From Nuremberg to The Hague

In collaboration with EuroClio, Barry van Driel and a team of experts present a four-day youth workshop and seminar in the fascinating and picturesque Dutch political capital and City of International Peace, The Hague. This unique workshop culminates with a visit to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and attendance at a current criminal trial.

Though one of the key messages from the Holocaust was ‘Never again Auschwitz’, genocide and crimes against humanity continue to plague our planet. From Nuremberg to The Hague challenges young people to take a critical look at how historically our world dealt with issues relating to justice, injustice, human rights and genocide in the past, as well as how the world deals with these vital issues now.

The program concentrates on developments in international law, with regard to genocide and crimes against humanity, both directly after the Second World War as well as into the 21st century. It includes not only an in depth study of The Nuremberg Trials and the war in Bosnia but also introduces the new field of environmental crimes against humanity.

The workshop is run through seminars, discussion, group work and presentations. The participants in the program will have the invaluable experience to meet and discuss with eyewitnesses and victims who have had experience with these crimes first-hand.

In addition, the students will do an MUN style simulation of the UN Security Council where, representing council member countries, they will debate if in fact the actions of an actual accused individual merit referral to the ICC. Here, the issues are brought to life as the students use all the theory they have learned from the preceding days in an authentic and vital setting.

The last workshop day is spent on a visit to the Tribunal in The Hague. After an ICC-led orientation session followed by a Q&A, the group will attend the actual trial for which they have been preparing during the program. The debriefing session which follows is designed to encourage students to revisit the assumptions and understandings with which they had started the workshop. We hope they will then leave the whole workshop experience with a better grasp on these complex issues.

Barry van Driel – Barry van Driel is President of the International Association of Intercultural Education (IAIE) and the Senior Editor in Chief of Intercultural Education. He has extensive experience as a consultant in the field of intercultural and inclusive education, and has been involved in various working groups in Europe on education policies, as well as in international projects on curriculum development and teacher training.

Shirleen Chin – Shirleen Chin is an international consultant in the field of environmental law, international criminal law, anti-corruption and corporate governance, and is the founder of Green Transparency, where she supports her clients within these fields. Shirleen has also been involved in educational projects, in which she focused on teaching practices.

Maja Nenadovic – Maja Nenadovic is an international consultant and educator focusing on intercultural dialogue. She is also a Board Member of the International Association of Intercultural Education and is one of the initiators of the Model International Criminal Court in the Western Balkans.

Carolyn McNanie – Carolyn McNanie is an International Baccalaureate Examiner in History and most recently was an IB History teacher at the Rotterdam International Secondary School. She is experienced in Model United Nations school projects and running conferences.

The seminar is intended for higher secondary school and university students at least 16 years of age – which is required to attend the program at the ICC. All participants must have a good knowledge of English. The number of participants is limited due to court restrictions. School and university groups are welcome, but if you want to participate on an individual basis, please introduce yourself through a letter of motivation sent to barry@iaie.org

The first day of the seminar starts on Sunday or Monday, and participants are expected to attend all four days. Study materials will include a guide to MUN simulations, doing MUN research and a brief background to the debate in question. It will be the participants’ job to research their “country’s” standpoint prior to the workshop.

Schools and university groups of 10 – 15 participants are welcome to apply. The exact dates of the seminar will be confirmed in agreement with the participants. In case of additional individual applications, dates will be confirmed in agreement with all participants.