Event information

29 March 2023, 18:30-20:00
Register start 27 February 2023
Register end 28 March 2023

Downloads

Flyer >

Special Tribunal for Aggression: Worth the Risk(s)?

Geneva Academy Talks

An explosion from an air bomb in the center of the city of Kharkov, the metro station Constitution Square, March 2022 An explosion from an air bomb in the center of the city of Kharkov, the metro station Constitution Square, March 2022

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has triggered heated debate on whether the international community should strive for the establishment of a 'Special Tribunal for Aggression'.

Such a tribunal would arguably be needed given the lack of competency of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to adjudicate cases regarding the crime of aggression with regard to the acts currently committed in Ukraine, the obstacles to impose criminal justice for aggression in domestic national jurisdictions due to immunities, and the need to send a powerful deterrent message to prevent the future instances of aggression. However, the idea of such a new tribunal for crimes against peace has also been accompanied by criticism, specifically related to the undesired effects of selectivity of criminal justice and legitimacy of such a tribunal, issues with structural cooperation with the ICC, and difficulties to guarantee the independence of the special tribunal if the evidence for its trials is collected by national (in particular Ukrainian) courts.

This IHL Talk will explore various issues related to the potential establishment of a 'Special Tribunal for Aggression' and will discuss whether such a special tribunal is the best or at least the most appropriate option to make sure that the crime of aggression does not go unpunished.

Panelists will notably address the following points:

  • General suggestions put forward regarding different models of the special tribunal, specifically hybrid and ad hoc models as well as their implications in terms of collaboration with domestic courts and the ICC
  • Question of immunities (different views and arguments regarding personal and functional immunities with regard to the crime of aggression and which of the possible models would be best suited to overcome this procedural limitation)
  • Risks and dangers, selectivity and legitimacy of the 'Special Tribunal for Aggression', in Europe and beyond, including by looking at historical narratives.

Moderation

  • Ana Srovin Coralli, Teaching Assistant, Geneva Academy
  • Francesco Romani, Research Fellow, Geneva Academy

Panelists

  • Nataliia Hendel, Research Fellow, Geneva Academy and Professor of international law, International Humanitarian University in Odesa, Ukraine
  • Patryk Labuda, Research Fellow, University of Zurich
  • Lorenzo Palestini, Lecturer, Geneva Center for International Dispute Settlement

About IHL Talks

The IHL Talks are a series of events, hosted by the Geneva Academy, on international humanitarian law and current humanitarian topics. Academic experts, practitioners, policymakers and journalists discuss burning humanitarian issues and their regulation under international law.

Video

 

Special Tribunal for Aggression: Worth the Risk(s)?

The Russian invasion of Ukraine has triggered heated debate on whether the international community should strive for the establishment of a 'Special Tribunal for Aggression'. Panelists explores various legal issues related to the potential establishment of such a tribunal and discussed whether such a special tribunal is the best or at least the most appropriate option to make sure that the crime of aggression does not go unpunished.

MORE ON THIS THEMATIC AREA

IHL in Focus Spot Report News

Water Wars: How Sudan’s Conflict Weaponizes a Basic Human Need

4 August 2025

Our latest spot report explores how the targeting of water infrastructure is contributing to what is now considered the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, affecting 30 million people.

Read more

Mô Bleeker News

UNSG Special Adviser Mô Bleeker Becomes Senior Fellow at the Geneva Academy

15 April 2025

Mô Bleeker, UNSG Special Adviser on the Responsibility to Protect, shares how her work as Senior Fellow at the Geneva Academy contributes to our shared goals.

Read more

Special Rapporteur Sign Event

Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in an Era of Escalating Armed Conflict: Where Can International Human Rights Law Help?

25 September 2025, 18:30-20:00

This evening dialogue will present the publication: International Human Rights Law: A Treatise, Cambridge University Press (2025).

Read more

A general view of participants during of the 33nd ordinary session of the Human Rights Council. Training

The Universal Periodic Review and the UN Human Rights System: Raising the Bar on Accountability

10-14 November 2025

This training course will explore the origin and evolution of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) and its functioning in Geneva and will focus on the nature of implementation of the UPR recommendations at the national level.

Read more

Town Hall Meeting Training

Localizing International Human Rights

8-10 October 2025

This training course, specifically designed for staff of city and regional governments, will explore the means and mechanisms through which local and regional governments can interact with and integrate the recommendations of international human rights bodies in their concrete work at the local level.

Read more

Iraq, Mosul. View of the west bank after the war. Project

IHL in Focus

Started in January 2024

As a yearly publication, it keeps decision-makers, practitioners and scholars up-to-date with the latest trends and challenges in IHL implementation in over 100 armed conflicts worldwide – both international and non-international.

Read more

Screenshot of the RULAC webpage Project

Rule of Law in Armed Conflicts (RULAC)

Started in May 2007

The Rule of Law in Armed Conflicts project (RULAC) is a unique online portal that identifies and classifies all situations of armed violence that amount to an armed conflict under international humanitarian law (IHL). It is primarily a legal reference source for a broad audience, including non-specialists, interested in issues surrounding the classification of armed conflicts under IHL.

Read more

Cover of the 2023 Geneva Academy Annual Report Publication

Annual Report 2024

published on July 2025

Read more