A group of University of Kent law students travelled to The Hague in April 2025 to explore the workings of international law during a workshop at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Organised annually by the Kent International Law Society, a student-led society affiliated with the Kent Students’ Union, the Hague Trip offers students an invaluable opportunity to engage directly with the international legal community and witness the inner workings of one of the most important institutions in international justice.
Recent law graduate and outgoing President of the Kent International Law Society, Yashwini Lokee, explains more:
‘As law students, we should, now more than ever, be critically reflecting on the relevance of international legal mechanisms amidst ongoing global conflicts and the limitations of enforcement in a fragmented world order. This trip gave us an occasion to connect theoretical knowledge from our studies with the living practice of international criminal law.
Workshop at the International Criminal Court
During our visit to the ICC, the first workshop introduced us to the structure and daily operations of the Court. We were guided through the procedural mechanisms and observed the courtroom where landmark cases have been heard.
Our host delivered a detailed presentation on how the courtroom operates, emphasising the roles of interpreters, court reporters, legal officers, and judges. These actors form a complex and interdependent system that is designed to uphold the principles of due process and impartiality across multiple languages and legal traditions. We learned that every effort is made to ensure fairness, from real-time translation services to the use of comprehensive legal frameworks that govern proceedings.
We were particularly struck by the emphasis on state cooperation. As our host explained, the effectiveness of the ICC relies heavily on the willingness of member states to arrest and transfer accused individuals, provide evidence, and facilitate investigations. Without this cooperation, the court’s ability to carry out justice is significantly compromised. International law, we were reminded, is not inherently weak. Instead, it depends on states to give it life. The tension between legal ideals and political realities was a recurring theme during our visit.
The second part of the workshop delved into the historical foundations of the ICC and the rationale behind its creation. For many of us, it connected directly to our coursework, particularly modules like Critical Introduction to Law and Public Law. Being there allowed us to move beyond textbook theory and to grasp the operational complexity and international collaboration required to maintain such a legal institution.
We were also reminded of the types of crimes the ICC prosecutes: genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression. While the Court cannot intervene in every conflict, it stands as a symbol of accountability and as a mechanism that, when engaged, can deliver justice in the aftermath of atrocities.
Visit to the Peace Palace
Following the ICC workshop, we made our way to the visitor centre at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), located within the stunning Peace Palace. There, we engaged in an interactive session about the ICJ’s mandate, history, and landmark cases.
The architecture of the Peace Palace, with its neo-Renaissance design, stained-glass windows, and extensive art collection gifted by member states, was breath-taking. More than just a building, it stands as a symbol of the international community’s aspirations for peace through law.
At the same time, the genocides, crimes, and systemic violence we had studied became more than academic content. They became visceral reminders that justice delayed is sometimes the same as justice denied.
As Kent Law students and members of the Kent International Law Society, we returned with a deeper appreciation of the ICC not as a perfect solution but as an essential legal tool.
Exploring Legal Heritage in the Netherlands
Beyond The Hague, we explored other sites with significant legal heritage. One highlight was visiting the town of Delft, where some of us visited the resting place of Hugo Grotius, often referred to as the “father of international law.” His work De Jure Belli ac Pacis laid foundational principles for the law of nations, many of which continue to influence legal thought today.
Culturally, the Netherlands offered a scenic backdrop to our intellectually stimulating trip. Quaint canals, charming towns, vibrant tulip gardens in full bloom, and castles nestled in the countryside made for an unforgettable experience.’
A different perspective
Natasha Edgal, a recent law graduate from Kent Law School and one of the participants on the trip, adds:
‘We boarded a plane to The Hague, chasing not only a better understanding of international criminal justice but also a deeper sense of what law can mean when it’s brought to life. We were a small group and everyone brought something quietly powerful to the table. Beyond the seminars and schedules, there was such warmth—each of us looking out for the other, sharing laughs, snacks, advice, and sunscreen. You could feel the softness beneath the steel of our academic focus. Everyone was just cool people, and we clicked. It made the experience all the more magical.
Our first day at the ICC felt quietly surreal. We were ushered through security, down polished corridors, and finally into the viewing gallery overlooking the courtroom. It was quiet and sterile in the way courtrooms often are, but humming underneath was a sense of history and human gravity. This was the room where questions of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity are debated and decided.
Our host delivered an insightful and engaging presentation on the structure of the Court, detailing the intricate choreography of interpreters, legal officers, and judges working across different languages and legal traditions. I couldn’t help but be awed by the way it all functioned—imperfectly, yes, but with intention and care.
We were especially struck by the discussion around state cooperation. The ICC, it turns out, is only as strong as the states that empower it. Without their willingness to arrest suspects, provide evidence, and uphold their obligations, the Court becomes a shell of ideals—noble, but inert. International law isn’t weak, our host reminded us. It’s waiting to be enforced.
For many of us, this moment connected directly with our modules—from Public Law to Critical Introduction to Law. To be in the room where real-world law is practiced, interpreted, and often frustrated by global politics gave a whole new weight to everything we’d read in our lectures and essays.
After our time in The Hague, we took a train out to the Keukenhof tulip fields—an explosion of colour and serenity that felt like stepping into a dream. Endless rows of vibrant reds, pinks, oranges, and purples stretched across the fields in perfect symmetry, swaying softly in the breeze like they were posing for a painting.
This trip reminded me that international law is more than theory or power struggles—it’s about people. It’s about memory, imagination, and sometimes, resistance. The ICC is not a perfect institution, but it’s a necessary one. And standing in its corridors, biking through Amsterdam, and talking nonsense and philosophy with people who just got it, I felt—if only briefly—that another world really is possible.
For law students seeking clarity, community, and a little magic between the pages of legal theory, I couldn’t recommend this trip more. It stays with you.’
Conclusion
As Yashwini reflects, ‘the trip was a meaningful and eye-opening extension of our legal studies, bringing our legal education to life in ways no classroom can. For students interested in human rights, global governance, and international justice, visiting The Hague reaffirmed why international law matters and why, despite its flaws, it remains a vital force in the pursuit of accountability and peace.’
