Hybrid since the covid pandemic, the Inter-University Programme on International Criminal Law and Procedure was launched in 2011 in Lebanon by the STL, the first and only international tribunal with jurisdiction over terrorism, in cooperation with the Asser Institute, an inter-university institute for international and European law in The Hague and eight private and state-run universities in Lebanon. The IUP brought together the project partners and later expanded the programme’s beneficiaries to include junior lawyers at the Beirut and Tripoli Bar Associations as well as officers of the Lebanese Armed Forces, Internal Security Forces and General Security. Over the years, the number of participating universities has grown to eleven. With no specialisation in international criminal law offered at any Lebanese university prior to that time, the IUP has been the first of its kind. It remains unique and unprecedented in the MENA region.
The main objective of the IUP, is to expand the students’ knowledge and understanding of international criminal law and procedure and to inspire them to continue working on international justice matters. The IUP covers many topics, including the history of the law of international tribunals, the sources of international criminal law and procedure, substantive law (genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and terrorism), general principles (modes of liability, rights of the accused, role of victims), jurisdiction, admissibility and complementarity, as well as international criminal proceedings (pre-trial, trial, judgment, appeal and sentencing).
This said, between the 2nd of February and the 1st of June, 2022, 18 online lectures were given. The latter were related to: international criminal law and proceedings, substantive law and general principles. The lecturers were notable legal experts coming from Lebanon, the Arab region and Europe. Afterwards, an exam was made followed by a graduation ceremony and a distribution of certificates of attendance and completion.
