This paper identifies the major goals and achievements in the area of recognizing women as full subjects of human rights and eliminating impunity for gender crimes. It highlights the role of non-govermental organizations in addressing sexual violence in war, specifically by working to ensure that ad hoc criminal tribunals bring gender into mainstream international jurisprudence. Using case studies of Rwanda and the Former Yugoslavia, it explores the concept of ‘sexual slavery’ and international progress in codifying gender justice.