Empowerment

Celebrating Progress and Advocating for Gender Equality in the Judiciary: The International Day of Women Judges Highlights the Importance of Inclusion and Empowerment

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The International Day of Women Judges, celebrated on March 10th, prompts reflection on the progress achieved in achieving gender equality within the judicial sphere. Judge Graciela Gatti Santana, President of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (Mechanism), recognizes the remarkable contributions of her fellow women judges from diverse backgrounds around the world. These women enrich the Mechanism’s chambers with their expertise, some having attained judicial posts that were previously inaccessible to women. While there has been considerable progress, there remains much work to be done to achieve full and equal representation of women in … Read more

Documentaries Exploring Human Unity and Empowerment Win Top Honors at Auroville Film Festival

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AUROVILLE, India – The 8th edition of the Auroville Film Festival recently concluded, celebrating cinema that explores the theme of human unity. Two documentaries, “Aware: Glimpses of Consciousness” by Frauke Sandig and Eric Black and “All That Breathes” by Shaunak Sen, received the prestigious “Wisdom Awards” in the international category. Judges acknowledged these films from Germany and India for their exploration of the interconnectedness between all life forms and the ways in which humans are connected to their environment. Other notable films recognized at the festival include Elizabeth D Costa’s “Bangla Surf Girls” and Anam … Read more

Jury Awards $13.3 Million Verdict in Historic Child Abuse Lawsuit: Plaintiff Finds Empowerment and Healing

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White Plains, New York – A Westchester jury has awarded a $13.3 million verdict to a 68-year-old plaintiff who sued under the Child Victims Act. After just over an hour of deliberations, the panel decided to compensate Robert Vavasour for past and future suffering. Vavasour, represented by Jordan Rutsky of Merson Law, filed the lawsuit in 2020 against his late uncle Kevin Shanley. Vavasour had alleged that his uncle sexually abused him during a trip to Europe in the 1970s when he was 14 years old. The abuse continued even after their return. Shanley, who … Read more