Time - INT (2022-06-06)

For the past fi ve years, Texas

lawmakers have made it

a priority to target trans-

gender youth, introducing

dozens of antitrans bills.

Emmett Schelling, the exec-

utive director for the Trans-

gender Education Network

of Texas, has spent day and

night fi ghting back and

building love and safety for

his community.

During the past year, it

often felt like Emmett lived

at the capitol. When the

legislature reconvened in

the fall, Emmett and other

advocates were exhausted

after 10 months of fi ght-

ing. But Emmett made sure

that the space was fi lled

attacks on trans youth by

attempting to criminalize

gender affi rmation as a form

of child abuse, Emmett,

himself a father and trans

man, again mobilized the

entire state to fi ght back.

Emmett is leading a

scary and grueling fi ght for

trans survival, and we are

so lucky to have him.

Strangio is deputy director

for transgender justice with

the ACLU

with joy and sweetness. On

the day of a critical hear-

ing, a reserved room in

the capitol was fi lled with

snacks, games, and toys for

kids who had had to defend

their existence, month after

month and year after year.

It was a painful day, but we

felt love and solidarity with

one another because of the

way Emmett advocates and

organizes.

When in early 2022 Gov-

ernor Abbott escalated his

In 2014, Russia and

China used their U.N. China used their U.N.

Security Council veto Security Council veto

to block the referral to block the referral

of atrocities in Syria of atrocities in Syria

to the International to the International

Criminal Court, which Criminal Court, which

would have allowed would have allowed

for prosecution of for prosecution of

those crimes. The those crimes. The

veto moved justice veto moved justice

even further out of even further out of

reach for victims. reach for victims.

So Syrian lawyers So Syrian lawyers

Anwar Al Bunni and Anwar Al Bunni and

Mazen Darwish took Mazen Darwish took

action. action.

Both had been Both had been

imprisoned in Syria imprisoned in Syria

and subsequently and subsequently

fl ed to Europe. There, fl ed to Europe. There,

they supported Ger-they supported Ger-

man prosecutors man prosecutors

who, using the legal who, using the legal

concept of universal concept of universal

jurisdiction, pursued jurisdiction, pursued

a former Syrian a former Syrian

military intelligence military intelligence

offi cer who had fl ed offi cer who had fl ed

to Germany. to Germany.

In January, a court In January, a court

in the German city in the German city

of Koblenz convicted of Koblenz convicted

former intelligence former intelligence

offi cer Anwar R., the offi cer Anwar R., the

most senior Syrian most senior Syrian

offi cial to be put on offi cial to be put on

trial, of crimes against trial, of crimes against

humanity for over-humanity for over-

seeing the systematic seeing the systematic

torture of detainees. torture of detainees.

He was sentenced to He was sentenced to

life in prison. Al Bunni life in prison. Al Bunni

and Darwish not only and Darwish not only

testifi ed at the trial testifi ed at the trial

but also led efforts but also led efforts

to gather evidence to gather evidence

and witnesses that and witnesses that

were vital for this were vital for this

historic case.historic case.

This dent in the This dent in the

impunity behind so impunity behind so

many atrocities in many atrocities in

Syria—one of several Syria—one of several

similar prosecutions similar prosecutions

under way—pays a under way—pays a

measure of respect measure of respect

to the victims and to the victims and

provides hope for provides hope for

further justice. These further justice. These

prosecutions can prosecutions can

help to deter further help to deter further

atrocities, in Syria atrocities, in Syria

and elsewhere. and elsewhere.

Roth is executive Roth is executive

director of Human director of Human

Rights WatchRights Watch

MMazen Dazen Darwarwish &ish &

AnwAnwAnwAnwar Al Bar Al Bar Al Bar Al Bunniunniunniunni

Attaining justiceAttaining justice

B Y K E N N E T H R O T HB Y K E N N E T H R O T H

Emmett

Schelling

Fighting with love

BY CHASE STRANGIO

SCHELLING: ERICH SCHLEGEL—HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN/AP; AL BUNNI: HANNES JUNG—LAIF/REDUX; DARWISH: MARZENA SKUBATZ—LAIF/REDUX

49