ICLN - International Criminal Law Network

Welcome to the website of the International Criminal Law Network!

For the advancement of international criminal law, professional and social interaction on a worldwide level between academics, policymakers and legal professionals is essential. For this reason the International Criminal Law Network (ICLN) was founded in 2002 by Science Alliance with the support of the Dutch Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs and the Municipality of The Hague. ICLN has the mission to organise professional and social interaction on a worldwide level between academics, policymakers and legal professionals in the area of international criminal law. In order to realise this goal, ICLN organises successful activities on a wide scale, such as an Annual Conference, several lectures per year, the ICC Trial Competition and regional training workshops. Thousands of people from all over the world have visited the events of ICLN. Please take a look at our website to learn more about our activities and future events.  

Dorien Patberg

Manager ICLN

On 7th April ICLN will host its Annual Spring Lecture. ICLN is very proud to announce that the lecture will be presented by the Vice-President  of Eurojust and Chair of Counter-Terrorism Team of Eurojust, Ms Coninsx. 

The topic will be 'The future of the European judicial co-operation in the light of the Stockholm Programme and the Lisbon Treaty'.

The lecture will be held at the lawfirm Buren van Velzen Guelen, located in The Hague.

Time will be announced soon.

 15-19 February 2010 - The Hague, World Forum

From  15-19 February 2010 the 3rd Edition of the International Criminal Court Trial Competition took place in the World Forum, The Hague. Over eightteen teams from universities all over the world came together to present their case as prosecutor, defence or victim's counsel in an ICC court setting. Their performances were judged by judges from the ICC, ICTY as well as professionals and academics active in the field of international criminal law.

For an overview of the winners and additional information, please check www.icc-trialcompetition.org or email us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Information about the ICC Trial Competition 2011 will be announced shortly.

Annual Conference 2009

The ICLN Annual Conference took place on December 10^th in the World Forum Convention Centre in The Hague. This year’s topic was New International Instruments in Fighting Piracy: Legal, Military and Policy Perspectives. The conference gathered about 130 participants. New solutions to the global problem of piracy were discussed by 18 different speakers, all experts on this topic. Multidisciplinary solutions from a legal, military and policy point of view were sought. The diversion of speakers allowed for a thorough understanding of the problems and challenges, not only from legal, academic and policy perspectives, but also from the perspective of the shipping industry, the military and (regional) organizations.
The Meeting was very well received and many people expressed interest in attending a follow-up course.
Participants are invited to log in to our website for an impression of the day and an overview of all the presentations.

10 December 2009 - The Hague, World Forum

“New International Instruments in Fighting Piracy: Legal, Military and Policy Perspectives’

This is a discourse focusing on establishing durable and effective solutions to the problem of piracy. In order to obtain this objective, the conference will address issues such as the root causes of piracy in order to find long-lasting solutions, the improvement of security for shipping personnel, the difficulties in handling piracy from a national standpoint, the possibilities and limits of military initiatives and the negative effects of piracy on international trade and insurance services. Altogether, the broader message of the conference is that piracy affects a wide range of parties and that therefore a multidisciplinary approach is necessary.

Click here to view the Program Brochure.

In cooperation with:

 Supported by:

25 November 2009

18:00h-20:00h

Wladimiroff and Waling law firm, Sophialaan 9, The Hague

"The presumption of innocence and its best friends"

What it means and where it takes us. Is the presumption at risk of being left behind in a rush to do things faster? The reality of cases and processes in international criminal law that test the underlying philosophy, and the associated rights and obligations and other best friends and make up the jigsaw of the fair trial process. On this topic, we will be honoured to hear the comments of:

Judge of the ICTY since 31 August 2009

Member of the Commonwealth Magistrates and Judges Association and the British Institute for International and  Comperative law