Our Mission
The Global Center for Women and Justice equips students to examine and address issues affecting the global status of women and vulnerable populations through interdisciplinary research, education, collaboration, and evidence-informed advocacy grounded in hope.
The Big Picture
Founded in 2003, GCWJ is a mission-driven, university-based academic center housed within Vanguard University of Southern California. GCWJ integrates research, education, and applied learning to examine injustice, human trafficking, migration, and related issues affecting vulnerable populations. The Center’s work includes interdisciplinary academic programs, applied and policy-relevant research, survivor-informed advocacy, and educational initiatives that contribute to prevention, protection, and accountability efforts at local, national, and global levels.
GCWJ engages students, professionals, and community partners in developing collaborative, research-driven approaches to preventing human trafficking, addressing migration and labor vulnerabilities, advancing human rights, and strengthening systems of response and accountability.
We encourage all members of our local and global community to: Study the issues. Be a voice. Make a difference.
Our Six Pillars
GCWJ connects academic inquiry with applied practice, serving as a bridge between students, the university, and local and global communities.
Students
GCWJ seeks to develop informed, engaged global citizens through interdisciplinary and applied learning. Students learn to ask critical questions, engage real-world contexts, and participate in service- and leadership-based opportunities that integrate academic study with community engagement.
Partnerships
GCWJ collaborates with other organizations and governmental entities engaged in women’s justice and human rights work. These partnerships support the exchange of research, expertise, and resources, strengthening interdisciplinary and multi-sector approaches to complex social challenges.
Prevention
GCWJ advances prevention through research, education, and applied scholarship focused on identifying risk factors, structural vulnerabilities, and effective intervention strategies. Prevention efforts are grounded in evidence-based frameworks and collaborative research that inform policy, practice, and public education.
Protection
GCWJ supports survivor-informed and trauma-responsive approaches that prioritize the dignity, autonomy, and long-term well-being of survivors of human trafficking. The Center contributes research, education, and advocacy that strengthen protective systems and promote ethical, victim-centered responses.
Justice
GCWJ engages with legal, policy, and accountability frameworks addressing human rights violations. The Center emphasizes research-informed approaches that balance criminal accountability with restorative and survivor-centered pathways to justice.
Academics
GCWJ advances interdisciplinary education through the Women and Justice Minor and the Anti-Human Trafficking Certificate. These academic programs employ data-driven, best-practice models to equip students with analytical tools, research literacy, and a global understanding of human rights and gender-based injustice.