The President of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon at BAU

Beirut Arab University hosted the President of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL), Judge Ivana Hrdličková, for a lecture on the developments of international criminal justice on the 28th of October 2015. The event was attended by around 300 students from eight Lebanese universities. 
Dr. Omar Houri, Director of the Human Rights Center at BAU, opened the event, focusing on the importance of international law in university curricula, and the need of students to develop their knowledge and abilities. The Special Tribunal for Lebanon has been contributing this since 2011.
Judge Ivana Hrdličková began her lecture with a brief review of the development of international tribunals, since the Nuremberg tribunals until the establishment of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, which was established by a Security Council Resolution. It aims at establishing justice in the assassination of late Prime Minister Rafic Hariri. Judge Hrdličková also highlighted that the Tribunal has enriched international law and is a legal achievement in that it provided a definition of both terrorism and terrorist acts.
Judge Ivana Hrdličková also stated that meeting the students as part of the STL training program is of great importance in enhancing their knowledge and understanding, as well as disseminating justice, and hence peace, in the world. She maintained that international justice, both locally and world-wide, is of great significance to each state. This necessitates a continuous form of cooperation to implement justice. She pointed out that the program offered by STL provides an important opportunity for the younger generation to study this prominent part of international law, as well as to express their own views, for they are no doubt active and enthusiastic.
The event is part of the joint university program on criminal and international law and international criminal procedures, launched by STL in 2011, in cooperation with Asser Institute in Lahay. The program hosts students from BAU, the Lebanese University, St. Joseph University, Universite La Sagesse, USEK, NDU, AUST, and the AUB.
At the end of the visit, Beirut Arab University Shield of Appreciation to Judge Ivana Hrdličková was presented from the President of BAU Prof. Amr Galal El Adawi delivered by the Dean of the Faculty of Law and Political Science Prof. Mohamad Kassem and the Director of the Human Rights Center at BAU Dr. Omar Houri for her enormous effort in the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.