Legal Action Worldwide

Gender Justice Practitioners Hub (GJP Hub) Roundtable in New York
2023-12-05 11:00 - 13:00 (Europe/London) | UN Women HQ, New York, United States
Side events to the 22nd International Criminal Court Assembly of State Parties in New York
Supporting Practitioners in Securing Gender Justice for Core International Crimes

On 05 December 2023, coinciding with the Assembly of State Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), LAW, UN Women and UN Team of Experts on Rule of Law/ Sexual Violence in Conflict convened a side event in New York, on the possible establishment of a Gender Justice Practitioner Hub (GJP Hub). More than 30 practitioners and international legal experts from around the world attended the discussion.
Participants agreed on the importance of collaboration, networking and the need for a knowledge sharing platform or repository that collates the significant experiences established over decades. Participants outlined how the Hub could be a centralised safe space for feminist thinking and solidarity.
Opening remarks were provided by Ambassador Rebecca Bryant (Deputy permanent representative of Australia to the United Nations in New York), Pramila Patten (Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on Sexual Violence in Conflict) and Paivi Kannisto (UN Women).

Gender Justice Practitioner Hub (GJP Hub) Roundtable in Bangkok
2023-11-22 09:30 - 17:00 | Australian Embassy Bangkok, Bangkok, Thailand
On 22 November 2023, LAW chaired the Asia Pacific Gender Justice Practitioner Hub (GJP Hub) Roundtable in Bangkok, the second of six regional events to gather feedback and input on the GJP Hub initiative.

This new initiative explores the establishment of a GJP Hub – a centre mandated to support and connect practitioners involved in securing gender justice for core international crimes. Through collaboration, coordination and by leveraging decades of experience at national and international levels, the GJP Hub would provide practical tools and assistance to practitioners to help strengthen efforts in pursuit of gender justice. The initiative is supported by the Government of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through its commitments to the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.
Australian Assistant Secretary and Principal Specialist Gender Equality, Sarah Goulding, opened the roundtable and highlighted the critical nature of the conversation to bring together gender equality and the women, peace and security agenda. Participants working on a variety of contexts across the Asia Pacific region, including Myanmar, Bangladesh, Thailand and Sri Lanka, underscored a range of challenges for those working towards gender justice throughout the Asia-Pacific region –and provided ideas and thinking about how a GJP Hub could support their work.

Roundtable: “Justice has been very difficult "
2023-11-08 08:00 - 17:00
Roundtable: “Justice has been very difficult”: Overcoming the barriers to accountability for attacks on aid workers to improve their protection worldwide.
With the participation of the French ministère de l’Europe et des affaires étrangères,
Hosted by Legal Action Worldwide
The French Embassy in Nairobi and Legal Action Worldwide will bring together key actors of the international humanitarian community in a high-level roundtable. This is the next step of the consultations undertaken by LAW with staff members of national and international NGOs, donors and UN Agencies working in South Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia and Central African Republic.
Find the summary of the roundtable here.

Panel: Gender-Based Violence at the Intersection of War and Mass Atrocities
2023-11-02 00:00
Canadian Council of International Law (CCIL)
Panel Discussion: Gender-Based Violence at the Intersection of War and Mass Atrocities

On Thursday, 2 November 2023, Nick Leddy, LAW’s Head of Litigation, had the opportunity to be part of a great panel on Gender-Based Violence at the Intersection of War and Mass Atrocities at the Canadian Council of International Law (CCIL) in Ottawa.
Nick talked about how universal jurisdiction is a pathway to justice for survivors at the crossroads of domestic and international law; why investigations of mass atrocity merit an intersectional lens; and how gender persecution can be a tool for accountability for LGBTIQ+ survivors.
More details about the conference here.

