Student debate
The fifth Owada Chair Symposium included two sessions of student debate together with Professor Owada and the keynote speaker, Dr Fatou Bensouda.
They discussed specific issues arising from the keynote speech about the International Criminal Court, as well as broader questions about the prospects of international criminal justice.
Student participants described the encounters as: ‘extremely timely and relevant’, ‘a unique and invaluable experience’ and ‘such a thought-provoking and enriching symposium’ with ‘profound academic and personal impact’.
‘I realised how impressively dynamic and human diplomacy can be. It is not just about protocol and negotiation, but about people using dialogue as a tool for shaping justice.’
Rio Tomita, Waseda University
‘Exchanging ideas with renowned figures in international law and fellow students from around the world emphasised the ongoing significance of international law, particularly in a world of global politics that seems increasingly shaped by the belief that might makes right.’
Maximilian Wachter, Leiden University
‘I came to recognise that core crimes are often tied to questions of identity and existence. Legal mechanisms alone are insufficient when crimes are perceived as matters of group survival.’
Tomomi Sugimoto, University of Tokyo
‘The experience and debate highlighted the necessity of cooperation between legal and political disciplines to be able to deliver justice on a global scale for universally recognised crimes.’
Utku Dindar, Leiden University
The following thirteen Master and PhD students took part, seven from Leiden University and six from Japan (Tokyo, Keio and Waseda Universities):
- Sophia Boden, Leiden University
- Utku Dindar, Leiden University
- Mizuki Endo, University of Tokyo
- Marie Kobayashi, University of Tokyo
- Joni van Laeken, Leiden University
- Homicidal Mirbagheri, Leiden University
- Mahika Bisht Mohanan, Leiden University
- Arvind Pillai, Leiden University
- Hanjun Song, University of Tokyo
- Tomomi Sugimoto, University of Tokyo
- Rio Tomita, Waseda University
- Maximilian Wachter, Leiden University
- Rina Yasuda, Keio University
