GW Law's National Security, Cybersecurity, & Foreign Relations Law and International and Comparative Law Programs hosted a fireside chat with the U.S. Ambassador for Global Criminal Justice, Beth Van Schaack, the first woman confirmed in this position.
This event, entitled the Biden Administration Approach to International Criminal Justice, offered GW Law students, faculty, and staff a glimpse into Ambassador Van Schaack's responsibilities, U.S. policy toward accountability for atrocities in Ukraine, and international criminal justice initiatives. Laura A. Dickinson, Oswald Symister Colclough Research Professor of Law, moderated the discussion.
Ambassador Van Schaack opened her conversation with a brief description of her role and described her office at the U.S. Department of State as the diplomatic arm supporting efforts to erect global tribunals and coordinate atrocity response and prevention. She noted her office's past and present efforts to support accountability efforts in Ethiopia, the Central African Republic, the Middle East, and Myanmar.
Next, Ambassador Van Schaack discussed U.S. policy toward Ukraine, which she described as encompassing three pillars that aim to strengthen Ukraine's hand on the battlefield, support the humanitarian crisis resulting from the conflict, and to ensure accountability for breaches of international law. Ambassador Van Schaack highlighted the challenge and importance of coordinating with international partners to establish tribunals and explore issues such as head of state immunity. Similarly, she highlighted efforts to draft and ratify a treaty prohibiting crimes against humanity.
Finally, Ambassador Van Schaack fielded student questions related to human rights concerns such as China's persecution of Uyghurs and ecocide. Ambassador Van Schaack emphasized that we are facing an "all hands on deck" moment—not just with Ukraine but with the state of the planet and stressed that there are numerous places for emerging lawyers to plug in and contribute to international criminal justice, human rights, and international law.
View Event Recording