Amsterdam Law School’s Global Justice Session for the first time organised at The Hague’s Asser Institute

The T.M.C. Asser Instituut and the Amsterdam Law School (ALS) have marked a small milestone in their strengthening partnership with the first-ever Global Justice Session (GJS) held at the Asser Institute in The Hague. The session, focused on "Accountability for International Crimes in Ukraine", brought students from the University of Amsterdam (UvA) to the heart of international justice on Monday May 19, 2025. 

The event featured presentations from leading experts on crucial topics including the commitment of Ukraine and the Netherlands towards ‘Restoring Justice for Ukraine’, national and international accountability processes, the International Centre for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine (ICPA), the Register of Damage for Ukraine (RD4U), and sanctions and international criminal justice.  

Students engaged directly with professionals from Hague-based international institutions and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as researchers from the Asser Institute during an interactive Q&A session. 

"Hosting the ALS GJS at the Asser Institute represents the natural evolution of our deepening collaboration," said Christophe Paulussen, organiser of the event and Acting Academic Director of the Asser Institute. "Our location in The Hague—at the epicentre of international law—provides students with unparalleled proximity to the institutions and practitioners shaping global justice responses to Ukraine." 

The session addressed the progress made in responding to international crimes committed in Ukraine since the full-scale invasion in February 2022, including domestic investigations, International Criminal Court proceedings, and the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression. 

"It is great to see the enthusiasm from our students at this inaugural GJS at the Asser Institute", said  Matthias Holvoet, lecturer in international criminal law from the UvA. "This partnership helps our students bridge academic theory with practical insights from the international legal capital. Seeing them engage with leading experts on such important topics underscores the value of our institutional relationship." 

Following the formal programme, participants continued discussions during a networking reception, further strengthening connections between academia and practice in international criminal law. 

Speakers were: 

• Loes Lammerts (Senior Policy Advisor Accountability, Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs)  
• Gabriela Radu (Junior researcher, Asser Institute) 
• Dr Gabriele Chlevickaite (Researcher, Asser Institute)  
• Myroslava Krasnoborova (Liaison Prosecutor for Ukraine at Eurojust) 
• Markiyan Kliuchkovskyi (Executive Director, Register of Damage for Ukraine)  
• James Patrick Sexton (PhD Researcher, Asser Institute)