Summer Law Program in The Hague
on International Criminal Law and Legal Approaches to Terrorism
Please click "Learn More" below to find out how to enroll in this year's program.
WCRO Co-hosts Critical Discussion on Addressing Mass Atrocities in Sudan
April 07, 2025
On April 7, 2025, the War Crimes Research Office (WCRO) co-hosted a panel discussion entitled听"Mass Atrocities in Sudan: How to Give Effect to the U.S. Determination of Genocide and End the Conflict?" with Au WCL's Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law. The event brought together leading voices in international law and human rights to examine the implications of the United States' genocide determination in Sudan and explore concrete strategies to end ongoing atrocities and promote accountability.
The panel was co-moderated by WCRO Director Susana S谩Couto听and David Donat-Cattin, Adjunct Associate Professor of International Law and of Climate Change and Human Rights at New York University (NYU) Center for Global Affairs. Together, they guided a rich and thought-provoking discussion that addressed both the legal and policy dimensions of responding to mass atrocities. Panelists provided in-depth analyses of the current crisis in Sudan, offering critical insight into the responsibilities of the international community and the mechanisms available to hold perpetrators accountable.
Additional co-sponsors included the NYU SPS Center for Global Affairs, The Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights, and the American Society of International Law, reflecting a strong spirit of collaboration among institutions committed to addressing atrocity crimes and advancing human rights globally.
小蓝视频WCL Team Wins Second Place at the 12th Annual Clara Barton International Humanitarian Law Competition.
March 24, 2025
From听March 21 to 23, 2025, 小蓝视频WCL students听Paige Carter, Olivia Kaempf, and Tim Streit听represented听小蓝视频 Washington College of Law听at the听12th Annual Clara Barton International Humanitarian Law Competition, securing an impressive听second-place finish.
The听Clara Barton Competition, hosted by the听American Red Cross, is a premier听simulation-based legal competition听designed to challenge participants in听international humanitarian law (IHL)听through immersive role-playing exercises. Competitors navigate legal, policy, and humanitarian challenges arising in armed conflict and crisis situations, testing their ability to apply IHL to real-world scenarios.
The 小蓝视频WCL team demonstrated outstanding advocacy and legal expertise, earning the following prestigious awards:
- Competition Awards
- Individual
- Best Oral Advocate: Olivia Kaempf
- Team
- Second Place Winner
- Individual
- Honorable Mentions
- Best Application Brief
Prior to competing at Clara Barton, the team also represented 小蓝视频WCL at the听Jean-Pictet International Humanitarian Law Competition, held from听February 22 to March 1, 2025, in Indonesia. The Jean-Pictet Competition is a globally recognized event that immerses participants in real-world applications of IHL through intensive role-playing exercises.
The team was selected and coached by听小蓝视频WCL鈥檚 War Crimes Research Office (WCRO)听Director Susana SaCouto听and Jean-Pictet Competition alums听current 3L Amal Rass and Jack Kirk, JD 鈥24听.
WCRO Director Susana S谩Couto attends the 25th Anniversary of the Women鈥檚 International War Crimes Tribunal
March 18, 2025
On听March 18, 2025,听Professor Susana S谩Couto, Director of the War Crimes Research Office (WCRO),听erved as a guest speaker at the听25th Anniversary of the Women鈥檚 International War Crimes Tribunal (WIWCT)听at听United Nations Plaza in New York City.
The event, titled听"Justice Beyond Borders: Advancing the Women鈥檚 Tribunal鈥檚 Legacy to Prosecute War Crimes Against Women,"听was co-hosted by the听Global Network of Women Peace Builders (GNWP)听and the听United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society. The gathering honored the legacy of the听Comfort Women and the Women鈥檚 International War Crimes Tribunal for the Trial of Japan鈥檚 Military Sexual Slavery, reflecting on its impact and ongoing relevance in the fight for justice, reparation, and accountability for conflict-related sexual violence.
The听Women鈥檚 Tribunal Feminist Collective, which organized the event, continues to challenge how听international humanitarian law听has historically marginalized war crimes against women.
WCRO Director Susana S谩Couto Speaks on Hostage-Taking, Torture, and Women
March 5, 2025
On March 5, 2025, in honor of International Women鈥檚 Day, the听Kovler Project Against Torture听hosted the panel听鈥淗ostage-Taking, Torture, and Women: Perspectives Under International Law.鈥听This discussion examined the legal and human rights challenges women face in situations of torture and hostage-taking.听WCRO Director听Professor Susana S谩Couto听joined the panel to share insights on advances and challenges in the investigation and prosecution of Sexual and Gender Based Violence in the context of abductions and hostage taking. The panel also featured听Professor Diego Rodr铆guez Pinz贸n, Co-Director of the Academy on Human Rights (moderator);听Professor Claudio Grossman, Faculty Director of KPAT and former Chairperson of the UN Committee Against Torture; and听Toby Schwartz, Director of Consular Policy, Arbitrary Detention, and Hostage Affairs (Canada).
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WCRO Director Susana S谩Couto Speaks at Spring Symposium on Vulnerability in the Law
February听24, 2025.
On February 24, 2025, WCRO Director Susana S谩Couto served as a panelist at the Human Rights Brief Spring Symposium on Vulnerability in the Law, hosted by the Center for Human Rights & Humanitarian Law at 小蓝视频 Washington College of Law..
