The Strategic Litigation Project supported Iranian survivors and the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center in filing a criminal complaint in Argentina in December 2025. The complaint accused senior Iranian officials of crimes against humanity during the Woman, Life, Freedom protests.

The criminal complaint calls on the court to investigate senior members of the Islamic Republic of Iran for the crimes against humanity of gender persecution, murder, torture, and other inhumane acts. The organization partnered with the Iran Digital Archive Coalition to document attacks on medical workers, healthcare facilities, and injured protestors.

In January 2026, Gissou Nia, Director of the Strategic Litigation Project, stated in an interview, "We have no idea the true death count figures in Iran as communications blackout continues." The United Nations General Assembly launched a four-year process to prepare for and negotiate a new global treaty to prevent and punish crimes against humanity by 2028.

In April 2026, seven states included gender apartheid in their textual proposals for amendment to the draft Crimes Against Humanity Convention. Fourteen states have broadly expressed support for the codification of gender apartheid in the convention. Russia and China are participating in the debate on the convention, while the United States has stayed silent.

Why It Matters

The criminal complaint filed in Argentina represents an effort to seek legal accountability for alleged human rights violations in Iran. This action runs parallel to broader international discussions at the United Nations regarding the definition and scope of crimes against humanity, specifically the proposed inclusion of gender apartheid. These events collectively document ongoing efforts to address human rights issues within international legal frameworks.