International law under strain, but new generation offers hope
In the media image: Tony Webster on Wikimedia Commons
The ICC faces mounting pressure, underscoring the importance of international law. In an interview on ‘Sleutelstad Radio’, Larissa van den Herik sees reason for optimism as her students are determined to understand how the law remains resilient in a changing world.
Van den Herik, Professor of International Law, says the current situation at the International Criminal Court (ICC) is unprecedented. The United States has imposed sanctions on individuals associated with the Court and has threatened to dismantle the institution. Although the United States is not a member of the ICC, it has at times supported the Court in the past. The current pressure on the Court nevertheless raises questions about its future. ‘International criminal law, the law of armed conflict, and human rights are the areas of international law that are under particular pressure in these turbulent times,’ says the professor.
‘We all feel this tension,’ she adds. At the same time, she stresses the importance of international agreements – especially now – and of ensuring that the ICC continues its work. The Court builds on the international jurisprudence that took shape in the aftermath of the Second World War and the Nuremberg trials. It took a long time to establish, so it is vital today that it is protected.
In her lectures, the professor discusses current conflicts in the world and related legal questions. Subjects dealt with range from sanctions against the ICC to the war in Ukraine and the circumstances in which a state may invoke self-defence, when such a claim exceeds the limits of international law, or when it does not apply at all. The content of her lectures is adapted every academic year to keep pace with rapidly unfolding global developments.
She also stresses the importance of conversations between students from different international and cultural backgrounds. ‘When states drift apart and talk to one another less, it’s all the more important that people do continue those conversations,’ she says. The professor recently told a group of young people that every individual has a responsibility to contribute to society. She remains optimistic as she feels the commitment and engagement of this generation: ‘Hope means continuing to build bridges across borders.’
More information?
Listen to the Kennismakers broadcast on Sleutelstad Radio (in Dutch)