Experts Roundtable: Protection of Victims and Witnesses in Accountability and Truth-seeking Processes
2023-10-09 08:00 - 17:00
Expert Roundtable
Human Rights Council 54th session
If they know, we will not be safe, they will look for us, they will follow us until they find us
Protection of Victims and Witnesses in Accountability and Truth-seeking Processes
Date: 9 October 2023 – 1300-1500 (CET) – Lunch will be provided
Location: Geneva Academy
Moderated by: Jelena Aparac, Head of Policy, Advocacy, and Research, Legal Action Worldwide (LAW)
For the first time, LAW will bring together victims and witnesses of crimes committed during the conflicts and international experts on human rights and the protection of witnesses. They will share their experience of trying to seek justice, and of the very real risks of stigma and reprisals that they face. Together with international experts, with concrete experience in victim and witness protection, the roundtable will establish (1) a set of recommendations for courts, tribunals and treaty bodies, and (2) concrete actions that can be undertaken immediately and with limited funding by organisations working with victims and witnesses, to improve the experience of those who wish to seek justice.

Experts Roundtable: Survivors’ solutions to improving victim and witness protection in accountability and truth-seeking processes
2023-10-09 08:00 - 17:00
Expert Roundtable
Human Rights Council 54th session
If they know, we will not be safe, they will look for us, they will follow us until they find us
Survivors’ solutions to improving victim and witness protection in accountability and truth-seeking processes
Date: 9 October 2023 – 1300-1500 (CET) – Lunch will be provided
Location: Geneva Academy
Moderated by: Jelena Aparac, Head of Policy, Advocacy, and Research, Legal Action Worldwide (LAW)
For the first time, LAW will bring together victims and witnesses of crimes committed during the conflicts and international experts on human rights and the protection of witnesses. They will share their experience of trying to seek justice, and of the very real risks of stigma and reprisals that they face. Together with international experts, with concrete experience in victim and witness protection, the roundtable will establish (1) a set of recommendations for courts, tribunals and treaty bodies, and (2) concrete actions that can be undertaken immediately and with limited funding by organisations working with victims and witnesses, to improve the experience of those who wish to seek justice.
Sponsored by the Permanent Mission of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva, and the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture.

War Criminals for Hire: The Role and Accountability of Mercenaries in Modern Armed Conflicts
2023-09-20 10:00 - 11:00
War Criminals for Hire: The Role and Accountability of Mercenaries in Modern Armed Conflicts
20 September 2023
10-11 am
Palais des Nations, Geneva, Switzerland
Room: XXV
The panelists will discuss the role played by mercenary groups in international and non-international armed conflicts in recent years. The event will seek to highlight the gaps in holding these actors and their backers to account, and the challenges that practitioners have encountered in curbing mercenary activities and responding to the suffering they have caused. Finally, the panelists will recommend ways forward to operationalize and/or strengthen the framework for responding to mercenary activities, including options for combatting the impunity that mercenary forces have enjoyed through the pursuit of accountability. The focus of discussions will be on various regions including Syria, Central African Republic, Mali, and Ukraine.
Agenda
Opening Remarks:
Mr. Chris Kwaja, Member of the UN Working Group on the use of Mercenaries
Moderator:
Antonia Mulvey, Executive Director, Legal Action Worldwide
Panelists:

Mohammad Al Abdallah, Executive Director, Syria Justice and Accountability Centre
Dmitry Gurin, Legal Advisor, European Prison Litigation Network
Jelena Aparac, Head of Advocacy, Policy, and Research, Legal Action Worldwide, Former member and Chair-Rapporteur of the UN Working Group on the use of mercenaries
Yousuf Syed Khan, Senior Lawyer, Global Rights Compliance
Mikiko Otani, Member, UN Committee on the Rights of the Child

Closing Remarks:
Mr. Chris Kwaja, Member of the UN Working Group on the use of Mercenaries

Gender Justice Practitioners Hub (GJPH) Roundtable in Beirut
2023-06-01 08:00 - 17:00 | Beirut, Lebanon
On 1 June 2023, LAW facilitated a roundtable in Beirut, Lebanon, on the Gender Justice Practitioners Hub (the Hub) initiative. The roundtable was the first of multiple meetings which will take place around the world to gather feedback, input, criticism on the initiative itself and the wider needs of practitioners. 34 practitioners, including representatives of civil society, academics and survivor groups, and representatives from UN bodies based across the Middle East and North Africa (including Lebanon, Syria, Palestine and Libya) attended the discussion. Participants included men, women and those of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity. Welcoming remarks were provided by Mrs Claire Murray, Deputy Head of Mission from the Australian Embassy.
Despite initial caution about having the kick-off roundtable about the Hub in the Middle East, the response could not have been more positive. There was concern that difficulties in discussing the issue of gender justice, and even confusion around what gender justice is, that this could be a barrier to the discussion. In some contexts, even talking about gender remains taboo. However, participants emphasised that this made this conversation even more urgent and important.

