At the 2009 ISSS, I lectured on the theory and practice of criminal prosecutions in transitional justice settings. I was impressed by the discussion with the students, who wanted to explore some the issues raised very deeply - such as why not all cases can or will be selected and prioritised for prosecution. I found the students very engaged and prepared to think about the particular context in which a state might find itself attempting to tackle these difficult questions.

This was a great group of students, who were eager to delve into the main debates and dilemmas. The international law background of many of the students contrasted with the slightly different background of others and this meant that there were lots of different “takes” on an issue, which enriched the discussion.

This is a beautiful setup for a summer school. It feels very intimate and everybody feels comfortable, and that struck me from the first day when I just dropped in to listen to a lecture. People were more than comfortable to speak from the very beginning and that has a lot to do with the environment created by the organizers.

I would absolutely recommend this summer school and I think that the ISSS has a long future in front of it. Being no stranger to international law summer schools, I can say that this one is really exceptional. This summer school has a particular focus on Transitional Justice and as this is a really new field, it is important to have opportunities like the ISSS for special education - especially for young professionals like this group of students who have great potential to work and study in this field.

Ms. Stephanie Barbour, Legal Adviser on War Crimes and Transitional Justice, Human Rights Department, OSCE Mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina