President Gatti Santana launches sixth cycle of Mechanism’s Inter-University Video Lecture Programme

Today, Judge Graciela Gatti Santana, President of the International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (Mechanism), was pleased to inaugurate the sixth cycle of the Mechanism’s Inter-University Video Lecture Programme (Programme). The President delivered an opening lecture to over 100 postgraduate students from 14 law faculties and one political science faculty from across the former Yugoslavia. Her remarks were centred on the creation and jurisdiction of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

Welcoming the students and professors, President Gatti Santana underscored the significance of building a regional network of students to actively reflect on, discuss and engage with the legacy of the ICTY. She observed that fostering such exchanges is particularly valuable in a context of increasing genocide denial, historical revisionism, glorification of war criminals and other obstacles to accountability efforts for international crimes. During the course of her lecture, President Gatti Santana provided an overview of the ICTY’s historical and political background, as well as its mandate and jurisdiction. The President also highlighted the importance of educating students and young professionals on the jurisprudence of the ICTY, and inspiring them to leverage its pioneering work in their respective jurisdictions or at the international level.

The Programme, titled “International Law and Facts Established before the ICTY,” offers a series of video lectures over several months, featuring various speakers from the Mechanism, along with former ICTY staff and other experts. It explores the recent history of the region, the ICTY’s role and contributions, and principles of international criminal law and international humanitarian law.

This year’s edition of the Programme will include participation from the following universities and faculties from the region of the former Yugoslavia: the Union University in Belgrade, the University of Donja Gorica, the University of Niš, the Haxhi Zeka University of Peja, the University of Podgorica, the University of Pristina, the University of Rijeka, the University of Sarajevo (Faculty of Law and Faculty of Political Sciences), Ss. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje, the University of Split, the University of Tuzla, the University of Vitez, the University of Zagreb, and the University of Zenica.

The Programme forms part of the wider Mechanism Information Programme for Affected Communities (MIP). Together with the participating universities, since 2019 the MIP has created a regional network of law and related faculties – the first of its kind – where students from different countries can learn about, and discuss, the work of the ICTY and its legacy. The video lecture series not only enhances the students’ knowledge and understanding of international criminal law and international humanitarian law, but also serves as a platform for genuine dialogue between students from the region of the former Yugoslavia.

Launched in January 2019, the MIP aims to increase awareness and knowledge among affected communities about the 1990s conflicts in the former Yugoslavia, based on ICTY and Mechanism cases.

The MIP is funded by the European Union.