Panel Discussion: Ensuring accountability for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine
- Date
- Tuesday 16 June 2026
- Time
- Address
- Wijnhaven
Turfmarkt 99
2511 DP Den Haag - Room
- Auditorium 2.01
Description
The Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine (STCA) is a groundbreaking legal mechanism that will investigate, prosecute and try individuals who bear the greatest responsibility for the crime of aggression against Ukraine. The STCA is created within the framework of the Council of Europe and is complementary to the International Criminal Court which does not have jurisdiction over the crime of aggression in the situation in Ukraine.
As of 15 May 2026, 36 states and the European Union have expressed their intention to participate in the financing, administration and management of the STCA, through agreement with the Council of Europe. Initial work towards the establishment of the STCA began earlier this year, hosted by the Netherlands, with an Advance Team laying the groundwork for the ‘Skeleton Tribunal’, to be followed in due course by the full Operational Tribunal.
With reflections from eminent experts in international criminal law and key actors in the diplomatic process, this side event will take stock of the progress towards the establishment of the STCA, examine legal, practical and political issues involved in setting up the tribunal, and discuss the relevance of these developments in the context of broader efforts to ensure accountability for the crime of aggression.
Confirmed speakers:
- Judge Ekaterina Trendafilova, President, Kosovo Specialist Chambers
- HE Andriy Kostin, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Permanent Representative of Ukraine to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons
- Mr Arjen Uijterlinde, Special Envoy for the Special Tribunal, the Kingdom of the Netherlands
- Dr Mark Ellis, Executive Director, International Bar Association
The event will be moderated by: Ms Kate Orlovsky, Director, IBA ICC & ICL Programme
The discussion will be held in English and will be open to participants and judges of the 2026 IBA ICC Moot Court Competition, as well as open to the public. The IBA ICC Moot Court Competition is a high-level educational program bringing together students of different backgrounds and cultures to simulate the judicial proceedings of the ICC. The 2026 edition of the competition will be held in The Hague from 12 to 19 June.
IBA International Criminal Court Moot Court Competition
This panel discussion is organised by the International Bar Association. It takes place within the scope of the 2026 IBA International Criminal Court Moot Court Competition, organised by the Grotius Centre, as one of its academic side-events.
The Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies (Leiden University) is the host and organiser of the Competition since 2014. The IBA has been the Competition's sponsor since 2017, and name partner since 2020.