Akila Radhakrishnan
@akilarad.bsky.social
international human rights lawyer focused on gender justice. all around nerd. interested in: women's rights, human rights, reproductive justice, international law and butter. she/her.
“Gender is a lens that helps us understand conflict and atrocity.” Last week, our Board member @akilarad.bsky.social spoke at @tmcasser.bsky.social on the role of women’s rights in shaping treaty interpretation, and why international law must reflect lived realities.
@leilasadat1.bsky.social and @akilarad.bsky.social report on the recent First Preparatory Committee on the Crimes Against Humanity Treaty. They write that this marks the next step toward closing an 80-year gap in international criminal law: www.justsecurity.org/133160/crime...
The CAH Treaty Moves Forward with First Preparatory Committee
PrepCom’s success will depend on leadership, diverse perspectives, and a shared commitment to justice in a divisive multilateral environment.
justsecurity.org
Gender justice is not optional. At the UN Prep Comm on a Crimes Against Humanity Convention, Women’s Initiatives for Gender Justice was clear: a gender-competent approach is essential to the Convention’s legitimacy, effectiveness, and authority. 📍UN, New York | 20 Jan 2026 | @akilarad.bsky.social
Our 'throwback' episode this week is on genocide and gender. At this week's hearings at ICJ in the Gambia v Myanmar genocide case, the role that CRSV played will be central to how to prove alleged 'intent' in the clearance operations against the Rohingya. www.asymmetricalhaircuts.com/episodes/epi...
Episode 12 – Genocide and Gender with Akila Radhakrishnan
On the day of Gambia’s historic filing with the ICJ to ask Myanmar to ‘stop the genocide of the Rohingya’ Janet and Stephanie talk to Akila Radhakrishnan of the Global Justice Cen…
asymmetricalhaircuts.com
Proud to be a part of this lawsuit against President Trump’s Executive Order targeting the International Criminal Court, which has broad and sweeping implications, including on free speech, for all of us who work with the Court. 1/4
Smith v. Trump | American Civil Liberties Union
On April 11, 2025, the ACLU and ACLU of Maine filed a lawsuit on behalf of two human rights advocates who, because of an executive order signed by President Trump, have been forced to stop humanitaria...
aclu.org
ACLU@aclu.org · last yr.BREAKING: Two human rights advocates are suing the government over an executive order punishing Americans for speaking to the International Criminal Court. This is an assault on accountability and our clients' free speech rights. We'll see the Trump administration in court.
Important work here by @akilarad.bsky.social "Radhakrishnan said she was bringing the case “to prevent my own government from punishing me for trying to hold the #Taliban accountable for its systematic violence against women and girls from #Afghanistan”." I support these courageous plaintiffs
The Guardian@theguardian.com · last yr.Trump ICC sanctions order challenged in US court by human rights advocates
So proud of my colleagues @akilarad.bsky.social and Mathew Smith and grateful for the tireless work of the ACLU in standing up for the rule of law and opposing US sanctions against the ICC. www.aclu.org/cases/smith-...
Smith v. Trump | American Civil Liberties Union
On April 11, 2025, the ACLU and ACLU of Maine filed a lawsuit on behalf of two human rights advocates who, because of an executive order signed by President Trump, have been forced to stop humanitaria...
aclu.org
Today @washulaw.bsky.social is hosting a symposium on the crimes against humanity treaty. Looking forward to speaking about its potential to advance gender justice, including the codification of gender apartheid. Join the conversation @ 12:00 CST: wustl.zoom.us/j/94469285428. #CaHTreatyNow
At the #UNSC, @azadah.bsky.social describes how the Taliban have erased women so thoroughly that they are suffocating in their homes, banned from even looking out the window. "We, the women of #Afghanistan, call this gender apartheid."
30 years since Beijing. Are we moving forward, or slipping dangerously backward? In our first “Where is the Justice?” interview, @akilarad.bsky.social reminds us what's at stake. 👉 Read the full interview here: 4genderjustice.org/our-latest-p...
