In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt of the content:

ix This book could have not been either started or successfully completed without the support and contributions of several people to whom I am therefore profoundly grateful. My deepest gratitude goes to Deborah Rhode, whose encouragement, remarkable expertise in gender discrimination, and genuine devotion to women’s rights have been an incommensurable source of inspiration and example. For support and thoughtful comments, I am also thankful to Jenny S. Martinez, Helen Stacy, Lawrence Freedman, Manuel Gomez, Deborah Hensler, Allen Weiner, Terry Karl, Amalia Kessler, Richard Roberts, George Letsas, Monica McDermott, Michelle Mckinley, Allegra McLeod, Michael Musheno, Mary Ellen O’Connell, Sarah Paoletti, Nadine Puechguirbal, Natalie Man, Carol Shabrami, Sofia Candeias, Barron Bixler, Allison Carruth, Dara Kay Cohen, and Matteo Lodevole. I also thank my editor , Marlie Wassernman, at Rutgers University Press, for her precious suggestions and, more important, for believing in this book. This study could have not been possible without the generous support of the following institutions: Golden Gate University School of Law, a group of faculty colleagues and the library staff; Stanford Law School, the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University, the Michelle Clayman Institute for Gender Research at Stanford University, the Stanford Center on International Conflict and Negotiation, the Stanford Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education, the Gerald J. Lieberman Fellowship Fund at Stanford University; and, finally, the Arthur C. Helton Fellowship Program of the American Society of International Law. At a practical and emotional level, I am very thankful to the following people. My parents, whose intellectual integrity and respect for the ultimate meaning of service and justice are fixed in my memory, lead my ACKNOWLEDGMENTS x ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ordinary actions, and emboldened me, in spite of any other consideration , to pursue my heartfelt dreams. My husband, Johan, who brightens up each of my days and shares with steadfast love our everyday life as well as hope and promises for the future; and, finally, our son, Leonardo, who joined us at the late stage of my writing and patiently napped or played next to me while I was completing this book. I wish for him a better world and even more happiness and adventures than the ones I have been so fortunate to enjoy. I owe immense recognition to the everyday efforts of those Haitian women and victims who fight in many different ways for countering gender-based violence and reclaiming equality and protection for their daughters and themselves. To them and all the other participants in this study, who unstintingly work to make even the smallest contribution to changing this world into a more just place, go my full consideration and immense gratitude. Finally, my thoughts go to the memory of all friends and informants of this book who died in the earthquake that affected Haiti on January 12, 2010. “Que la terre vous soit légère.” ...

Share