Advancing Reproductive Justice in Int Criminal Law
Faculty of Law
UpRights
Reproductive violence remains an under-recognised and under-prosecuted category of gender- (GBV) in international criminal law (ICL), despite its negative impact on bodily autonomy, equality and sexual and reproductive health and rights. While international human rights l increasingly recognised reproductive autonomy as central to the enjoyment of various human investigation, prosecution and adjudication of gender-based crimes continue to inadequatel reproductive harms and attacks on reproductive autonomy. This project critically addresses accountability gaps by developing a comprehensive, legally grounded and survivor-informed of ‘reproductive violence’ as a distinct category of GBV within ICL. Drawing on IHRL stand through critical engagement with international humanitarian law (IHL) and ICL, the researc a new interdisciplinary framework involving empirical qualitative research, stakeholder en intersectoral collaboration with an NGO. Adopting a gender-based, intersectional approach, advances reproductive justice in international law and directly supports key Sustainable D Goals, particularly gender equality and the promotion of just, peaceful and inclusive soci its societal impact, the programme also includes targeted and concrete measures to support development of the researcher.Sustainable Development Go Meet the Project If you had to explain your project to someone outside your field, how would you describe i sentences? My project examines the reproductive harms caused by gender-based crimes, which are acts i reproductive, and other gender-based violence committed during armed conflict, attacks aga populations, or genocide. Drawing upon international human rights law, the research seeks reproductive violence as a distinct category of gender-based violence, as a way to bring t address the unique harms to survivors’ reproductive health and autonomy. Repro-Just aims t strengthening the implementation of existing norms protecting reproductive autonomy and to and normative reform, in an effort to tackle impunity and advance reproductive justice in criminal law. What fascinates you most about the topic of your research project? The project addresses a historically neglected consequence of gender-based crimes, namely on the reproductive autonomy and rights of the survivors, whether women, girls, men, boys, individuals. Reproductive violence can take different forms, such as forced abortion, forc forced pregnancy, enforced sterilisation, and targeted attacks on reproductive healthcare undermining survivors’ right to bodily autonomy, to freely decide on whether and when to h to meaningfully exercise their reproductive rights. Repro-Just acknowledges that overlooking reproductive violence in armed conflict, atrociti crisis settings entails serious ripple effects, possibly leading to a lack of recognition experiences, limited targeted humanitarian responses and prevention efforts, as well as sh accountability, justice and reparations. In light of this, the research not only analyses law governing reproductive violence but also explores legal and policy avenues to enhance from violence targeting reproductive autonomy and its documentation, investigation, prosec adjudication. What fascinates the most about this project is that, in order to do so, it combines desk r with cooperation and interaction with NGOs, actors involved in the documentation and inves international crimes, health workers, and, most importantly, survivors. How does your research contribute specifically to achieving the UN Sustainable Development The UN Sustainable Development Goals recognise sexual and reproductive health rights as es well-being of all persons, gender equality, and broader economic and social development. B reproductive justice in international law, the project contributes primarily to SDG 5 on g and SDG 16 on the promotion of just, peaceful and inclusive societies. While acknowledging that gender equality is foundational to the advancement of all 17 SDGs 2018), increased legal accountability for reproductive violence contributes to specific ta ending violence and exploitation of women and girls (SDG target 5.2) and ensuring equal ac for all (SDG target 16.3). Moreover, the elaboration of policy and normative reform propos and address reproductive violence as an international crime supports efforts to end discri exploitation of women and girls (SDG target 5.1), and eliminate harmful practices, such as and female genital mutilation (SDG target 5.3). Lastly, through targeted actions intended for students and civil society, Repro-Just indir to promoting a greater awareness on gender-based violence, including reproductive violence 4.7).