Excited to join CEPS Ideas Lab with Iran Digital Archive Coalition colleagues. If you’re in Brussels next week and interested in the Strategic Litigation Project’s work on spyware accountability, transnational repression, cybercrime, Syria, Iran, gender apartheid and more,reach out! ideaslab.ceps.eu
Ideas Lab 2025
Ideas Lab, hosted by CEPS, is Europe’s leading forum for impactful discussions on EU policies with experts and policymakers.
ideaslab.ceps.eu
Next week for #IWD2025 join @egacampaign.bsky.social for the Global Days of Action to End Gender Apartheid - March 7-8! 📢 Amplify – Share your support & stories 📷 Act – Join or plan protests 🗣 Advocate – Host or attend events Mark your calendars and add your voice to #EndGenderApartheid.
Must read! "#AlHassan Symposium – A Disappointment for the Victims of #SGBV in Timbuktu" by @leilasadat1.bsky.social The judgment is "fractured by multiple opinions, lacking legal clarity & ..approaches the charges of SGBV without understanding the context" #ICC lieber.westpoint.edu/disappointme...
Al Hassan Symposium – A Disappointment for the Victims of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in Timbuktu - Lieber Institute West Point
This post focuses on the judgment’s approach to sexual and gender-based violence, including gender persecution.
lieber.westpoint.edu
Interested in competing ideas of "gender" in international criminal law? I'll be chatting next week on this with the brilliant Akila Radhakrishnan, Valerie Oosterveld, Lily Kather, Juliana Santos de Carvalho & Lena Holzer. Tune in on Monday 3 February at 10am, Cambridge time.
Tis the weekend #MilkTeaAlliance & here is the upcoming events🧵 B4 we begin though, while a difficult listen, we recommend listening to this important session hosted by Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK “the genocide never stopped” w/ @waiwainu.bsky.social @akilarad.bsky.social & more. 1/
THE GENOCIDE NEVER STOPPED - FIVE YEARS ON FROM THE WORLD COURT’S ORDER TO PROTECT THE ROHINGYA | “THE GENOCIDE NEVER STOPPED - FIVE YEARS ON FROM THE WORLD COURT’S ORDER TO PROTECT THE ROHINGYA” The...
“THE GENOCIDE NEVER STOPPED - FIVE YEARS ON FROM THE WORLD COURT’S ORDER TO PROTECT THE ROHINGYA” The Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK (BROUK)...
facebook.com
EGA Legal Advisor @akilarad.bsky.social tells The Guardian: "The request for an arrest warrant … demonstrates the systematic way in which these violations have been working in tandem to oppress girls and women under the Taliban’s gender apartheid.” Learn more⬇️ www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...
ICC chief prosecutor seeks arrest warrants for Taliban leaders over persecution of women
Reasonable grounds to believe crimes against humanity are being committed against women and girls in Afghanistan, application says
theguardian.com
🚨BREAKING: ICC Office of the Prosecutor pursues arrest warrants for gender-based crimes in Afghanistan. Learn from our advisors on the importance of this action and steps forward to hold the Taliban accountable for international crimes👇 #EndGenderApartheid
End Gender Apartheid@egacampaign.bsky.social · 2y ago🚨BREAKING: ICC Office of the Prosecutor pursues arrest warrants for gender-based crimes in Afghanistan. Read our statement👇
Listening to this & things are really grim for the Rohingya at the moment. Honestly heart-breaking Appreciate the work of @waiwainu.bsky.social @akilarad.bsky.social, Tun Khin, M.Arslan Suleman & Chantal Daniels contuined work sheading light on the challenges, working for justice & accountability 1/
Women's Peace Network@womenspeacenetwork.org · 2y ago🗓️TODAY: Join @waiwainu.bsky.social and esteemed speakers in an event on five years since provisional measures were issued on ICJ's #Rohingya genocide case. We will discuss what more int'l community can do now to bring justice to #Myanmar. ⏰9AM EST / 8:30 PM MMT 🔗 us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
New event! (Short notice) 📆23rd Jan 🕑2pm UK Time Join Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK for panel “The Genocide Never Stopped: Five years on from the World Court’s order to protect the Rohingya” w/ @waiwainu.bsky.social @akilarad.bsky.social & more. Reg: us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
“As an editorial cartoonist, my job is to hold powerful people and institutions accountable. For the first time, my editor prevented me from doing that critical job. So I have decided to leave the Post.”
