Throughout the world women continue to face pervasive forms of discrimination, violence and injustice because they are women.
Law and legal processes continue to systemically ingrain and sustain discrimination and inequality faced by women, to perpetuate the human rights abuses they face, and to deny women effective legal protection, remedy and reparation.
Meanwhile women human rights defenders, lawyers and judges who work to make change and represent powerful and legitimate voices for justice, equality and accountability, are often met with particular abuses, barriers and hurdles that arise because of their status as women, or because of their focus on issues of gender-equality or rights issues facing women.
Supporting women claiming rights
The ICJ seeks to support women human rights defenders and lawyers engagement with legal processes and justice systems as mechanisms to advance women’s rights.
It works with them to identify the gendered risks and forms of discrimination they face and to advance women’s access to justice, including through legal and practical assistance and support for challenges to discriminatory laws and protection gaps and demands for accountability and justice for violations and abuses.
Supporting women enforcing rights
The judiciary is vital to the rule of law, the fair administration of justice and the protection of human rights and freedoms.
Women judges are at the vanguard of struggles to ensure the independence and impartiality of their profession.
They are shifting the internal culture of judiciaries, upending stereotypes and gender-norms, and advancing the legal protection of human rights and equality.
Yet women’s full and equal participation in the world’s judiciaries remains a matter of critical concern, and their underrepresentation, particularly at senior and leadership levels remains marked.
The ICJ works to support women judges and lawyers in their efforts to address this problem, identify and overcome obstacles and make change.
Women’s rights defenders profiles
On 25 November 2016, to coincide with the International Day to Eliminate Violence against Women and the first day of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence Campaign, the ICJ launched a profile series introducing the women’s rights work of ICJ Commissioners and Honorary Members.
Profiles can be accessed here:
Women profiles: Jenny Goldschmidt
Women profiles: Kalthoum Kennou
Women profiles: Karinna Moskalenko
Women profiles: Leila Zerrougui
Women profiles: Asma Jahangir
Women profiles: Radmila Dragicevic-Dicic
Women profiles: Hina Jilani
Women profiles: Michèle Rivet
Women profiles: Sanji Monageng
Women profiles: Imrana Jalal