On March 25, 2022, in connection with the conflict in Ukraine, PJI was invited to speak in a workshop held for European prosecutors and law enforcement entitled “Introduction to Investigating and Prosecuting Core International Crimes.”

The workshop was hosted by Eurojust and the Genocide Network Secretariat. Eurojust is the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation, and it works with EU member states and international partners to combat serious cross-border crimes. The Genocide Network works to ensure that the perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide do not find impunity within its member states by supporting national investigations and prosecutions. These two organizations invited PJI to participate in the workshop.

The workshop was intended to provide European prosecutors and law enforcement officials with answers to their foundational questions about investigating and prosecuting international crimes within the context of the Russia-Ukraine War. The workshop was requested by members of the Eurojust Genocide Network as many of the member states are currently hosting Ukrainian refugees and anticipate having jurisdiction over some  international crimes committed in Ukraine.

PJI’s Director, Maxine Marcus, was one of three presenters at the workshop. Ms. Marcus spoke about investigation and case building to over 140 legal professionals. During her presentation, Ms. Marcus discussed the structure of international crimes cases. She gave recommendations for where to start on structural investigations of these crimes and explained how international crimes cases differ from ordinary domestic crimes cases. Ms. Marcus also spoke about the need for interviewers of grave crime victims to be trained in trauma sensitivity and for there to be referral pathways to services such as medical care and psychosocial support. In addition to Ms. Marcus’s presentation, there were two other presentations: one on war crimes and crimes against humanity and one on the gathering of evidence for international crimes cases.

Speakers:

  • Rod Rastan Legal Adviser at the Office of the Prosecutor, International Criminal Court
  • Anne van Dooren, Public Prosecutor International Crimes at the National Public Prosecutor’s Office, The Netherlands.