Participants were resoundingly in favour of the Hub initiative. There was a clear outcry for coordination, training and the development of tools to support the work of those striving for gender justice within the region. There was recognition that, despite operating in a range of different contexts across the MENA region, that many of the obstacles faced were the same and that collaboration and coordination were key to addressing these challenges. Participants underscored the need for a ‘safe space’ for practitioners regularly working for gender justice to come together, discuss common issues and to receive advice from experts and from each other. Throughout the roundtable, participants emphasised that the Hub must bridge the global and the regional. Participants suggested having regional units which could contribute to and be represented in the global strategy/ coordination of the Hub .

Legal Action Worldwide’s Executive Director, Antonia Mulvey, who facilitated the roundtable said: “This was the perfect location to kick-off this discussion! The participants have set out a clear need for an initiative like the Hub to support those working on the front-lines and have provided a clear direction forward.” The next roundtable will take place in Bangkok in Autumn 2023.
About the Hub Initiative: This initiative explores the establishment of a Gender Justice Practitioner Hub – a centre mandated to support and connect practitioners involved in securing gender justice for core international crimes. Through collaboration, coordination and by leveraging decades of experience at national and international levels, the GJP Hub would provide practical tools and assistance to practitioners to help strengthen efforts in pursuit of gender justice. The initiative is supported by the Government of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through its commitments to the Women, Peace and Security Agenda.

Truth, Accountability and Rule of Law: Foundations for a new Lebanon
2022-04-14 15:00 - 16:30
LAW is delighted to invite you to attend an online panel discussion under the title of “ Truth, Accountability and Rule of Law: Foundations for a new Lebanon, Side Event to the Human Rights Council 49th Regular Session, that will take place on Thursday 14th of April at 3h00 pm till 4h30 pm Beirut time. A flyer for the event is attached.
The discussion will focus on concrete ways that the Lebanese community can demand change, and how the international community can contribute towards recovery in Lebanon.
The event will be streamed live via Zoom. Please join the event by clicking here.
We hope you can join us in this interesting and important event.
For any further questions or clarification, please contact our Communication Officer Saline Farrane at Farrane@legalactionworldwide.org

LAW hosts “Justice for the Rohingya: An Urgent Call” panel
2022-03-29 08:00 - 17:00
On 29 March 2022, LAW and the Embassy of Bangladesh to the United Nations in Geneva co-hosted an online panel discussion, “Justice for the Rohingya: An Urgent Call.” The panel was chaired by LAW Executive Director, Antonia Mulvey, and opening remarks were provided by His Excellency Mr. Md. Mustafizur Rahman Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Bangladesh to the United Nations Office and other international organizations in Geneva.
The panel included: Professor Payam Akhavan (University of Toronto, Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration, ICC Counsel to Bangladesh); Yasmin Ullah (Rohingya Feminist, Author and Social Justice Activist); Professor Yanghee Lee (Member – Special Advisory Council for Myanmar, Former Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar); and Nicholas Koumjian (Head, Independent Investigative Mechanism on Myanmar). A recorded video message was played from Yousuf Ali, a representative of the Rohingya community-based in the camps in Cox’s Bazar.
Panellists underscored that justice is both a legal and moral obligation and the importance of ensuring survivor voices can be heard throughout justice proceedings – noting that a discussion around reparations should be initiated. Panellists highlighted the damaging impact of continued military involvement in the governance of Myanmar – and in the international justice proceedings themselves. Professor Yanghee Lee reissued a call for an ad hoc tribunal, established by Human Rights Council resolution, empowered to look at crimes taking place inside Myanmar.

