Behind the scenes at the ICC with Hannah Steventon, Johan Steyn Scholar

In September 2023 I received the Johan Steyn Scholarship to facilitate a six month placement as a Visiting Professional at the International Criminal Court. I was based in the trial division of Chambers working on the Case Law Database and within the Reparations team.

I began my time at court by assisting in the Case Law Database (‘CLD’), this site allows public access to the court’s jurisprudence, available in English, French and Spanish. I reviewed and finalised ‘legal findings’, which are the sections of decisions and orders containing the jurisprudential value, so they could be extracted and input into the database. This is an excellent tool for completing legal research and allowed me to hone my analytical skills as well as be able to enjoy reading and understanding numerous judgments from the court’s history.

In addition to my work in the CLD, I was also a member of the Reparations team working on the case of The Prosecutor v. Dominic Ongwen. In 2021 Dominic Ongwen was found guilty for a total of 61 crimes, including crimes against humanity and war crimes, committed in Northern Uganda. Mr Ongwen was sentenced to 25 years of imprisonment. The Order on Reparations set Mr Ongwen’s financial liability at over €52 million with an estimated 49,772 victims. The order notes the physical, moral and material harms suffered by victims of the attacks, victims of sexual and gender based crimes as well as child soldiers. The Chamber also recalls the community harm and transgenerational harm of these crimes. This work required intensive research and excellent attention to detail. I am very grateful to have been a part of such an inspiring and dedicated team and to be present in the courtroom when the order was read by Presiding Judge Bertram Schmitt with Judge Peter Kovác and Judge Chang-ho Chung. This is the largest reparations order in the court’s history.

In addition to my work at the Court, I undertook a number of exciting opportunities open to interns and visiting professionals. I attended talks by staff and visiting lecturers, I went on a visit to the International Commission for Missing Persons and engaged in informative and educational discussions with judges regarding their career paths.

Outside of court I had an incredible experience living in The Hague, absorbing the wealth of history in the city as well as the natural beauty of the parks and beaches. The Hague is an international hub which allows you to experience a diverse range of cultures and their food. Beyond The Hague I enjoyed exploring more of the Netherlands and visited Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Delft, Leiden, Gouda and Eindhoven.

Following my experience I will return to the UK to undertake pupillage. I bring with me a new wealth of knowledge of international law as well as building upon my legal research, drafting and analytical skills. I am incredibly grateful to the Johan Steyn Scholarship and Lincoln’s Inn for facilitating this opportunity. I have gained an incredible insight into the world of international criminal law and I was a part of an unforgettable experience. To anyone considering applying for this award, I strongly encourage you to seize this incredible opportunity.