In 2007-2008, our inaugural year saw a number of important achievements. We are confident that 2008-2009 will see continued success towards promoting dialogue on international criminal justice amongst students and youth around the world. Watch this space!

ICCSN 2008-2009:

  • The launch of a termly newsletter on developments at the ICC and other international criminal tribunals. The new year will see continued steps towards ending impunity with new special tribunals for Lebanon, Cambodia, and more. ICCSN hopes to integrate these new frontiers of international criminal justice in our discussions. We expect the first issue to be published in November 2008;
  • The publication of the first student law journal on international criminal justice, an important compilation of efforts from students around the world that presents their hopes, critiques, opinions, and analysis of current international criminal law;
  • Increased cooperation with related NGOs and student groups – both strengthening existing ties and also establishing new links;
  • Tentative participation of ICCSN at the Assembly of State Parties (ASP) for the International Criminal Court in November 2008. As a student group, ICCSN participation at the event presents a rare opportunity to inject youth participation and activism in the decision-making procedures of the ICC. The ICCSN has requested a special invitation to participate, and is awaiting a decision;
  • Continued engagement of students through special events and film screenings;
  • The establishment of ICCSN chapter organisations at the University of Toronto, Canada, and at Utrecht University, the Netherlands. We hope to engage students from around the world, of different academic backgrounds, expertise, experiences, and opinions.

 An important highlight of 2007-2008, ICCSN Trip to The Hague:

 ICCSN members with Chief Prosecutor, Mr Luis Moreno-Ocampo

In February 2008 a group of 15 students from the London School of Economics, the University College London, and the University of  Toronto travelled to The Hague to learn more about the International Criminal Court as part of a trip organized by the ICCSN.

There, we met with representatives of the Coalition for the International Criminal Court and Federation Internationale de Droit l'Homme and learned about their views of the Court’s progress so far and some of the challenges it faces, such as wider ratification of the Rome Statute and ensuring the protection of victim-witnesses.  We attended the initial appearance hearing of Mathieu Ngudjolo Chui, indicted by the ICC for war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

We attended a presentation about the history and workings of the Court and had the opportunity to direct specific questions to representatives from the Office of the Prosecutor. We also had the great pleasure to meet with the Chief Prosecutor, Mr.  Luis Moreno-Ocampo, to discuss ways in which the ICCSN can promote student awareness of and support for the ICC.  We observed part of the Charles Taylor hearing at the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL), which shares the same premises as the ICC for this case.

We also received a presentation from the SCSL and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), where we also attended a hearing.

The trip was a great success both in terms of learning more about international criminal law, and for members to bond and share views. We hope to make a spring trip to The Hague an annual tradition.

 

ICCSN members in front of the ICC