LAW holds official ASP20 side event on accountability pathways for survivors in South Sudan
2021-12-16 08:00 - 17:00
On Monday 16 December 2021, LAW was privileged to host, with the Government of The Netherlands, an official side event to the 20th Session of the Assembly of State Parties. The event, “Survivors’ pathways to accountability: legal avenues for South Sudanese survivors of conflict-related sexual violence” looked at opportunities and potential avenues for survivors and victims in South Sudan to access justice and ways to move forward.

One year of conflict in Northern Ethiopia: Ensuring Justice and Support for Victims and Survivors, 10 December 2021, Human Rights Day
2021-12-10 08:00 - 17:00
On Human Rights Day, 10 December 2021, LAW convened a panel discussion on the humanitarian and human rights situation in Tigray, One year of conflict in Northern Ethiopia: Ensuring Justice and Support for Victims and Survivors.
The panel was joined by Fanaye Solomon, an advocate for women and girls’ rights in Tigray, who assisted in the establishment of the first one stop centre for women and girl victims of gender-based violence in Tigray. Fanaye told of ruthless horrific acts perpetrated against young children and women of all ages: some will be physically and irreversibly maimed; most will bear the psychological consequences of the attacks for the rest of their lives. In addition to dealing with their own trauma, many survivors face stigma in their communities, which Fanaye explained has led to suicides.
Participants also heard from Dr Hayelom Kebede, a Doctor at Ayder Comprehensive Specialised Hospital, Mekele, Tigray. Dr Kebede described his experience treating hundreds of victims of sexual violence, between November 2020, when the conflict started, and March 2021.
Finally, Nisha Varia, Advocacy Director of the Women’s Rights Division at Human Rights Watch, highlighted the importance of advocacy efforts aimed towards securing a UN led international investigation into the situation in Tigray.
Watch the video of the event here.

LAW and Fortify Rights hold ASP20 side event on international justice for Myanmar
2021-12-07 08:00 - 17:00
On 7 December 2021, LAW and Fortify Rights facilitated a panel discussion as a side event to the 20thAssembly of State Parties of the International Criminal Court. The discussion was chaired by Chris Gunness (Director, Myanmar Accountability Project) and included opening remarks from Hasina Begum (Rohingya representative from the camps in Cox’s Bazar) and Professor Payam Akhavan (International Court of Justice Counsel to The Gambia, Specialist Advisor on Genocide to the International Criminal Court Prosecutor). The panel comprised: Wai Wai Nu (Founder and Executive Director of Women Peace Network), Chris Sidoti (Member of the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar. Former member of the UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar), Matt Smith (Chief Executive Officer, Fortify Rights), and Antonia Mulvey (Executive Director, Legal Action Worldwide).

The discussion covered multiple important issues, including the urgent need the National Unity Government (NUG) of Myanmar to lodge instruments of accession to the Rome Statute with the UN Secretary General, and the importance of the solidarity between the peoples of Myanmar, including the Rohingya. Panellists called upon the International Criminal Court (ICC) to urgently demonstrate its effectiveness and relevance as a justice mechanism, by acknowledging and responding to Article 12(3) Rome Statute declaration made by the NUG of Myanmar in July 2021, recognising the ICC’s jurisdiction. They expressed frustration that, five months on, the NUG was yet to receive a response.

A two page summary of the event and ‘to-do’ list will be circulated shortly. A recording of the event, can be viewed on Fortify Rights’ Facebook page here

