UNICRIHQ 7d ago

The side event “Higher Education for Peace and Justice: Building Young Generations’ Competencies to Prevent Atrocity Crimes and Advance Accountability” was held on the margins of the 35th session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ), bringing together representatives of Member States, United Nations entities, academic institutions, international organizations, practitioners and students. Organized by UNICRI, the University for Peace (UPEACE), and the International Nuremberg Principles Academy, the event explored the role of higher education and international cooperation in strengthening capacities to prevent atrocity crimes, promote accountability and advance international criminal justice. Opening remarks were delivered by Giuseppina Maddaluno, Programme Management Officer and Co-coordinator of the UNICRI-UPEACE LL.M. A high-level statement was provided by H.E. Olga Marta Sauma Uribe, Ambassador of Costa Rica and Permanent Representative to the International Organizations in Vienna. Moderated by Professor Olympia Bekou, Head of the School of Law and Professor of Public International Law at the University of Nottingham, the panel discussion featured Dr Juan Carlos Sainz-Borgo, Vice-Rector of UPEACE, Leif Villadsen, Acting Director of UNICRI, and Kiran Mohandas Menon, Senior Officer at the International Nuremberg Principles Academy. The programme also included a video interview with Nazhat Khan, Deputy Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), and a testimonial from Marcelo Martoy Pitetta, graduate of the UNICRI-UPEACE LL.M. programme. Discussions highlighted the contribution of specialized higher education, international partnerships and practice-oriented learning to strengthening justice institutions, promoting accountability, and equipping future generations with the knowledge and skills needed to advance peace, justice and the rule of law.