The Women's Caucus for Gender Justice, New York filmed a panel discussion, organized by the organization in December 1999, as part of the 3rd Preparatory Commission of the International Criminal Court. Four panelists - Vahida Nainar, of the Women's Caucus; Hawa Ghaus, associate for Global Programs at the Feminist Majority Foundation; Giti, a woman from Afghanistan, who is translated by Zieba Shorish Shanley of the Women's Caucus; Asma Khader, tithe president of MIZAN, a law group on human rights in Jorda; and Jan Perlin, of the Intl Human Rights Law Clinic and the Guatemala Truth Commission, present and discuss the issue of crimes against women, giving various examples, and explain that and why crimes against women have to be considered as crimes against humanity.

The Women's Caucus was formed in February 1997, to intervene in the ongoing Preparatory Committee meetings for the establishment of an International Criminal Court at the United Nations. Women realized that without an organized caucus, women's concerns would not be actively defended in the documents and process of creation of an International Criminal Court. The legal issues in the ICC are complex and sensitive. They require people from different legal systems and cultures to arrive at a consensus on specific issues that may challenge local traditions or beliefs. The gender-related issues are particularly sensitive, as they are not as well understood. Gender-related crimes are often perceived to be private or individual crimes that do not rise to the level of international human rights law, or that are perceived to be taken care of by a "neutral" statute. However, the experience of women has been that neutrality usually results in leaving out crimes against women and the ways that women, because of their socially constructed roles in society, are disproportionately affected. It was these concerns that the Women's Caucus sought to address in the process of creation of an International Criminal Court. By advocating the codification of crimes of sexual, reproductive and gender violence, and inclusion of gender sensitive processes and criteria for personnel, the Caucus tried to ensure that the Court has capacity to implement justice for women.

The Women's Caucus for Gender Justice, New York, filmed a panel discussion that took place in December 1999 as part of the 3rd Preparatory Commission of the International Criminal Court. Four panelists present and discuss the issue of crimes against women, giving various examples, and explain why crimes against women have to be considered as crimes against humanity. This tape begins during presentation of Jan Perlin, of the Intl Human Rights Law Clinic and the Guatemala Truth Commission. Also on this panel are Vahida Nainar, Hawa Ghaus, and Asma Khader.

Footage is of a Women's Caucus meeting that is exploring issues of awareness about the gendered nature and limitations of international criminal justice. There are lectures, discussions and participant exercises on the topic. There is much discussion about the issues involved with using the western paradigm of women's rights when in other countries.

The Women's Caucus was formed in February 1997, to intervene in the ongoing Preparatory Committee meetings for the establishment of an International Criminal Court at the United Nations. Women realized that without an organized caucus, women's concerns would not be actively defended in the documents and process of creation of an International Criminal Court. The legal issues in the ICC are complex and sensitive. They require people from different legal systems and cultures to arrive at a consensus on specific issues that may challenge local traditions or beliefs. The gender-related issues are particularly sensitive, as they are not as well understood. Gender-related crimes are often perceived to be private or individual crimes that do not rise to the level of international human rights law, or that are perceived to be taken care of by a "neutral" statute. However, the experience of women has been that neutrality usually results in leaving out crimes against women and the ways that women, because of their socially constructed roles in society, are disproportionately affected. It was these concerns that the Women's Caucus sought to address in the process of creation of an International Criminal Court. By advocating the codification of crimes of sexual, reproductive and gender violence, and inclusion of gender sensitive processes and criteria for personnel, the Caucus tried to ensure that the Court has capacity to implement justice for women.

Footage is of a Women's Caucus meeting that is exploring issues of awareness about the gendered nature and limitations of international criminal justice. There are lectures, discussions and participant exercises on the topic. There is much discussion about the issues involved with using the western paradigm of women's rights when in other countries.

