STATEMENT ON GAZA BY WOMEN INTERNATIONAL LAWYERS

We the undersigned are members of an active global community of women-identifying lawyers, activists, and jurists with expertise in various facets of public international law. We make this statement to supplement the calls of many organisations and individuals around the world for an IMMEDIATE END TO THE SIEGE ON GAZA.

An immediate cessation of hostilities by all parties is essential to create a humanitarian corridor which will allow vital supplies and humanitarian assistance to be brought to the civilian population in the Gaza Strip, many of whom are injured and have been without food, water, and necessary supplies for many days. This will also provide a critical opportunity for serious political negotiations to be held to end Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian territory, secure the release of all hostages and negotiate a longer term solution to the conflict.

Since Saturday 7th October 2023 we have been watching, appalled by the blatant disregard for human life and international law demonstrated by both Hamas militants and the Israeli government. There are already innumerable allegations of crimes under international law, including but not limited to:

  • The indiscriminate targeting of civilians
  • The use of collective punishment
  • The intentional denial of basic necessities to civilians
  • The use of incendiary weapons
  • The forced transfer of civilian populations
  • The taking of hostages
  • The targeting of medical personnel
  • The targeting of hospitals
  • The targeting of religious and educational establishments
  • The bombing of humanitarian/UN facilities

The United Nations, the World Health Organisation, the International Committee of the Red Cross, Médecins sans Frontières, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are among the various international humanitarian and human rights organisations and agencies that have publicly expressed grave concerns about violations of the international laws of war. The former Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Mr Luis Moreno Ocampo, has also stated that he believes there is credible evidence of potential Crimes Against Humanity and Genocide. This adds to the increasing calls by the international and Israeli and Palestinian human rights communities for a recognition that the illegal Israeli occupation of Palestinian territory may constitute the Crime against Humanity of Apartheid.

All of these allegations must be seriously investigated and where evidence supports, those responsible must be prosecuted.

We therefore call on:

  1. Israel to immediately stop its bombardment and siege of Gaza and restore energy, water and communication services;
  2. Israel to stop preventing humanitarian aid and assistance from entering via the Rafah border;
  3. Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad to immediately release all hostages and stop its attacks on Israel;
  4. All States to immediately and publicly withdraw their statements of unequivocal support for Israel. The right to self defence cannot extend to the disproportionate use of force and the complete disregard for international law;
  5. The international community to oversee a formal ceasefire and commence a meaningful diplomatic process;
  6. All parties to desist from violence in the West Bank;
  7. The ICC Chief Prosecutor to begin immediate investigations into the allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide;
  8. Israel to end its illegal occupation of Palestinian territory and commit to a meaningful political resolution.

The events of the last few weeks have been profoundly shocking and the failure to take immediate action will further undermine global confidence in international law and human rights. As international lawyers we are determined to ensure that the Rule of Law is re-established and further human suffering is avoided.         

Signed:

Professor Kiran Grewal, Co-Director of the Unit for Global Justice, Goldsmiths, University of London

Sally Anne Corcoran, Irish Research Council Scholar, PhD International Human Rights Law, Consultant

Marion Volkmann-Brandau, Senior Human Rights and Gender Consultant

Marie-Claude Fournier, avocate, Barreau du Québec

Martha Basazienw Kassa, Doctoral Researcher, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law

Helena Esteves, Compliance Officer

Thellenza Arifi Krasniqi, Human Rights Expert

Nupur Prakash, Human Rights and Gender Expert

Marialejandra Moreno Mantilla, International Criminal Lawyer

Sophie Pigot, Criminal Law Barrister

Courtney Welton-Mitchell, Director CDR Cert, Asst Prof, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado

Sophie van der Valk, Postdoctoral Researcher

Jenny Duncan, Business & Human Rights Consultant

Rajvir Kaur Gill, Human Rights and Pluralism Specialist, Child Rights Advocate and Lawyer

Alexandra Patsalides, Human Rights Lawyer

Bénédicte Aboul-Nasr, LLM in International Law, human rights and peacebuilding professional

