Just Access

Working at the ICC - how to get there and what is it like?

🎧 Episode OverviewIn this episode Dr Miranda Melcher speaks with Ignacio Baeriswyl, a Chile‑qualified lawyer who served as an associate legal officer in the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) Reparations Section and is currently a lecturer and PhD candidate at the University of Amsterdam. Ignacio outlines his professional trajectory—from domestic economic criminal law in Chile to his work at the ICC—explains the functions and challenges of the reparations team, and discusses the structural limits of the Court’s jurisdiction and authority. He also offers practical guidance for individuals aspiring to work in international criminal justice.👤 Guest BioIgnacio BaeriswylChilean‑qualified attorney, specialised in economic criminal law.Former associate legal officer, Reparations Section, ICC (The Hague).Lecturer and Programme Coordinator, LLM in International Law, University of Amsterdam.PhD candidate researching reparations, victim‑centred justice, and trans‑generational harm.📚 Resources & LinksJust Access Podcast homepage – https://just-access.de/podcastDonate / support the podcast – https://just-access.de/donateContact the show – podcast@just-access.deICC Reparations Section – https://www.icc-cpi.int/reparationsRome Statute (reparations provisions) – https://www.icc-cpi.int/resource-library/documents/rome-statute🗒️ Key Take‑AwaysInternship experience is essential for entering the ICC; it functions as an informal prerequisite for paid positions.Reparations remain an evolving area of ICC jurisprudence because the Rome Statute provides limited guidance, leaving substantial scope for judicial development.Jurisdictional constraints limit the Court’s ability to act; the ICC relies heavily on cooperation from States parties.Organisational compartmentalisation means judges, prosecutors, and outreach staff operate largely independently, influencing case outcomes.Precision in legal drafting is critical; minor wording variations can affect victims’ eligibility for reparations.Career guidance: acquire domestic legal experience, target internships strategically, and align academic qualifications with the specific ICC unit of interest.🎯 Who Should Listen?Human‑rights practitioners & NGOs seeking insider perspectives on ICC operations.Law students eyeing a career in international criminal law.Policy makers interested in the mechanics of reparations and victim‑centred justice.Anyone interested in defending human rights📢 Call to ActionSubscribe to the Just Access podcast to receive future episodes.Share the episode with colleagues and networks interested in international criminal law and human‑rights advocacy.Provide a review on your preferred podcast platform to increase visibility.Support the podcast’s continued production by donating at https://just-access.de/donate. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Why prosecutors play a decisive role in shaping access to justice?

In the second part of our conversation with Sabina Grigore, PhD candidate at the University of Amsterdam, we take a closer look at the discretionary power of prosecutors and how their decisions fundamentally shape access to justice.Building on the discussion of domestic prosecutions of international crimes, this episode focuses on prosecutors as institutional gatekeepers. Sabina explains how prosecutorial discretion determines what evidence is included in a case, whose experiences are legally recognised as victimhood, and which cases ultimately reach a judge. These decisions, often made long before any courtroom proceedings begin, have profound implications for both alleged perpetrators and survivors of atrocity crimes.The conversation unpacks how prosecutorial choices influence what can be considered a “just outcome,” highlighting the structural and human factors that shape legal processes in practice. Rather than viewing justice as a neutral or automatic outcome of the law, Sabina invites listeners to examine the layers of power, interpretation, and responsibility embedded within prosecutorial work.Throughout the episode, one message becomes clear: access to justice is mediated by institutions and individuals alike. Understanding how prosecutors operate — and the limits of their accountability — is essential to understanding where justice is enabled, constrained, or denied.What will you learn?How prosecutorial discretion shapes access to justiceWhat it means to view prosecutors as institutional gatekeepersHow evidence selection affects victims’ recognition and legal outcomesWhy justice is shaped long before cases reach a courtroomWhat a “just outcome” means for victims and accused in practice🧠 Topics CoveredProsecutorial discretion in international and domestic criminal lawAccess to justice and institutional powerVictim recognition and evidentiary choicesGatekeeping roles within criminal justice systemsStructural limits of accountability in atrocity crime prosecutions👤 About the GuestSabina Grigore is a PhD candidate at the University of Amsterdam, specialising in international criminal law. Her research examines domestic prosecutions of atrocity crimes committed abroad, with a particular focus on prosecutorial discretion, cooperation, and access to justice. Her work critically explores how legal systems shape — and sometimes limit — just outcomes for victims and defendants.📚 Resources & LinksJust Access Podcast – https://just-access.de/podcastSupport Just Access – https://just-access.de/donateContact the show – podcast@just-access.de⏱ Key moments00:00 – Prosecutors as gatekeepers to justice02:10 – Deciding what evidence makes it into a case04:30 – Who is recognised as a victim under the law07:00 – Prosecutorial discretion and “just outcomes”10:15 – Structural power and accountability gapsCall to actionHelp Just Access keep critical conversations alive — share this episode, leave a review, and support our work at👉 https://just-access.de/donateBecause everyone can be a human rights defender. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Domestic Courts, International Crimes: Who Decides What Gets Prosecuted?

