The International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), One Law for All and Project Resist are hosting an event titled 'Gender Apartheid: A Crime Against Humanity' on Thursday 6 March 2025 from 1400-1700 GMT at the Houses of Parliament in London, United Kingdom. The organisers and speakers are joining countless courageous women to call on the international community to recognise gender apartheid as a crime against humanity.
The event will include a screening of the Academy Award nominated film The Red Suitcase (2022) by Iranian Director Cyrus Neshvad, a daf (Middle Eastern drum) performance by percussionist Sara Fotros and music by Kurdish/Alevi singer Suna Alan.
www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/gender-apartheid-a-crime-against-humanity-tickets-1234146167409
With limited availability, the request is to register only if attendance is certain.
Taking place ahead of International Women's Day on 8 March, the event aims to draw attention to gender apartheid, particularly in Afghanistan and Iran, where women are experiencing systemic violations of their human rights. Panellists will discuss the situation for women in these countries and call for a greater international response to put an end to gender apartheid.
IBAHRI Director Baroness Helena Kennedy LT KC commented: 'We stand in solidarity with the incredibly brave women in Afghanistan, Iran and elsewhere who are standing up to their oppressors and the grave injustices they are facing daily. Systematic, state-sponsored violence and terror are being used to erase women from public life in these countries, but there has been very little political and legal pushback against this. The international community must act now to recognise gender apartheid for what it is - a crime against humanity which cannot be allowed to continue.'
Baroness Kennedy will chair the event, which will feature panellists from a range of backgrounds, including:
- Ariane Hejazi, British-Iranian actress raised in a family of Iranian political refugees and activists;
- Fawzia Amini, former senior judge in the Supreme Court of Afghanistan and head of the Violence against Women Court;
- Ferozan Easar Qasimi, Co-Founder of the Afghanistan Judges Association;
- Maryam Namazie, Iranian-born campaigner and writer; spokesperson of Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain and One Law for All;
- Pragna Patel, Co-Founder and Co-Director of Project Resist; founding member of Women Against Fundamentalism
