15 December 1999

This is the first part of footage from a panel discussion organized by the Women's Caucus for Gender Justice on crimes against humanity, held during of the 3rd Preparatory Commission of the International Criminal Court in New York City in December 1999. 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 Jordan; and Jan Perlin, of the International 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. All footage of this video take place within a conference room. After Vahida Nainar makes an introduction, Hawa Ghaus discusses the situation in Afghanistan, describing the abuse that women suffer at the hands of the Taliban. She calls for international support of these women as well as for pressure to be put on Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates for supporting the Taliban. Asma Khader explains about the democratization of Jordan, mentioning that there are still significant difficulties facing the women there; for example, while they do have political freedoms, such as the right to to vote, Khader states that they are still prisoners in their homes, too afraid of social or familial reject to defend or assert themselves. Nainar cautions participants to take care that statutes have verbiage in them to actively support women.