In this first part of our conversation with Sabina Grigore, PhD candidate at the University of Amsterdam, we explore how access to justice is shaped long before a case ever reaches a courtroom. Focusing on international criminal law and transitional justice, the episode examines the often-overlooked role of domestic prosecutors who investigate atrocity crimes committed beyond their borders.Drawing on her PhD research, Sabina explains what it means to prosecute crimes from conflicts such as Syria and Ukraine at the national level in countries like Germany, France, Sweden, and the Netherlands. She describes prosecutors as powerful gatekeepers—deciding which cases move forward, whose testimonies are included, and what evidence ultimately shapes legal outcomes for victims and accused alike. Cooperation between states, EU institutions such as Eurojust, and international investigative mechanisms emerges as a crucial but complex element of this process.The conversation also traces Sabina’s academic journey, from studying transitional justice in Romania to engaging with international criminal law more broadly. Reflecting on Romania’s post-communist legacy, she discusses how decades of silence, failed investigations, and political interference denied victims recognition and accountability—and how judgments from the European Court of Human Rights helped reopen questions of truth, responsibility, and redress.Throughout the episode, one core message stands out: access to justice is not automatic. It depends on institutional choices, political will, and the individuals who operate within legal systems. By unpacking these dynamics, Sabina invites listeners to think more critically about where justice begins—and where it so often breaks down.What will you learn?What “domestic extraterritorial prosecution” means in practiceWhy prosecutors play a decisive role in determining access to justiceHow cooperation between states and institutions shapes atrocity casesWhat Romania’s post-communist experience reveals about transitional justiceWhy passion and purpose matter when pursuing long-term academic research🧠 Topics CoveredInternational criminal law and transitional justiceDomestic prosecution of international crimesProsecutorial discretion and access to justiceCooperation between national and international legal actorsRomania’s communist past and ECHR jurisprudenceAcademic pathways into human-rights-focused research👤 About the GuestSabina Grigore is a PhD candidate at the University of Amsterdam, specialising in international criminal law. Her research focuses on domestic prosecutions of atrocity crimes committed abroad, with particular attention to prosecutorial cooperation and access to justice. Her academic work builds on extensive research into transitional justice, including Romania’s post-communist accountability processes and the role of the European Court of Human Rights.📚 Resources & LinksJust Access Podcast – https://just-access.de/podcastSupport Just Access – https://just-access.de/donateContact the show – podcast@just-access.de⏱ Key moments01:30 – Introducing domestic prosecution of international crimes03:40 – Prosecutors as gatekeepers to justice06:30 – Cooperation between states, Eurojust, and investigative mechanisms10:20 – Romania’s transitional justice challenges15:10 – Advice for aspiring PhD researchersCall to actionHelp Just Access keep critical conversations alive—share this episode, leave a review, and support our work at👉 https://just-access.de/donateBecause everyone can be a human rights defender. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Healing Communities in Crisis: Public Health, Hunger, and Preparedness in Conflict Settings

In this second part of our conversation with Dr Fekri Dureab, physician-researcher at the Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, we move from surveillance systems and misinformation to some of the most difficult questions in public health: hunger, disease preparedness, and ethical decision-making in conflict settings.Drawing on his work in Yemen, Somalia, and Iraq, Dr Dureab explains why planning for outbreaks in fragile health systems is never just a technical exercise. Even when strategies exist on paper, a lack of resources, infrastructure, and trained personnel can turn predictable health threats—such as cholera or measles—into full-blown crises. He reflects on his role in developing Yemen’s electronic disease early-warning system and why speed, simplicity, and local ownership can mean the difference between containment and catastrophe.The conversation then turns to malnutrition and food insecurity, exposing the ethical dilemmas that arise when humanitarian aid meets chronic poverty. Through powerful field examples, Dr Dureab illustrates how short-term food assistance can unintentionally create harmful incentives, and why long-term, nationally supported food-security systems are essential for protecting children’s health and dignity.Throughout the episode, one theme remains constant: sustainable solutions come from within communities. From training local health workers to strengthening national systems, Dr Dureab makes the case that public health is inseparable from human rights—and that awareness-raising is itself a form of action.What will you learn?Why outbreak preparedness in conflict zones often fails despite early warnings.How electronic surveillance systems can function even with weak internet and ongoing violence.The ethical dilemmas of food aid and why treating malnutrition alone is not enough.What Iraq’s long-standing food-ration system reveals about preventing undernutrition during conflict.How individuals outside the health sector can still contribute by raising awareness and amplifying lived realities.🧠 Topics CoveredDisease preparedness in fragile and conflict-affected health systemsEarly-warning systems and rapid response in low-resource settingsCapacity building and training local health professionalsMalnutrition, hunger, and ethical dilemmas in humanitarian aidNational food-security systems vs. emergency assistancePublic awareness as a tool for advancing health and human rights👤 About the GuestDr Fekri Dureab – Medical doctor, PhD, and public-health researcher at the Heidelberg Institute of Global Health. His work focuses on health-systems strengthening, epidemic preparedness, nutrition, and disease surveillance in fragile and conflict-affected settings, including Yemen, Somalia, and Iraq. He has played a key role in developing Yemen’s electronic disease early-warning system and coordinating nutrition and emergency health programmes with the WHO.📚 Resources & LinksHeidelberg Institute of Global Health – https://globalhealth.uni-heidelberg.deJust Access Podcast – https://just-access.de/podcastSupport Just Access – https://just-access.de/donateContact the show – podcast@just-access.de⏱ Key moments02:00 – Why preparedness plans collapse without resources04:50 – Building early-warning systems during active conflict10:00 – Hunger, malnutrition, and unintended consequences of aid16:40 – Iraq’s food-ration system and lessons for long-term solutions18:20 – Why awareness-raising is everyone’s responsibilityCall-to-actionHelp Just Access keep critical conversations alive—share this episode, leave a review, and support our work at https://just-access.de/donate.Because everyone can be a human rights defender. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Healing Communities: A Doctor’s Role in Public Health