Panel Discussion on the Arbitrary Detention of Children in Syria
2021-12-01 08:00 - 17:00
On 1 December 2021, Legal Action Worldwide (LAW) and the European Union co-hosted a webinar on ‘Arbitrary Detention of Children in Syria’. The purpose of the webinar was to give a platform to those who have directly suffered from this egregious human rights violation. The panel brought together survivors, international justice actors and civil society representatives to explore strategies for addressing the needs and supporting child detainees, their families and their communities in the pursuit of justice.
The webinar was attended by 58 actors working on the Syria crisis, comprising representatives from the international donor community, international justice and humanitarian sector, and Syrian civil society. Panelists Omar Alshogre, former detainee and Director for Detainee Affairs at the Syrian Emergency Task Force, Mahmoud Meemar, Coalition of the Families of Persons Kidnapped by ISIS-Da’esh, Hanny Megally, member of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, Sonia Khush, Syria Response Director for Save the Children, and Michelle Jarvis, the Deputy Head of the International Independent and Impartial Mechanism for Syria,
LAW’s Executive Director Antonia Mulvey chaired the webinar, with panelists exploring the profound impact of arbitrary arrest, detention and torture of children in formal and informal detention centers across Syria. The panelists also discussed the importance of investigating and documenting evidence from former child detainees to support justice and accountability efforts. Lara Scarpitta, Political Advisor to the Delegation of the European Union to the UN and other International Organizations in Geneva added closing remarks emphasizing the need to release child detainees, amplify voices of survivors and urging the international community to find durable solutions.
Recommendations generated from the discussion include:

Authorities within Syria must live up to human rights standards by recognizing that children should never be detained for the actions of their parents or detained out of fear of their future role within society. Children should only be detained as a last resort and, even then, for the least amount of time possible.
The international community must press for the release of children who have been arbitrarily detained and find ways to increase pressure to access detention facilities with independent monitors.
The international community must step up support for survivors and their families and invest in children and their well-being to avoid a ‘lost generation’.
For children kidnapped by ISIS, there is a need to declassify documents and responsibly exhume mass graves. Prosecutorial authorities must investigate ISIS fighters and find ways to make legal processes more transparent and responsive to the needs of families.
Originating countries must repatriate female nationals and their children from camps in Northeast Syria.
For all actors working on the Syria crisis, amplify the voice of survivors and develop robust methodologies to fill gaps in documentation of crimes and violations against children.

LAW & EFI Co-host International Conference “Supporting a Survivor-led Justice Movement in Syria” in Paris
2021-10-26 08:00 - 17:00
On 26 and 27 October 2021, Legal Action Worldwide (LAW) and EuroMed Feminist Initiative (EFI) co-hosted the international conference “Supporting a Survivor-led Justice Movement in Syria” in Paris, France. The hybrid conference was part of a series of discussions between Syrian survivors, activists, civil society and representatives from other conflict-affected regions. The aim of the conference was to enable participants to share experiences and explore strategies for building a survivor- and women-led justice movement.
The 58 participants engaged in a cross-regional exchange with leaders and human rights defenders from Syria, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Palestine. Discussions highlighted the importance of gender-sensitive and gender-inclusive approaches to peacebuilding processes with meaningful participation of survivors and victims. Participants also stressed the need for empowering victims to become survivors and enabling Syrian civil society to lead efforts towards justice, accountability, and sustainable peace.
In the words of one Syrian activist, “It is not easy for us to talk about our pain. Because the injury is still in our hearts. We were in Geneva and talking about people who were forcibly disappeared. The burden of finding my father, sisters and relatives is on my shoulder. And this is a big burden, but we keep going because we believe in justice.”

LAW hosts screening of documentary and live photo exhibition on the disappeared during the Lebanese Civil War
2021-10-12 08:00 - 17:00
On the 12 and 13 of October 2021, Legal Action Worldwide hosted the screening of ‘Mu’ ajjal’ – a new documentary featuring the moving stories of women whose family members disappeared during the Lebanese Civil War and never returned. This was accompanied by a live photo exhibition.
The documentary and photo exhibition are part of the “Dealing with the Past’ project which is funded by UN Women in partnership with Justice Without Frontiers and the Committee of the Families of the Kidnapped and Missing. The project seeks to empower female sexual and gender-based violence survivors, and relatives of family members who “disappeared” during the 1975-90 Lebanese Civil War.
The documentary and photo exhibition aimed to raise public awareness of forced disappearances during the Civil War and to encourage greater action to bring justice for those who disappeared and their families.

https://www.legalactionworldwide.org/wp-content/uploads/Exhibition-Video.mp4
To view the documentary and for more information on the project, click here.
