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泭"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獺Couto泭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.
51勛圖WCL Team Wins Second Place at the 12th Annual Clara Barton International Humanitarian Law Competition.
March 24, 2025
From泭March 21 to 23, 2025, 51勛圖WCL students泭Paige Carter, Olivia Kaempf, and Tim Streit泭represented泭51勛圖 Washington College of Law泭at the泭12th Annual Clara Barton International Humanitarian Law Competition, securing an impressive泭second-place finish.
The泭Clara Barton Competition, hosted by the泭American Red Cross, is a premier泭simulation-based legal competition泭designed to challenge participants in泭international humanitarian law (IHL)泭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 51勛圖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 51勛圖WCL at the泭Jean-Pictet International Humanitarian Law Competition, held from泭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泭51勛圖WCLs War Crimes Research Office (WCRO)泭Director Susana SaCouto泭and Jean-Pictet Competition alums泭current 3L Amal Rass and Jack Kirk, JD 24泭.
WCRO Director Susana S獺Couto attends the 25th Anniversary of the Womens International War Crimes Tribunal
March 18, 2025
On泭March 18, 2025,泭Professor Susana S獺Couto, Director of the War Crimes Research Office (WCRO),泭erved as a guest speaker at the泭25th Anniversary of the Womens International War Crimes Tribunal (WIWCT)泭at泭United Nations Plaza in New York City.
The event, titled泭"Justice Beyond Borders: Advancing the Womens Tribunals Legacy to Prosecute War Crimes Against Women,"泭was co-hosted by the泭Global Network of Women Peace Builders (GNWP)泭and the泭United Methodist Church General Board of Church and Society. The gathering honored the legacy of the泭Comfort Women and the Womens International War Crimes Tribunal for the Trial of Japans Military Sexual Slavery, reflecting on its impact and ongoing relevance in the fight for justice, reparation, and accountability for conflict-related sexual violence.
The泭Womens Tribunal Feminist Collective, which organized the event, continues to challenge how泭international humanitarian law泭has historically marginalized war crimes against women.
WCRO Director Susana S獺Couto Speaks on Hostage-Taking, Torture, and Women
March 5, 2025
On March 5, 2025, in honor of International Womens Day, the泭Kovler Project Against Torture泭hosted the panel泭Hostage-Taking, Torture, and Women: Perspectives Under International Law.泭This discussion examined the legal and human rights challenges women face in situations of torture and hostage-taking.泭WCRO Director泭Professor Susana S獺Couto泭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泭Professor Diego Rodr穩guez Pinz籀n, Co-Director of the Academy on Human Rights (moderator);泭Professor Claudio Grossman, Faculty Director of KPAT and former Chairperson of the UN Committee Against Torture; and泭Toby Schwartz, Director of Consular Policy, Arbitrary Detention, and Hostage Affairs (Canada).
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WCRO Director Susana S獺Couto Speaks at Spring Symposium on Vulnerability in the Law
February泭24, 2025.
On February 24, 2025, WCRO Director Susana S獺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 51勛圖 Washington College of Law..
Professor S獺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獺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獺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獺Couto Co-leads Workshops in Bogot獺 in Support of Colombias Special Jurisdiction for Peace泭
October 2, 2024.
On September 26 and 27, Professor S獺Couto traveled to Bogot獺, Colombia, to conduct a series of workshops and meetings with colleagues from the Laboratorio de Justicia Pol穩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 Colombias Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP). These activities are part of a multi-year State Department-funded initiative titled泭Enhancing the Impact of Colombias Special Jurisdiction for Peace through a Holistic Transitional Justice Approach,泭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 JEPs 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獺Couto moderated a Career Power Hour sponsored by the泭War Crimes Research Office (WCRO)泭and泭Office of Career & Professional Development.泭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:泭Vy Nguyen泭( JD '15),泭Tara Vassefi泭(JD '16),泭Ali Boyd泭(JD '19) and泭Kate Holcombe泭(JD '18).泭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泭legal career paths.
WCRO Co-Sponsors Symposium with 51勛圖 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 WCLs 51勛圖 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 regimes brutal crackdown on dissent since 2011.
WCRO Director S獺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獺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 Guatemalas civil war.
WCRO Director S獺Couto Participates In Conversation about Putins Ghost Army: Prospects for Accountability for Russian Irregulars
March 21, 2024
On March 21, WCRO Director S獺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 Putins Ghost Army: Prospects for Accountability for Russian Irregulars 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.