During the 20th Summer Law Program in The Hague, on May 27, WCRO Director Susana SáCouto participated as a respondent in the special Benjamin Ferencz Lecture, Nuremberg’s Citizen Prosecutor – Benjamin Ferencz and the Birth of International Justice held at the T.M.C. Asser Instituut in The Hague. The event marked the launch in The Hague of Professor Gregory Gordon’s book on the life and legacy of Benjamin Ferencz, former Nuremberg prosecutor and champion of international criminal justice. Following Professor Gordon’s presentation, Professor SáCouto offered reflections on Ferencz’s contributions to the field, followed by a Q&A session moderated by Christophe Paulussen.

On June 3, WCRO Director Susana SáCouto participated as an expert speaker in the event “Enhancing the Capacity of Prosecutors Through a Global Jurisprudence Database on Conflict-Related Sexual Violence and Related Crimes,” held in Vienna in a hybrid format. The event marked the launch of a new global jurisprudence database designed to support prosecutors, criminal justice professionals, and other interested stakeholders working to strengthen accountability for conflict-related sexual violence and related crimes.

The WCRO is a contributing partner in this project, alongside Washington University and other partner institutions. The database includes selected cases researched and analyzed by the WCRO as part of its ongoing work on jurisprudence concerning sexual and gender-based crimes. Professor SáCouto joined Anna Sosonka of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine and Professor Kim Thuy Seelinger of Washington University for a series of expert interventions on the significance of the database and its potential use by practitioners.

Explore the database here.

In-person anniversary events in Washington, DC:
April 21 — Keynote discussion, followed by a reception
April 22 — Conference

Register for the in-person events here.

WCRO is pleased to invite you to two pre-conference online panels as part of our 30th Anniversary programming at American University Washington College of Law.

📅 April 7 | 12:00–1:00 pm ET
Justice in the Digital Age: Challenges & Opportunities for Accountability in Syria

📅 April 8 | 12:00–1:00 pm ET
Artificial Intelligence in High-Risk Contexts: Implications for Atrocity Prevention & Accountability

Register for the online person events here.

In March, WCRO Director Susana SáCouto participated in the hybrid town hall “Feminist Mobilization to Ensure Gender Justice in the Crimes Against Humanity Convention” at Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York City. The event brought together feminist experts, activists, and advocates to discuss strategies to ensure that the proposed Crimes Against Humanity Convention is gender-sensitive, intersectional, and survivor-centered. Participants reflected on key considerations for the treaty and explored opportunities for broad, cross-regional feminist mobilization to strengthen international law’s response to crimes against women

Read more about the WCRO's accomplishments this year.

Read more

Read more about the WCRO's accomplishments this year. 

In 2026, AUWCL students Delisha Thompson, Nikola Jaksic, and Anjali Narayanan represented American University Washington College of Law in two leading international humanitarian law competitions: the Jean-Pictet International Humanitarian Law Competition and the Clara Barton International Humanitarian Law Competition.

In February, the team competed in the English-language session of the Jean-Pictet Competition, a globally recognized simulation-based competition that immerses participants in the real-world application of international humanitarian law through intensive role-playing exercises. The team also represented AUWCL at the Clara Barton International Humanitarian Law Competition, hosted by the American Red Cross, where students are challenged to apply IHL to complex legal, policy, and humanitarian scenarios arising in armed conflict and crisis situations.

Throughout both competitions, the AUWCL team demonstrated dedication, professionalism, and a strong commitment to international humanitarian law. Their participation reflects WCL’s continued engagement in preparing students to analyze and respond to contemporary challenges in armed conflict and humanitarian protection.

The team was coached by Professor Susana SáCouto, Director of AUWCL’s War Crimes Research Office (WCRO), together with Olivia Kaempf and Paige Carter, who previously represented AUWCL in international humanitarian law competitions.