Gender Justice and Universal Jurisdiction for International Crimes: Uneasy Encounters or Avenues for Norm Transfer?core
GENDERUJ · Horizon Europe grant · 2026-06-01–2028-05-31
EC contribution
Total cost
Beneficiaries
About the data
Source: CORDIS (official EU open data), Horizon Europe. Framework HORIZON · call HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01 · scheme HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF · topic HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01-01. CORDIS record →
Objective
Pursuant to universal jurisdiction, core international crimes (genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes) are increasingly being adjudicated before domestic courts. Practitioners have, however, questioned their ability to form appropriate sites of gender justice. Indeed, domestic courts appear to encounter significant substantive, procedural, and institutional issues when prosecuting sexual and gender-based international crimes (SGBC). While academic debates have theoretically examined the rationale, legality, and politics of universal jurisdiction, its actual practice has received limited attention. Particularly, a robust academic study exploring the practical manifestations of gender justice – if any – in universal jurisdiction proceedings is yet outstanding. Through a comparative socio-legal case study of the law and practice of three EU Member States (Belgium, France, and Germany) and one non-EU State (Canada), GENDERUJ will investigate the ability of domestic courts to respond to challenges posed by SGBC. Building on the rich feminist scholarship engaging with gender justice in international criminal law, the project will decipher whether norm transfer from international to national legal systems is possible. Ultimately, GENDERUJ will provide valuable theoretical and practical contributions to the domestic application of international criminal law. Conducted under the supervision of Professor Damien Scalia at Université libre de Bruxelles, GENDERUJ will combine legal and sociological methods (actor mapping and semi-structured interviews). It will mobilise diverse fields of research, such as law, criminology, and victimology, and include a three-month secondment at the International Centre for Comparative Criminology of Université de Montréal. Bringing new subject knowledge as well as enhanced research and complementary skills, GENDERUJ will prepare the ER to lead a research group, obtain a tenure-track position and/or advanced funding.
Beneficiaries (2)
| Organisation | Country | Role | EC contribution | SME |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITE LIBRE DE BRUXELLES | BE | coordinator | €200,400 | |
| UNIVERSITE DE MONTREAL | CA | associatedPartner | — |
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