International Law in Practice - Study Tour to Den Haag
On 22-25 November 2016, Associate Professor Martin Mennecke from the SDU Department of Law led a study tour of 22 graduate students to international courts and organisations in Den Haag, the Netherlands.
For the third year in a row, students from SDU’s interdisciplinary Master of International Law and Security (MOISL) visited Den Haag in the Netherlands to learn about the challenges and accomplishments of international law in practice. As part of their preparation, the students participated in the MOISL courses “International Organisations” or “Transitional Justice and International Security.”
During their study tour, the SDU group visited the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice. The group had the opportunity to discuss the current state of international justice with an ICC judge, with officials from the Office of the Prosecutor, representatives from the ICC’s Victims Trust Fund and a defence counsel working at the ICC. In addition, the group met with legal advisers and diplomats from Denmark, Israel and the United States to learn more about the international politics surrounding transitional justice and the work of international organisations.
A recurring topic during this year’s trip was the relationship between Africa and the International Criminal Court. The Gambia, Burundi and South Africa have recently announced their withdrawals from the ICC’s founding treaty, while other African governments renewed their commitment to the ICC. Other discussions focused on how the new US President will impact the work of the ICC, the soon-to-be-activated crime of aggression and the fight against impunity for international crimes as currently committed in Syria.
The different and often diverging perspectives of the various professionals met during the study trip gave the students a unique first hand peak into the complexities in the field. Participants enhanced their understanding of the academic discussions and learnt about the practical relevance of the MOISL study programme which in turn will help them with their search for internships, topics for their master thesis and future job opportunities.
The study tour was financially supported by the SDU Departments of Law and Political Science.