The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been on a rollercoaster ride. The ICC has faced concerns about its disproportionate focus on Africa, its perceived disconnection from domestic contexts, the length of proceedings and the widespread dissatisfaction with high-profile acquittals. The Court has also been struggling to ensure its efficient and sustainable operation pursuant to having “thin and overextended resources”.

Despite all the turbulence, the ICC continues addressing the gravest crimes around the world. Most recently, it has opened investigations into Ukraine and Palestine. Many states, including the EU nations, have reaffirmed their support of the Court in light of the Trump Administration sanctions aimed to prevent the ICC’s intervention in the US fields of interest. 

Ukraine has recognised the ICC’s jurisdiction, flooded it with communications about atrocities committed in the armed conflict with Russia and yet continues to have second thoughts about ratifying the Rome Statute. 

The participants will discuss the ICC’s internal dynamics, whether the new Biden Administration might indicate a change in the US engagement with the Court and what the election of the new ICC Prosecutor might mean for the Ukrainian investigation.

Speakers:

Prof. Iryna Marchuk, Associate Professor of Criminal Law, Faculty of Law, University of Copenhagen;

Prof. Kevin Jon Heller, Professor of International Law and Security, University of Copenhagen; Professor of Law, Australian National University.

Moderators:

• Maria Tomak, Coordinator, Media Initiative for Human Rights;
• Dr Kateryna Busol, Lawyer, Centre for Defence Strategies.

REGISTRATION:

The event will be held in English.

If you would like to follow the original English version of the discussion and/or send your questions and comments to the Zoom chat, please register here: https://forms.gle/vVJ3kGYWnh5qbd6w5. 

The Webinar will also be broadcasted at the YouTube page of the UHHRU: https://cutt.ly/4k6OTaZ 

Organisers:

Media Initiative for Human Rights

USAID Human Rights in Action Program

Ukrainian Helsinki Human Rights Union

Mission of the President of Ukraine in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea

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This event is a part of #InternationalLawTalks – a series of webinars aimed to facilitate qualitative, interesting and accessible discussions on the topical issues of international law in Ukraine. 

For each session, the webinars bring together distinguished professionals from Ukraine and abroad. They contextualise the armed conflict, peace and transitional justice issues in Ukraine within the larger dynamics of international law and international relations. 

The aim of the project is twofold: to help Ukrainian legal professionals and the general public see the wider horizons of their native context and to provide more local and regional insight to international colleagues. 

A series of webinars #InternationalLawTalks is made possible thanks to USAID Human Rights in Action Program.