Sabrina Rau, Human Rights Researcher, Consultant

Elise Thoen, Human Rights Lawyer

Nadine Kheshen, International Criminal Lawyer

Lori Mann, International human rights lawyer

Besan Abatly, Palestinian lawyer

Emelie Kozak, Human Rights Lawyer

Priyanka CHIRIMAR, International lawyer

Sorcha Kinder, International Lawyer

Tathiana Flores-Acuna,  Expert GBV/IHL

Zainab Malik, Lawyer

Kalia Kambanella, lawyer

Teresa Cabrita, Postdoctoral researcher in EU and international law

Shalaka Phadnis, Civil Rights Lawyer and Human Rights Consultant

Angelica Neiszer, MSc

Sumiya Hemsi, lawyer

Lara Quarterman, Gender-based violence Expert

Amanda Munoz de Toro, Human Rights Lawyer

Elizabeth Herath, Barrister

Maria Fernanda Cáceres Sánchez, International Lawyer

Souad Martin-Saoudi, avocate, Barreau du Québec

Cynthia M. Garba, Unregistered barrister, LLM in International Law, LLB (Hons) in Law with International Relations

Amelie Beauchemin, International Criminal Lawyer

Sonya Merkova,  LLM, international law and human rights expert

Melissa A. Padilla, Human Rights Lawyer (application to the District of Columbia bar is pending)

Dr. Hannah Birkenkötter, Assistant Professor, Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (ITAM)

Merna Nasralla, PhD Candidate, Queen Mary University of London

Ellen Allde, PhD Candidate, Queen Mary University of London

Melanie Montalban, Human Rights and Environmental Lawyer

Tania Bernath, Human Rights Consultant

Bérénice Kafui Schramm, Assistant Professor of Law, Bahçeşehir Üniversitesi (BAU)

Christina Beninger, PhD, International human rights lawyer

Katyayani Chandola, Human Rights Lawyer

Trisha Mohan Kripalani, Advisor, Human Rights

Margaux Capblancq, Refugee Protection Specialist

Sandhya Sitoula, Human Rights Lawyer

Elena Bertucci, LLM with Specialization in International Law and Human Rights, Avvocato

Virgine Rouas, Legal Expert in Business and Human Rights

Kristin MacDougall-Sullivan, Program Director Afghanistan Humanitarian Programs, Human Rights Lawyer

Pegah Eftekhari, International Compliance Attorney

Alreem Kamal, International Lawyer

Shéhérazade Stewart, Criminal Defense Attorney, L.L.M. International Law

Emmanuelle Marchand, International Criminal law counsel

Kasiva Mulli, Human Rights Lawyer

Helin Köse, lawyer, Paris Bar

Natacha Bracq, Legal Advisor

Jana Sillen LL.M, child protection and human rights expert

Dina El-Mamoun, LLM, International Law

Inês Avelãs Nunes, Head of Advocacy and jurist

Emily Hawley, Human Rights Lawyer

Claire Mahon, International Human Rights Lawyer

Lene Guercke, PhD Law, human rights consultant, researcher

Imogen Canavan, International Legal Consultant

Rebecca Leabeater, Lawyer

Dr.Gurpreet Kaur, Gender and Human Rights Expert

Therese Rytter, Lawyer

Fernanda Coelho D’Alessandro, Human Rights Lawyer

Anna Khalfaoui, Lawyer

Piya Muqit, Regional Director East, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, Amnesty International

Melissa J. McKay, International Criminal Lawyer

Kate Mac Sweeney, LLM International Criminal Law, Human Rights Advisor

Maya Linstrum-Newman, lawyer

Amaria Belaskri, human rights and refugee law advocate

Joanne D'Souza, Lawyer

Zhanna Ivanova, LLM International Human Rights Law

Olga Kavran, Fellow and PhD candidate, Vrije Universiteit Brussel and Founding Director, IUSTICOM

