JERUSALEM, February 19, 2018 (WAFA) – Al-Quds University launched on Sunday Al-Quds Academy for Global Justice in partnership with the former chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Luis Moreno Ocampo, according to a university press release.
The new Academy is the first of its kind in the Middle East and it will focus on teaching, training, and research in the areas of international criminal law and human rights litigation.
In his keynote address at the launch of the Academy, Ocampo described Al-Quds University as the “Silicon Valley” of peace, justice, and freedom, adding that he is “honored to be working with this exceptional educational beacon.”
Ocampo will chair the Academy in addition to supervising the development of course offerings and executive programs that will be offered to students and practitioners. He will also personally teach some of these courses. The first course is to be offered in July.
“The implementation of this Academy is just one of the initiatives led by Al-Quds University on multifaceted levels. The Academy will not only build but also to develop the Palestinian capacities in vital sectors,” said president of Al-Quds University Imad Abu Kishek, who thanked President Mahmoud Abbas, under whose patronage the event was held, for his support “in making this institute a reality at a much needed time.”
Palestinian Justice Minister Ali Abu Diak delivered a speech on behalf of President Abbas. He praised Al-Quds University for establishing the Al-Quds Academy for Global Justice at a time when Palestine is in need for developing its capacity in the field of international criminal justice. He also expressed his ministry’s dedicated support and desire to cooperate with the institute.
Ocampo expressed his appreciation for Al-Quds University’s commitment to the values of freedom, democracy, dialogue and peace. According to Ocampo, his commitment to this project emanates from his belief in education as a powerful tool in achieving freedom and justice.
In his address at the launch, which saw a wide participation from the diplomatic community and representatives of international organizations, Ocampo cited several examples of the power of education in the promotion of justice and freedom.
He reminded the audience of Professor Day’s lecture about Mahatma Gandhi to his students at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, which inspired one his students to start a civil rights movement in the United States. That ambitious student, Ocampo exclaimed, was Martin Luther King. “How many Martin Luther Kings are there among the 12,000 Al-Quds University students?” he asked.
Palestine Chief Justice Emad Saleem Sa‘ad, who was one of many high level guests in attendance for the ceremony, said Al-Quds Academy for Global Justice will provide litigators with the tools necessary to plead cases before the ICC. The Academy will also focus on international litigation based on the Rome Statute, a treaty of the ICC that establishes the court‘s functions, jurisdiction and structure.
Palestine’s Attorney General Ahmad Barrak was present during the occasion and made remarks on the old and new challenges facing the Palestinian criminal justice system.
In addition to being the first ICC Prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo is a Senior Fellow at the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy at Harvard University’s Kennedy School.
Al-Quds Academy for Global Justice is a newly-established educational and research institute within Al-Quds University. To be located in the Old City of Jerusalem, the Academy aims at advancing knowledge and awareness in the fields of international criminal law, international humanitarian law, human rights advocacy, and international litigation before international tribunals, particularly the ICC.
Through a set of course offerings and executive training programs designed and implemented by Ocampo and both Palestinian and international experts, the Academy will train Palestinian as well as international students, practitioners, and lawyers in the aforementioned fields, said the press release.
Al-Quds University is a collegiate research based in Jerusalem, Palestine. Established in the late 1970s, Al-Quds remains the only Arab university in the city of Jerusalem. It currently offers 105 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, taught through its 15 degree-granting faculties and institutes.
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