UWC Faculty of Law Seminar Explores the ICC’s Role in Environmental Justice in Ukraine and Africa
On Friday, 7 March 2025, the Faculty of Law at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), in collaboration with the African Centre for Transnational Criminal Justice (ACTCJ), the Ukrainian Association of South Africa, Truth Hounds, and Project Expedite Justice (PEJ), hosted a compelling seminar titled “Justice for the Environment: The ICC’s Role in Ukraine and on the African Continent”. The event took place in the Kader Asmal Moot Court and was also streamed online, drawing in a diverse audience of legal scholars, practitioners, and civil society advocates.
Moderated by Prof Windell Nortje from UWC’s Department of Criminal Justice and Procedure, the seminar opened with remarks from Prof Angela van der Berg, Director of the Global Environmental Law Centre at UWC, and Dzvinka Kachur from the Ukrainian Association of South Africa.
The programme began with Dr Muyiwa Adigun (University of Ibadan), who examined crimes against the environment on the African continent. This was followed by Prof Jan Glazewski (UCT), who explored foundational principles of environmental law and shared insights on how environmental damage manifests during conflict.
Pascal Turlan, former ICC Office of the Prosecutor and PEJ Legal Director, presented the ICC’s new policy initiative on environmental crimes, setting the tone for a timely conversation around accountability and justice. A key highlight of the seminar was the presentation by Volodymyr Hryshko (Truth Hounds) and Myroslava Markova (PEJ) on the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in Ukraine. Their work formed part of the report “SUBMERGED: Study of the Destruction of the Kakhovka Dam and Its Impacts on Ecosystems, Agrarians, Other Civilians, and International Justice.”
Dmytro Koval, Co-Executive Director at Truth Hounds, followed with an analysis of legal qualification challenges and evidence collection methodology, offering practical insights into building international cases for environmental crimes.
A dynamic discussion facilitated by Prof van der Berg brought together the seminar’s themes, before closing remarks were delivered by Prof John-Mark Iyi, Director of the African Centre for Transnational Criminal Justice.
As environmental harm during armed conflict gains increased recognition, this seminar reinforced the urgent need to leverage existing international legal frameworks—such as Article 8(2)(b)(iv) of the Rome Statute—to seek justice for ecosystems, communities, and future generations.
Watch the seminar below:
On Friday, 7 March 2025, the Faculty of Law at the University of the Western Cape (UWC), in collaboration with the African Centre for Transnational Criminal Justice (ACTCJ), the Ukrainian Association of South Africa, Truth Hounds, and Project Expedite Justice (PEJ), hosted a compelling seminar titled “Justice for the Environment: The ICC’s Role in Ukraine and on the African Continent”. The event took place in the Kader Asmal Moot Court and was also streamed online, drawing in a diverse audience of legal scholars, practitioners, and civil society advocates.
Moderated by Prof Windell Nortje from UWC’s Department of Criminal Justice and Procedure, the seminar opened with remarks from Prof Angela van der Berg, Director of the Global Environmental Law Centre at UWC, and Dzvinka Kachur from the Ukrainian Association of South Africa.
The programme began with Dr Muyiwa Adigun (University of Ibadan), who examined crimes against the environment on the African continent. This was followed by Prof Jan Glazewski (UCT), who explored foundational principles of environmental law and shared insights on how environmental damage manifests during conflict.
Pascal Turlan, former ICC Office of the Prosecutor and PEJ Legal Director, presented the ICC’s new policy initiative on environmental crimes, setting the tone for a timely conversation around accountability and justice. A key highlight of the seminar was the presentation by Volodymyr Hryshko (Truth Hounds) and Myroslava Markova (PEJ) on the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam in Ukraine. Their work formed part of the report “SUBMERGED: Study of the Destruction of the Kakhovka Dam and Its Impacts on Ecosystems, Agrarians, Other Civilians, and International Justice.”
Dmytro Koval, Co-Executive Director at Truth Hounds, followed with an analysis of legal qualification challenges and evidence collection methodology, offering practical insights into building international cases for environmental crimes.
A dynamic discussion facilitated by Prof van der Berg brought together the seminar’s themes, before closing remarks were delivered by Prof John-Mark Iyi, Director of the African Centre for Transnational Criminal Justice.
As environmental harm during armed conflict gains increased recognition, this seminar reinforced the urgent need to leverage existing international legal frameworks—such as Article 8(2)(b)(iv) of the Rome Statute—to seek justice for ecosystems, communities, and future generations.
Watch the seminar below:
