International Justice Day, commemorating the day on which the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court was adopted by the international community in 1998. Each year, human rights activists around the world use this day to host events and activities to promote international justice, and specifically support for the ICC.

This year, Amnesty International is raising awareness about the ICC as a groundbreaking advancement in fighting impunity for violence against women. Join Amnesty International members and supporters around the world in taking action to ensure that perpetrators of the worst crimes of violence against women are held criminally responsible for their acts, and that the victims of such crimes obtain full reparations. Included in this guide are possible action ideas and reference resources.

Take Action on July 17, International Justice Day
In light of the US government’s hostile position toward the ICC, actions/events that focus on raising awareness in your community and reaching out to potential allies will help build the foundation for the advocacy that will be need over the long-term in order to affect real change in the US government’s position. The particular needs and opportunities of your group should inform the actions your group decides to take. Participate. »

Background on the ICC and its potential to fight violence against women
Thanks in large part to the efforts of women’s organizations from around the world, the International Criminal Court includes many elements that will help to combat impunity for the worst crimes of violence against women and can serve as the model for gender-sensitive reform of national laws and procedures. Read more. »

Other resources
Further information
Letters to the editor - AI members only.