Gender Apartheid Should Be an International Crime

July 15, 2025

By Heather Barr, Macarena Saez and Stacey-Leigh Manuel

United Nations member States are formulating their positions on a proposed treaty to prevent and punish crimes against humanity, ahead of a January 2026 “preparatory committee” meeting that will lay the groundwork for amendments and full negotiations on a draft that has been under consideration since 2019. Some States and advocates specifically favor adding language that recognizes gender apartheid as an international crime. That presents a unique opportunity to fill a gap in international law to protect the rights — and lives — of women and girls.