An interview with Tulika Srivastava, a human rights lawyer from India who describes what motivated her to work for the establishment of an International Criminal Court and for women's issues in India. |The Women's Caucus was formed in February 1997, to intervene in the ongoing Preparatory Committee meetings for the establishment of an International Criminal Court at the United Nations. Women realized that without an organized caucus, women's concerns would not be actively defended in the documents and process of creation of an International Criminal Court. The legal issues in the ICC are complex and sensitive. They require people from different legal systems and cultures to arrive at a consensus on specific issues that may challenge local traditions or beliefs. The gender-related issues are particularly sensitive, as they are not as well understood. Gender-related crimes are often perceived to be private or individual crimes that do not rise to the level of international human rights law, or that are perceived to be taken care of by a "neutral" statute. However, the experience of women has been that neutrality usually results in leaving out crimes against women and the ways that women, because of their socially constructed roles in society, are disproportionately affected. It was these concerns that the Women's Caucus sought to address in the process of creation of an International Criminal Court. By advocating the codification of crimes of sexual, reproductive and gender violence, and inclusion of gender sensitive processes and criteria for personnel, the Caucus tried to ensure that the Court has capacity to implement justice for women.

NGO meeting. |The Women's Caucus was formed in February 1997, to intervene in the ongoing Preparatory Committee meetings for the establishment of an International Criminal Court at the United Nations. Women realized that without an organized caucus, women's concerns would not be actively defended in the documents and process of creation of an International Criminal Court. The legal issues in the ICC are complex and sensitive. They require people from different legal systems and cultures to arrive at a consensus on specific issues that may challenge local traditions or beliefs. The gender-related issues are particularly sensitive, as they are not as well understood. Gender-related crimes are often perceived to be private or individual crimes that do not rise to the level of international human rights law, or that are perceived to be taken care of by a "neutral" statute. However, the experience of women has been that neutrality usually results in leaving out crimes against women and the ways that women, because of their socially constructed roles in society, are disproportionately affected. It was these concerns that the Women's Caucus sought to address in the process of creation of an International Criminal Court. By advocating the codification of crimes of sexual, reproductive and gender violence, and inclusion of gender sensitive processes and criteria for personnel, the Caucus tried to ensure that the Court has capacity to implement justice for women.

Footage includes several Women's Caucus women traveling in a car. Throughout their journey and road-stops, they discuss the nature of the organization, its training with women, the ways in which it has been beneficial, and the issues important to the Caucus. They later discuss a specific murder case that they are working on. There is an unidentified interview. There is b-roll of a rural community with houses, animals, including a monkey, dogs and roosters; there is another interview.

Interview with Guadalupe, director of women's group, regarding rape by police.

Bill Pace, Executive Director of the Coalition for the Creation of an International Criminal Court, describes the genesis of the coalition, its goals and the impediments that it faces in promoting the ratification of this court.

Interview with Medard Rwelamira of the South African Ministry of Justice on the topic of South Africa's involvement with the ICC and its current progress of implementing legislation on the national level that meets with the international statute.

The Women's Caucus for Gender Justice, New York filmed a panel discussion, organized by the organization in December 1999, as part of the 3rd Preparatory Commission of the International Criminal Court. Four panelists - Vahida Nainar, of the Women's Caucus; Hawa Ghaus, associate for Global Programs at the Feminist Majority Foundation; Giti, a woman from Afghanistan, who is translated by Zieba Shorish Shanley of the Women's Caucus; Asma Khader, the president of MIZAN, a law group on human rights in Jorda; and Jan Perlin, of the Intl Human Rights Law Clinic and the Guatemala Truth Commission, present and discuss the issue of crimes against women, giving various examples, and explain that and why crimes against women have to be considered as crimes against humanity.

The Women's Caucus was formed in February 1997, to intervene in the ongoing Preparatory Committee meetings for the establishment of an International Criminal Court at the United Nations. Women realized that without an organized caucus, women's concerns would not be actively defended in the documents and process of creation of an International Criminal Court. The legal issues in the ICC are complex and sensitive. They require people from different legal systems and cultures to arrive at a consensus on specific issues that may challenge local traditions or beliefs. The gender-related issues are particularly sensitive, as they are not as well understood. Gender-related crimes are often perceived to be private or individual crimes that do not rise to the level of international human rights law, or that are perceived to be taken care of by a "neutral" statute. However, the experience of women has been that neutrality usually results in leaving out crimes against women and the ways that women, because of their socially constructed roles in society, are disproportionately affected. It was these concerns that the Women's Caucus sought to address in the process of creation of an International Criminal Court. By advocating the codification of crimes of sexual, reproductive and gender violence, and inclusion of gender sensitive processes and criteria for personnel, the Caucus tried to ensure that the Court has capacity to implement justice for women.