Navigating International Justice in a Changing World

This was the word that Janine di Giovanni, CEO of The Reckoning Project, returned to most often during “How to Catch a War Criminal in the 21st Century,” an event co-hosted by The Reckoning Project and the MacMillan Center’s Genocide Studies Program. She described impunity as a condition in which individuals remain exempt from punishment or consequences—an issue she connected to the limitations of international courts and other contemporary accountability mechanisms.

The Reckoning Project is an international non-profit organization that documents alleged war crimes and human rights violations. Representatives explained that their work aims to support accountability efforts through documentation, analysis, and the use of emerging investigative tools. The event brought together experts, advocates, and officials for three panels examining approaches to war-crimes prosecution, current humanitarian crises, and possible paths for strengthening accountability.

During the first panel, Reed Brody, a board member of the human rights organization, DAWN MENA, offered a cautiously optimistic view of the International Criminal Court (ICC). While acknowledging its constraints, he highlighted instances in which the ICC has played a significant role, including the prosecution of former Chadian president Hissène Habré.

Aslı Bâli, Professor of Law at Yale University, added that the ICC may operate most effectively as an investigative institution rather than primarily a prosecutorial body. She observed that both the ICC and the International Court of Justice face considerable challenges in delivering accountability or relief in several recent cases involving allegations of mass atrocities.

Throughout the event, speakers also addressed broader structural factors. Several panelists pointed to the role of political will in shaping outcomes and discussed concerns about the influence of global politics on international judicial institutions. The conversation included commentary on how geopolitical dynamics complicate accountability efforts in a range of contemporary conflicts.

At one point, a student raised a question: How does one—especially as a college student in America—hold war criminals accountable, then? 

Brody explained that even college students can have a meaningful impact and encouraged engagement through civic participation, public awareness, and support for advocacy organizations, emphasizing that such efforts can contribute to broader movements for justice.

In closing, di Giovanni reflected on the persistence required for accountability work. “Every crime leaves a footprint. Every perpetrator can be found,” she said. “Justice is slow, but it’s relentless.”

Founded in 1998, the Yale Genocide Studies Program supports research, teaching, and public engagement on mass atrocities and human rights. Through events, training programs, and scholarly collaboration, the Program provides a space for students and researchers to examine the causes and consequences of genocide and related crimes.

Story written by Lauren Cho ’26, student writer for the MacMillan Center.