Gender Crimes as War Crimes: Integrating Crimes against Women into International Criminal Law

The author argues that wartime sexual violence is now more visible as it is within the ambit of international criminal law under the International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and Rwanda (ICTR). The author also discusses how Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has also had a significant impact on the treatment of sexual violence under international law by codifying sexual and gender crimes and bringing them within the jurisdiction of the ICC, along with procedural safeguards to ensure that female victims and witnesses are adequately protected. The author credits the NGO movement, and in particular the Women's Caucus for Gender Justice, for helping to achieve these significant developments in the pursuit of gender justice. [Descriptors: Armed Conflict, International]