Gorana Mlinarevic, feminist, human rights and peace advocate

Claire Beston, Human rights consultant

Karen L. Hoffmann, Lawyer

Kathryn Hampton, Refugee protection specialist

Nela Porobic Isakovic, feminist, peace and human rights advocate

Siobhan Allen, Lawyer (Human Rights, International Criminal Law and International Humanitarian Law)

Manuela Corredor Vasquez, International Human Rights Lawyer

Natacha John, PhD, International Lawyer

Sarah Kay, International human rights lawyer

Penny Ehrhardt, Doctoral Researcher, Oxford University

Luiza Leite de Queiroz, Marie Curie Fellow and PhD Researcher, VU Amsterdam

Dr. Aloka Wanigasuriya, Academic specializing in  international criminal law and public international law.

Tayyiba Bajwa, Supervising Attorney, International Human Rights Clinic at UC Berkeley and Barrister, Doughty Street Chambers

Dr. Noha Aboueldahab, Professor of International Law, Georgetown University in Qatar

Nanjala Nyabola, Writer and Political Analyst

Saida Hodžić, human rights and feminist scholar, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Cornell University

Rana Refahi, lawyer

Emily Schaeffer Omer-Man, international human rights lawyer and IHL expert

Sophie Rigney, Senior Lecturer (Law), RMIT University

Natasha Lewis, human rights lawyer and gender equity policy specialist

Elissa Hines Reimer, lawyer/mediator, former STL trial counsel

Joanna Kyriakakis, Senior Lecturer (Law), Monash University

Fabi Fugazza, human rights lawyer and academic

Sabina Talovic, peace activist

Tamara Zablocka, feminist and human rights activist

Sabina Sabic, peace activist

Dr. Ciara O’Connell, Human Rights Monitor/Inspector

Tamara Smidling, anthropologist

Belma Lalic, peace activist

Hend Abo Al Saud, LLB(Hons) in International Law, Human Rights Consultant

Dr. Andjela Pepic, sociologist

Dr. Elissa Helms, anthropologist

Maida Kopic, Special Counsel, Lawyerbank

Elisa Vari, Human Rights and Refugee Law Attorney

Susie Talbot, international human rights lawyer

Emma Day LLM, international human rights lawyer

Lúcia Kula, International Human Rights Lawyer / Lecturer in Law and Gender

María Alejandra Cárdenas, international human rights lawyer and feminist

Katharine Fortin, Associate Professor, Utrecht University

Deborah Cummins, Director Bridging Peoples

Denise Venturi, Gender and refugee expert

Dr Zoi Aliozi, Human rights educator/lawyer

Vivian Oliana, Human Rights Lawyer, Amsterdam

Soraya Oukil, LLM Public International Law, Human Rights and Refugee Lawyer

Rhea Kneifati, LLM public international law with specialization in international criminal law

Véronique Lerch, Independent Human Rights Consultant

Ayşe Bingöl Demir, International Human Rights Lawyer

Haben Fecadu, Human Rights Lawyer

Genevieve Westrope, Human Rights Lawyer

Danique Keiman, Human Rights and Refugee Lawyer

Judith Pieters, Human Rights and Refugee Lawyer

Nadeshda Jayakody, international human rights lawyer

Elli Kriona Saranti, lawyer

Nobukhosi Zulu, Law and Policy Specialist

Zahra Albarazi, international human rights lawyer

Inaas Slimi, Advocacy Advisor and Human Rights and Refugee Law Specialist

Pakeeza Rasheed, lawyer

Dr Roisin Burke, Assistant Professor, Utrecht University

Margaux Lenormand, lawyer

Dr Felicity Gerry KC, Crockett Chambers, Melbourne and Libertas Chambers, London

Devyani Kacker, Human Rights Lawyer

Sabrina Mahtani, Human Rights Lawyer

K. Sharanya, human rights lawyer and investigator

Cristina Azzarello, humanitarian affairs officer, LLM on international human rights

Ximena Vengoechea, Advocate, Scottish Bar

Kara Von Blasingame, Esq, Legal Expert in Business and Human Rights