Professor S谩Couto spoke on the panel "Prosecuting Gender-Based Crimes as International Crimes: Challenges and Opportunities," alongside Lindsay Freeman, Director of Technology, Law & Policy at the Human Rights Center, UC Berkeley School of Law, with moderation by WCL JD student, Amal Rass. The discussion focused on the advances and continuing challenges in the investigation and prosecution of gender-based crimes as international crimes, including the growing role of digital evidence in these cases.
WCRO Director Susana S谩Couto Speaks at NYSBA Presidential Summit on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence
January 15, 2025.
On January 15, 2025, at the Annual New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) Meeting, War Crimes Research Office (WCRO) Director Susana S谩Couto joined panelists Abid Shamdeen and Dr. Cochav Elkayam Levy at the Presidential Summit to address the critical issue of conflict-related sexual violence.
The panel provided key insights into the legal and human impact of these atrocities, the challenges of prosecution, and the essential role of attorneys in seeking justice for survivors. Their discussion emphasized the ongoing need for accountability and stronger support mechanisms for those affected by these crimes.
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WCRO 2024 Annual Newsletter
December 17, 2024.
Read more about the WCRO's accomplishments this year.
WCRO Director Susana S谩Couto Co-leads Workshops in Bogot谩 in Support of Colombia鈥檚 Special Jurisdiction for Peace听
October 2, 2024.
On September 26 and 27, Professor S谩Couto traveled to Bogot谩, Colombia, to conduct a series of workshops and meetings with colleagues from the Laboratorio de Justicia Pol铆tica y Criminal (a Colombia-based non-profit organization with expertise providing technical assistance to transitional and criminal justice mechanisms, and law enforcement agencies) for magistrates and staff of Colombia鈥檚 Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP). These activities are part of a multi-year State Department-funded initiative titled听鈥淓nhancing the Impact of Colombia鈥檚 Special Jurisdiction for Peace through a Holistic Transitional Justice Approach,鈥听which was recently extended for an additional two years. The project has four key objectives: 1) strengthening the capacity of the JEP to redress atrocity crimes committed during the Colombian conflict, in particular, by those who facilitated, ordered or failed to prevent or punish those crimes; 2) ensuring the JEP鈥檚 cases reflect a gender perspective and intersectional approach; 3) enhancing victim participation in JEP processes; and 4) bolstering current efforts to ensure that victims have access to competent and independent legal representation.
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Career Power Hour
September 12, 2024.
On September 12, WCRO Director S谩Couto moderated a Career Power Hour sponsored by the听War Crimes Research Office (WCRO)听and听Office of Career & Professional Development.听The session featured WCRO alumni council members sharing their career journeys, valuable advice, and tips on navigating the human rights, international humanitarian law and international criminal law field. This amazing panelists include:听Vy Nguyen听( JD '15),听Tara Vassefi听(JD '16),听Ali Boyd听(JD '19) and听Kate Holcombe听(JD '18).听The event offered a fantastic opportunity for students to engage in 1-on-1 conversations with these esteemed professionals, learning firsthand about "a day in the life" in HR/IHL/ICL听legal career paths.
WCRO Co-Sponsors Symposium with 小蓝视频 International Law Review Titled: "The Longest Arm: Universal Jurisdiction and War Crimes Prosecution"
April 5, 2024
On Friday, April 5th, the WCRO co-sponsored the full-day symposium, The Longest Arm: Universal Jurisdiction and War Crimes Prosecution with WCL鈥檚 小蓝视频 International Law Review. The event brought together practitioners, students, and scholars to explore the use of universal jurisdiction (UJ) to address atrocity crimes. WCRO Assistant Director Natalie Coburn welcomed attendees on behalf of the Office and introduced a panel addressing the factors that trigger the use of UJ. The day closed with a discussion on UJ trends and applicability to the war in Ukraine as well as to the Syrian regime鈥檚 brutal crackdown on dissent since 2011.
WCRO Director S谩Couto Chairs a Session at the International Conference of Prosecutors on Accountability for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence
March 27, 2024
On March 27, WCRO Director S谩Couto chaired a session at the 3-day International Conference of Prosecutors on Accountability for Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, organized by the UN Team of Experts on Rule of Law/Sexual Violence in Conflict and co-sponsored by the governments of The Netherlands, United Kingdom and France, held at the Peace Palace in The Hague. The session featured a discussion with two Guatemalan prosecutors who played a critical role in the landmark Sepur Zarco case, which provided redress for indigenous victims of sexual violence and sexual slavery that occurred during Guatemala鈥檚 civil war.
WCRO Director S谩Couto Participates In Conversation about 鈥淧utin鈥檚 Ghost Army: Prospects for Accountability for Russian Irregulars鈥
March 21, 2024
On March 21, WCRO Director S谩Couto joined Beth VanSchaack, State Department Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice, and Candace Rondeaux, Senior Director of the Future Frontlines program at New America, for a conversation about 鈥淧utin鈥檚 Ghost Army: Prospects for Accountability for Russian Irregulars鈥 at an in-person luncheon co hosted by New America, the McCain Institute and the War Crimes Research Office and moderated by Paul Fagan, Director of Democracy Programs at the McCain Institute.