Adam Keiper@adamkeiper.com · 2y agoEditorial cartoonist Ann Telnaes has quit from the Washington Post after editorial interference of a sort she never previously experienced at the paper. open.substack.com/pub/anntelna...
Out now! Want some good book and series recommendations for the new year? We have lots here (but first hear us all worry for a bit) With @janethanderson.bsky.social @svdberg.bsky.social @reedbrody.bsky.social @akilarad.bsky.social + more www.asymmetricalhaircuts.com/episodes/jus...
Justice Update – Hello 2025
2025 looks set to be a difficult year for international justice institutions.
asymmetricalhaircuts.com
Want a warm bath of good cheer for 2025? Then don’t listen to our podcast - out tomorrow. An entire collection of stressed-out justice activists worry about what might be coming!
With contributions on #ICC #aggression review (C #Kress), #STCoA for #Ukraine (J #Trahan), #CaH treaty (@leilasadat1.bsky.social @akilarad.bsky.social @cahinitiative.bsky.social), #Palestine (@astridcoracini.bsky.social) with a foreword by Ch #Wenaweser (@liechtensteinun.bsky.social).
Curious about what the 6th Committee decided on the crimes against humanity treaty, how they got there & what's next? @leilasadat1.bsky.social & I unpack the drama & the details @justsecurity.org: justsecurity.org/105305/cah-tre… And on their podcast: buzzsprout.com/2074610/episod #CaHTreatyNow
Key UN Committee Clears Path for Crimes Against Humanity Treaty Negotiations
The UN Sixth Committee cleared a path for negotiations on a global treaty regarding the prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity.
justsecurity.org
Just Security@justsecurity.org · 2y agoAfter years of delay, the UN Sixth Committee cleared a path for negotiations on a global treaty regarding the prevention and punishment of crimes against humanity. Akila Radhakrishnan and Leila Sadat explain how States reached consensus and what comes next. www.justsecurity.org/105305/cah-t...
📢Don’t miss the SLP team at #ASP23 in The Hague next week! Join discussions on international justice mechanisms in Syria, Afghanistan and more, featuring @akilarad.bsky.social, Azadah Raz Mohammad, Metra Mehran and @dijkstal.bsky.social⤵️
Thank you @justsecurity.org for having us on to discuss the excitement and drama of last Friday’s decision to move to a #CaHTreatyNow. @leilasadat1.bsky.social and I unpack the discussions, the way forward and why it’s so important for victims around the world.
Just Security@justsecurity.org · 2y agoStates recently approved a resolution paving the way to negotiate a treaty to prevent and punish crimes against humanity. Akila Radhakrishnan and Leila Sadat join the #podcast to unpack the recent developments. Listen 👇 www.buzzsprout.com/2074610/epis...
A bright spot in an otherwise dark time for international law: the Sixth Committee adopts resolution moving the draft treaty on Crimes Against Humanity to negotiations. Thanks so much @akilarad.bsky.social @leilasadat1.bsky.social @globaljusticec.bsky.social for your tireless advocacy! ⚖️
Akila Radhakrishnan@akilarad.bsky.social · 2y agoToday, the UNGA 6th Committee has an opportunity to take a step to close a 75 year old legal gap by moving the draft crimes against humanity treaty to negotiations. This is a crucial opportunity to advance global justice, including for gender-based crimes. #CaHTreatyNow
So much drama! So glad to be in this fight with you @akilarad.bsky.social
Our chronicling of the process to date. Stay tuned for an update next week to highlight the extraordinary process leading to the adoption of the consensus resolution cosponsored by 99 states. #CAHTreatyNow
Akila Radhakrishnan@akilarad.bsky.social · 2y agoAs @leilasadat1.bsky.social & I wrote for @justsecurity.org, states are overwhelmingly supportive of a move to negotiations but a few states could act as spoilers. States need to stay strong today and not let a small opposition derail the process. #CaHTreatyNow www.justsecurity.org/104188/justi...