18 September 2000

The video begins with the crew making adjustments to the camera. Interview with Rhonda Copelon, Director of International Women's Human Rights Clinic, City University of New York Law School. There are audio problems throughout. Copelon explains that naming the crimes of sexual and reproductive violence in the ICC Statute is important because it recognizes the treatment of comfort women. The ICC list is broad and eliminates ambiguity around whether sexual and reproductive violence are grave enough to be prosecuted as war crimes or crimes against humanity. She states that the list leaves no doubt that sexual crimes are crimes of violence, rather than only crimes against honor or dignity. The statute also integrates sexual and reproductive crimes as forms of traditionally recognized crimes like torture, genocide, and enslavement. This keeps these crimes from being thought of as "women's" issues, and subsequently seen as less important. Following is a second take of Copelon answering the same question. The interview then continues with Copelon discussing the Rome Statute's recognition of gender as a basis of persecution. This allows crimes such as gender apartheid in Afghanistan to fall under the Rome Statute. She also discusses how the Women's Caucus has worked to ensure that the ICC avoids errors of the past in regards to respect for victims. There are variety of provisions, such as providing support and protection for victims. Copelon then does another take of the same statement. Copelon states that an underlying principle that the Women's Caucus advocated for was that women and men should be fairly represented among the ICC's judges and prosecutors, and that there should be judges and prosecutors with gender expertise. Copelon states that another important and innovative aspect of the Rome Statute is the recognition that victims have the right to participate in the proceedings. The Statute also includes a broad recognition of the right of reparation, as well as guarantees about the admissibility of testimony and evidence in sexual violence cases. Copelon talks about the limitations of the ICC. It has no retroactive jurisdiction. It will be difficult to maintain the court's independence. Women's groups will also need to pressure the Court to make sure crimes against women are included. She notes that the creation of the ICC is not simply the creation of a court; it is the establishment of codes, processes, and principles that can serve as a norm for justice everywhere. Copelon also states that people with gender sensitivity need to be nominated to serve on the court and that gender training should be given to teach sensitivity. After some more discussion, she repeats the first portion of the interview, including the significance of listing the crimes. She also asserts the importance of viewing rape as a form of torture. There are then further takes of Copelon discussion the court's limitations.