Historic increase in U.S. budget for gender equality
This International Women’s Day, President Biden requested $2.6 Billion in his annual budget for foreign assistance programs that advance gender equality and equity globally. IANGEL signed a letter calling on Congress to approve this FY2023 State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations bill, and to appropriate $414 million to support programs that prevent and respond to gender-based violence (GBV) globally. The letter also requests an increase in funding for gender-based violence, child marriage, women’s economic empowerment, and women peace and security, as well as language and guidance on how these funds should be allocated and properly reported.
IANGEL joins amicus brief in support of singer-songwriter Kesha
IANGEL joined the National Women’s Law Center’s (NWLC) amicus brief to the New York Court of Appeals in Gottwald v. Sebert in support of singer and songwriter Kesha, who is being sued for defamation by her sexual abuser and former producer Dr. Luke. In 2014, Kesha filed a lawsuit against Dr. Luke alleging that he had sexually abused her in 2005 and seeking to be released from contractual obligations to continue working with him. On the same day, Dr. Luke filed his own lawsuit against Kesha for defamation in anticipation of the lawsuit she was filing against him. A New York Court allowed Dr. Luke’s defamation lawsuit to proceed to trial, despite the fact that New York law protects statements made in, or in anticipation of, litigation by absolute privileges, which means they cannot form the basis of a defamation lawsuit.
The NWLC amicus brief explains that New York law provides important protections for sexual abuse survivors from the emotional and financial costs of defending against retaliatory defamation lawsuits, and that the court cannot create illegal and harmful exceptions to these protections. It also highlights the facts that survivors of sexual abuse frequently face retaliation, including in the form of retaliatory defamation lawsuits, and that fear of retaliation deters many survivors from coming forward. Read the amicus brief here.
Supporting student survivors
IANGEL has joined the NWLC’s amicus brief in support of a petition for rehearing or rehearing en banc to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in the case of Brown v. Arizona. The plaintiff, Mackenzie Brown, claims the University of Arizona should be held responsible for its failure to address sex-based harassment under Title IX for sexual abuse by another student that occurred off-campus. The amicus brief asserts that the Ninth Circuit’s ruling that the physical location of the harassment is an important indicator of a school’s control over the “context” of alleged harassment can result in harmful outcomes contrary to Title IX. It argues that there should be a more fact-specific analysis made to determine whether a university has control of incidents that occur off-campus. In holding that UofA did not exercise substantial control over Brown’s abuse, the Ninth Circuit interpreted Title IX’s reach too narrowly.
The brief also highlights that the Ninth Circuit ruling could influence schools to push students with histories of sexual abuse or assault off campus, enabling continued abuse of other students, and allowing the schools to escape liability. Lastly, this ruling harms student survivors most of all—if schools rid themselves of any responsibility for off-campus misconduct, it would make reporting of these incidents incredibly complicated when it is already increasingly difficult and painful to do so. Read the amicus brief in full here.
IANGEL endorses policy paper to further international gender justice
Armed actors committing gender-based violence has unfortunately been a common element in war and conflict. Under international law, these crimes amount to gender persecution, the charge available to ensure accountability for these crimes. However, gender persecution perpetrators are hardly ever held accountable. IANGEL signed an open letter in support of the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Office of the Prosecutor’s Initiative for a Gender Persecution Policy Paper. This policy paper aims to advance accountability for gender persecution, and will guide the ICC’s approach to issues related to gender justice. By better understanding how and when gender persecution occurs, we can strengthen accountability, meaningfully include survivors in building sustainable peace, and disrupt the cycle of gender-based violence. Learn more about the policy paper here.
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