Kaja Kowalczewska took part in the seminar at the College of Europe

On 18 March 2025, Kaja Kowalczewska took part in the seminar “International Criminal Justice and the Wars in Gaza and Ukraine”, hosted by the European Neighbourhood Chair of the College of Europe in Natolin.

Together with Piotr Hofmański, former President of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, and André Stemmet, Senior Research Associate at the University of Johannesburg, Kaja contributed valuable insights into the challenges of international criminal justice in times of conflict.

The panelists’ interventions focused on the roles of the International Criminal Court, the International Court of Justice, and domestic jurisdictions in addressing crimes committed during war. The discussion sparked a wide range of thoughtful questions from students, touching on issues such as the current geopolitical crisis and its links to American politics, the relevance and impact of arrest warrants issued for heads of state (including Benjamin Netanyahu and Vladimir Putin), the position of the ICC and international criminal justice within complex and dynamic international politics, the responsibility of Polish authorities in relation to motions promising immunity to individuals targeted by ICC arrest warrants, the role of peaceful means in achieving justice during ongoing conflicts, possible approaches to transitional justice, and much more.

Kaja also highlighted her work as coordinator of the KOOS Coalition for Victims, Survivors and Witnesses, a Polish civil society initiative advocating for systemic reforms and victim support mechanisms in Poland.

We really appreciated her thoughtful contribution and are grateful to the organizers for facilitating such a relevant and timely discussion.