Hague Study Trip

Posted on: 18 June 2024 by Maya Tajuddin in Blog

In April 2024, I had the exciting opportunity to join a group of my fellow LLB students on a law study trip to The Hague, The Netherlands. This trip provided not only a chance to delve into the heart of international law but also a much-needed break to relax and unwind during the exam season.

This study trip was open to second and third-year law students with a particular interest in international law, as The Hague has come to be known as the central place for international justice mechanisms, which made the trip even more invaluable.

Day 1- International Criminal Court (ICC) and Peace Palace

Starting off strong! On our first day in The Hague, we had the pleasure of visiting the International Criminal Court (ICC) and Peace Palace.

Our first stop was the ICC. As soon as we arrived, we went straight to sit in on a hearing. We observed "The Prosecutor v. Alfred Yekatom and Patrice-Edouard Ngaïssona" and got the invaluable opportunity to hear a defence witness giving evidence for this case at the trial stage. This case involved charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes in the Central African Republic. It was truly amazing to have first-hand experience of such contentious and high-profile cases in the ICC and then be able to follow the trial and watch it unfold later on in the news. After the hearing, the ICC hosted a presentation detailing the main functions of the court and the types of law it tries. The ICC is specifically focused on holding individuals to account for four types of crimes: genocide, war crimes, crimes of aggression, and crimes against humanity. We learnt about the different offices within the ICC: the Presidency, the Chambers, the Office of the Prosecutor, and the Registry, with each organ having a different role.

We then moved on to visit the Peace Palace, where the United Nations International Court of Justice, the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the Hague Academy of International Law and the Library of the Peace Palace are located. At the time of our visit, the Nicaragua v. Germany case was taking place, which concerned the alleged breaches of certain international obligations in respect of the occupied Palestinian territory. We had the amazing opportunity to visit the Peace Palace Visitor's Centre, where we had a private tour, learnt about the Peace Palace’s history and its institutions and asked questions.

Day 2- British Embassy of the Hague and Eurojust

Our first visit of the day was to the British Embassy, where we spoke to Palika Bhasin, Karen Blackstone, Jack Andrews, Laura Grant and Ed Haxton. The speakers were a mix of political and legal advisors. We learnt that the embassy works closely with the ICC, ICJ, MICT, PCA, and HCCH in The Hague and negotiates the net budget for the ICC. The embassy helps to prepare accurate legal drafts and summaries of decisions for the UK Government and carries out multilateral negotiations among all state parties on various issues. We also heard about the different career routes into a role at the embassy and the importance of diplomacy and negotiation skills in the role. This visit was very interesting, providing me with a more holistic view of institutions beyond purely legal ones.

We then went to Eurojust, where Chris Williams, the liaison prosecutor for the UK, spoke very passionately about his role in dealing with cross-border investigations into organised crime involving the UK. Chris highlighted some of the most important aspects of his role, including organising joint investigation teams and coordination meetings, which lead to a coordination centre and joint action days with arrests and searches taking place in different countries. I found this institution very intriguing, not having known much about it before the trip.

Outside of our planned itinerary, during our free time, we went for an ice cream in the city centre and walked past the Hague Parliament before enjoying an evening pub quiz with everyone on the trip!

Day 3- Kosovo Specialist Chambers and Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons

Our first stop on day three was the Kosovo Specialist Chambers and Specialist Prosecutor’s Office. This institution is a temporary judicial body set up to deal specifically with crimes against humanity and war crimes carried out under Kosovan law, focusing solely on individual responsibility. We also saw the court where these crimes are tried. This was a great way to understand the inner workings of a unique and specialised criminal court.

Next, we visited the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, an institution dedicated to upholding the Chemical Weapons Convention regarding the ban, use, development, production, stockpiling and transfer of chemicals. The chemicals covered by the convention are often dual-use and can be utilised for various purposes, including chemical warfare and mass destruction. We then had a tour of the institution, including the conference room and the OPCW’s Nobel Prize.

Conclusion

It was a great experience to visit the bustling centre of international law, sit in on ongoing cases and learn about the functions of such important international institutions. This greatly developed my understanding of global justice systems and legal accountability. The opportunity to ask lots of questions and gain a deeper understanding of legal issues was invigorating. This was truly an invaluable and unforgettable experience and I would urge all law students with an interest in learning more about international law to apply!