JAW actively supports global justice initiatives by assisting states to fulfill their obligation to investigate and prosecute individuals most responsible for grave breaches of international criminal law, specifically acts of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes.

These crimes may be committed based on gender. They may also be directed towards or have a particular impact on children. Therefore, JAW fully endorses and promotes the ICC policies on gender-based crimes and crimes against children. JAW works with international and national judicial bodies to ensure that particular focus is given to sexual violence, gender violence, and violence against children during investigations and prosecutions.

JAW asserts that justice begins at home and expands internationally. Consequently, our objective is to assist states in prosecuting individuals, including their citizens and foreign nationals in their territory, for serious crimes worthy of domestic courts’ action. If these approaches fail, we advocate for international accountability efforts to secure justice, either through a third nation, backed by universal jurisdiction, or through the International Criminal Court or special tribunals.

Our primary aim is to offer legal counsel and technical support for the investigation and prosecution of sexual and gender-based crimes and crimes against children, emphasizing the preparation of indictments, defining the appropriate modes of liability, and developing standards and procedures for evidence collection that connect high-level accused to these crimes, including survivor-centered approaches. We also support in drafting and evaluating legislation to align with international treaty commitments and standards and provide expert legal guidance on intricate matters of international criminal law, humanitarian law, and human rights law, through research and analysis.

Addressing these crimes is a key focus for our international criminal justice initiatives, which are aimed at utilizing an intersectional, survivor-centered methodology in the investigation and prosecution processes.