There is plenty of warranted criticism of the New York Times investigation into sexual violence on October 7, but for all the exposé’s ethical shortcomings, its greatest failure was its lack of consideration for the safety, trauma, and dignified treatment of the victims.

In the last decade, an estimated 15,000 women across the globe have been accused of abducting their own children. They are all foreigners who tried to relocate with their children — oftentimes back to their home countries — but the other parent disagreed. Not all countries criminalize abduction, but the repercussions for the child’s custody are far-reaching.

The Al Hassan case has the potential to shine light on the unique harm perpetrators commit against individuals based on their gender, which enforces patriarchal social norms and increases the potency of their crimes. It could also chart a path forward for international criminal law to define gender.