Amnesty International has urgently called on the global community to resist the escalating assaults on gender justice. With International Women’s Day approaching on March 8, 2025, the organisation insists that gender apartheid must be recognised as a crime against humanity under international law. The call by Secretary-General Agnès Callamard is a clarion call signalling the need for immediate action against gender-based discrimination.
This appeal comes just before the 30th anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, where 189 nations adopted the seminal Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action in 1995. Amnesty highlights the disparities in how these commitments have been recognised and implemented over the decades, as the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women prepares for its annual review.
The challenges to gender justice have deepened since Donald Trump became president in January 2017, with his administration enforcing restrictions on LGBTQ+ terminology and retracting vital global funding, which hampered humanitarian efforts protecting women’s rights in areas such as Afghanistan and Ukraine.
Amnesty calls on both state and non-state actors to support women human rights defenders and others fighting for sexual and reproductive rights, advocating for concrete measures that will empower and safeguard these key activists. Callamard reiterated the importance of recognising gender apartheid in international legislation, a concept championed by Afghan women rights advocates, particularly in light of the Taliban’s oppressive actions since regaining control in 2021. Additionally, this issue has also resonated with those addressing systematic discrimination faced by women in Iran, gathering support from feminist activists and notable figures, including four female Nobel Peace Prize Laureates.
Amnesty International urges the global community to combat increasing attacks on gender justice, advocating for gender apartheid to be classified as a crime against humanity ahead of International Women’s Day 2025. Highlighting failures in upholding the Beijing Declaration’s principles, the organisation emphasises the importance of empowering women rights defenders in the face of escalating discrimination, particularly following the Trump administration’s detrimental policies.
In summary, Amnesty International’s clarion call emphasises the urgent need for global actors to resist gender-based injustices and recognise gender apartheid under international law. Advancements in combating gender discrimination are paramount, especially as the world gears up to commemorate International Women’s Day and reflect on past commitments made at critical global conferences. The collective support for women human rights defenders remains imperative in this ongoing battle for equality.
Original Source: www.jurist.org
