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MICC 2018

This year as well, four participants from the ICWC Trial Monitoring program had the opportunity to demonstrate their skills at the Model International Criminal Court in Kreisau.

The Moot Court took place from April 3 to 8 in Krzyżowa (Kreisau), Poland, where it is held annually by the Kreisau Initiative. The concept combines a Moot Court modeled after the ICC with a Summer School on International Criminal Law. We are pleased that this year the Trial Monitoring members Judith Butzer, Sophie Früchtenicht, Lena Harris-Pomeroy, and Meraya De Silva were able to participate in the MICC!

Here, Sophie Früchtenicht shares her impressions:

In the last week before the start of the semester, our Trial-Monitoring group had the opportunity to participate in the Model International Criminal Court in Kreisau. This is not a traditional moot court; instead of competing in country-based teams, we worked in international teams taking on the roles of the prosecution, defense, the bench, and the accompanying press. The negotiations revolved around three fictional cases in international criminal law, addressing contemporary issues related to crimes against humanity and war crimes. The historical site of Kreisau, in present-day Krzyżowa, Poland, served as the backdrop for the proceedings and interactions. During a guided tour, we explored the estate’s history and its many connections to historical events, including the exhibition on the Kreisau Circle. In this atmosphere, it was particularly exciting to engage with students from Poland, Belarus, India, Syria, Israel, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Ukraine on topics such as crimes against humanity, their historical and legal assessment, and current political developments. The Summer School was accompanied by trainers and specialists in international criminal law and human rights, who supported us in preparing for the negotiations. Many participants will likely also remember the evening focused on journalism during the Yugoslav Wars. We are grateful for the experiences and encounters we were able to have!

Further information about the MICC can be found on its website.

The journalistic output of the Summer School, the “Krzyżowa Observer,” can be accessed here.