n this episode, we sit down with Dr Fekri Dureab, a physician‑researcher at the Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, to unpack how medical expertise, conflict‑zone realities, and the ever‑growing “info‑demic” intersect on the frontlines of public‑health work.Drawing on his years of hands‑on experience in Yemen, Somalia, Iraq, and beyond, Dr Dureab walks us through the evolution of his career—from treating patients under a single‑lamp light to designing electronic disease‑early‑warning systems that still buzz in Yemen today. He explains why misinformation can be more lethal than a virus, how risk communication becomes a lifesaving tool in fragile states, and what students and aspiring public‑health champions should (and shouldn’t) pack in their professional backpacks.The conversation also shines a light on the human side of data: the guilt that drove him back to his homeland while studying abroad, the joy of training clinicians in the field, and the stubborn optimism that even in war‑torn settings, a well‑crafted message can halt a rumor before it turns into a crisis.What will you learn?Why Dr Dureab swapped a stethoscope for a surveillance dashboard—and why that swap saved lives.How early‑warning systems built in the middle of conflict still function, proving that technology can thrive even when electricity flickers.The dangerous dance between social‑media memes and disease outbreaks, and why “fake news” deserves its own triage protocol.Practical advice for students, NGOs, and future field workers: blend field‑experience with academic rigor, keep your boots muddy, and never underestimate the power of a well‑timed press release.🧠 Topics CoveredFrom clinic to crisis: How clinical training enriches public‑health program design.Electronic disease early‑warning systems: Building resilient surveillance in Yemen’s war‑torn health infrastructure.The “info‑demic”: Why misinformation can outpace pathogens and how risk communication saves lives.AI‑driven rumors: Navigating the new frontier of algorithmic misinformation in conflict zones.Career roadmap: Fieldwork + academia as the ideal prescription for aspiring public‑health leaders.Practical tips for NGOs & activists: Crafting effective press releases, leveraging community networks, and countering disinformation on the ground.👤 About the GuestDr Fekri Dureab – Medical doctor, PhD, and public‑health researcher at the Heidelberg Institute of Global Health. His work spans health‑systems strengthening, disease‑control strategies, epidemic preparedness, and nutrition interventions across fragile and conflict‑affected states such as Yemen, Somalia, and Iraq. He has coordinated WHO nutrition projects, co‑created Yemen’s electronic disease early‑warning system, and led Info‑Demic Management training during the COVID‑19 pandemic.📚 Resources & LinksHeidelberg Institute of Global Health – https://globalhealth.uni-heidelberg.deWHO Nutrition Programme (Yemen) – https://www.who.int/emergencies/yemen-nutritionElectronic Disease Early‑Warning System (Yemen) – internal link forthcomingInfo‑Demic Management Training – https://www.info‑demic.orgJust Access Podcast – https://just‑access.de/podcastSupport Just Access – https://just‑access.de/donateContact the show – podcast@just‑access.deKey moments:00:01 – The spark that sent a med‑student to the frontlines.05:45 – Why fragile states stole his heart (and his research agenda).09:55 – The rise of the “info‑demic” and how AI fuels it.12:10 – Prescription for students: fieldwork + academia.Call‑to‑action:Help Just Access keep the signal strong—donate at https://just‑access.de/donate, share the episode, and drop us a line at podcast@just‑access.de. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.