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Evening ceremony as part of the 15th Marburg Lecture on International Criminal Law

The 21st Annual Celebration of the Research and Documentation Centre on War Crimes Trials (ICWC) took place on December 12, 2024, in the historic Aula of the Old University. Traditionally, the 15th Marburg Lecture on International Criminal Law formed the centerpiece of the event. This year, we welcomed Prof. Dr. Sarah Nouwen from the European University Institute in Florence as the keynote speaker, who gave a lecture on “The Question of the Political and the Political Question in International Criminal Law.” A special feature of this year was that the annual celebration took place in parallel with the  open-topic conference “The Diversity of Law” of the Law Sociology Section in cooperation with the ICWC, held in Marburg from December 12 to 13.

Dr. Florian Krüpe, Studiendekan des Fachbereiches Geschichte und Kulturwissenschaften, mit Grußworten an das ICWC.

The annual celebration was opened by the Executive Director, Prof. Dr. Stefanie Bock. This was followed by addresses from the President of Philipps University Marburg, Prof. Dr. Thomas Nauss, and the Dean of Studies of the Faculty of History and Cultural Studies, Dr. Florian Krüpe, who both spoke to the audience.

The Question of the Political and the Political Question in International Criminal Law 
The 15th Marburg Lecture on International Criminal Law marked the highlight of the evening. Prof. Dr. Sarah Nouwen focused on the close connection between law and politics, particularly examining the extent to which international criminal courts can or should resolve political questions. She argued that law and politics are not opposites but operate intertwined. International criminal justice is also viewed as a political instrument. The Rome Statute, which established the International Criminal Court (ICC), is both legal and political, as it is based on a political consensus. The ICC has the capacity to politicize conflicts by labeling opponents as “enemies of humanity,” thereby potentially fostering political power struggles. However, Prof. Nouwen also emphasized that international criminal courts cannot provide comprehensive answers to the complex political, social, and economic dimensions of conflicts. Many of these challenges require political solutions that go beyond the capabilities of judicial institutions. This “judicialization” of politics carries risks, as legal proceedings cannot encompass the full range of political options. While courts can clarify legal aspects, political and social conflicts often remain unresolved.

Prof'in Dr'in Sarah Nouween hielt den diesjährigen Festvortrag anlässlich der 15. Marburger Vorlesung zum Völkerstrafrecht

The lecture emphasized that legal responses can provide valuable guidance, but politics requires space for negotiation and other forms of problem-solving. International institutions such as the ICC should recognize their limits and not fully dominate the political sphere. Using case studies such as the trial of Dominic Ongwen in Uganda, the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia, and the situation in South Sudan, Prof. Nouwen illustrated that court proceedings often fail to take important social and historical contexts into account. This highlights the need for a broader conception of justice that goes beyond purely legal decisions. The lecture concluded with the insight that international criminal law is inevitably political but cannot resolve all political questions. It is crucial to maintain a balanced relationship between legal and political accountability to address the multiple dimensions of global conflicts.

ICWC Annual Report 2024

Following the keynote lecture, our Managing Director, Dr. Henning de Vries, presented the ICWC Annual Report for 2024. The ICWC looks back on a successful and highly productive year: Henning de Vries reported on our workshop “Clash of Normativities,” the Book Talks, monthly colloquia, and the lecture series “Limits and Transgressions of Military Violence,” the conference “The Diversity of Law” in cooperation with the Law Sociology Section, as well as the implementation of the new study and examination regulations for the M.A. International Criminal Justice, which now integrate training for trial monitors and feature internationalization through excursions and summer schools. Henning de Vries also highlighted the successful trial monitoring of the proceedings against Reichsbürger defendants at the OLG Frankfurt, for which he, together with Prof. Bock, received the 2024 Lehre@Philipp teaching award from Philipps University Marburg. The successful launch of our podcast “WeltRechtlich” was also mentioned, along with numerous other highlights of the year—including our relocation, participation in the International Criminal Law working group, the awarding of the Women’s Promotion Prize, among others to Prof. Bock, and events initiated by the ICWC Trial Monitoring Program. Dr. de Vries concluded his report with a look ahead to 2025, in which several events are planned to mark the 80th anniversary of the year 1945.

Ceremonial Presentation of Certificates and Diplomas

Die Monitors erhalten ihre Zertifikate, welche die Ausbildung zu Prozessbeobachter*innen abschließen.

Ceremonial Presentation of Certificates and Diplomas Another highlight was the awarding of diplomas to this year’s graduates of the ICWC’s own  Master’s program “International Criminal Justice” by Prof. Dr. Stefanie Bock and Prof. Dr. Eckart Conze, Co-Director of the ICWC. We warmly congratulate the students on successfully completing their studies. Following this, the certificates for the successful completion of the Trial Monitoring Program were also presented to the happy certificate holders. At the subsequent standing reception in the cloister of the Old University, the guests took the opportunity to reflect on what they had heard and to exchange ideas. A pleasant conclusion to a special and successful year!