Just Peace Movie Night: Climate Justice at the Peace Palace

• Date: 19 September
• label.tijd 18:00 - 22:00
• Location: Peace Palace

Mark your calendars for a powerful evening of film and dialogue at the Just Peace Movie Night! This special event takes place at the iconic Peace Palace in The Hague, with a documentary highlighting the crucial work of the World's Youth for Climate Justice and the Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change. These young leaders are leading the case for the ICJ Advisory Opinion, a groundbreaking effort to hold countries accountable for their impact on climate change and protect vulnerable communities.

This event is more than just a movie night - it is a celebration of The Hague's 125th anniversary as City of Peace and Justice and International Day of Peace. It highlights the evolving definition of justice and now includes environmental issues, now recognized as essential to achieving global peace.

This evening focuses on the ICJAO campaign and the transformative role of youth activism in driving change. You will learn how young advocates are using international legal frameworks to combat climate change and promote climate justice, emphasizing that the fight for a sustainable future is also a fight for human rights.

Event Highlights:

Opening Exhibition: Climate Change Oral Testimonies at the Visitors Center of the Peace Palace

Join us at the visitors center of the Peace Palace for an exhibition that highlights the pivotal role of the International Court of Justice in climate justice. Listen to powerful video testimonies from the frontlines of the climate crisis and explore the urgent realities of climate inequality with an interactive data tool comparing states' vulnerabilities and CO2 contributions. The exhibition can be viewed between 18:00 and 19:00 before the start of the screening.

Keynote address by Arnold Kiel Loughman, Attorney-General for the Republic of Vanuatu.

Arnold Kiel Loughman is the Attorney-General for the Republic of Vanuatu. He was educated at the University of Papua New Guinea (LLB) and the University of Sheffield in the UK (LLM) and worked in both public and private practice for about 19 years prior to being appointed as Attorney-General in 2016. He is currently leading Vanuatu’s participation and international coordination in the International Court of Justice’s Advisory Opinion on States obligations in relation to climate change.

Special Documentary Screening: Dive deep into the inspiring story of youth-led climate action. The film documents the courageous efforts of young people from around the world, especially those from the Pacific Islands, who are on the frontlines of the climate crisis.

Panel Discussion: Engage with the filmmakers, film protagonists, and climate justice experts in a thought-provoking discussion following the screening. This is your chance to explore the intersections of climate action, legal advocacy, youth activism and storytelling.

Meet the speakers:

Inga von Staden is a strategist and advisor in the audiovisual and digital media sectors. She connects emerging technologies with the media industry, advising start-ups, companies, and public institutions. Inga curates events, develops training concepts, and teaches ‘response-able storytelling’ in Europe and Israel. As the strategic lead of the Interactive Media Foundation gGmbH, she creates impactful audiovisual narratives that address culture, technology, environment, and climate justice to inspire change.

Aditi Shetye Lead of Legal Advocacy Taskforce, India Aditi is an environmental lawyer dedicated to achieving climate justice. At WYCJ, she leads the Legal Advocacy Taskforce and contributes to the Asian Front's development. She is a researcher in Public International Law and Environmental Law at the British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL). Aditi holds an LL.M. in Global Environmental Law and Governance and a master's diploma in India's National Environmental Law and Policy. Before focusing on environmental law, she practiced civil and criminal law in Mumbai, India.

Felix Golenko

Felix has a deep connection to the South Pacific, with strong family ties to Vanuatu, which has influenced his work as a documentarian. He discovered his passion for non-fiction cinema through a documentary project in 2013 and went on to study at the Film Academy Baden-Württemberg (DE) from 2016 to 2024. Felix creates intimate, empathetic portraits of hopeful protagonists, drawing the audience into their worlds. His cinéma vérité style is all about authenticity. He captures the raw beauty and sounds of life to evoke emotion. Empathy is at the heart of Felix's documentary work, and he believes that listening is the first step, allowing stories to shape society. His films have been screened at many festivals around the world, including Big Sky Documentary Film Festival (US), Dok Leipzig (DE) and FIPADOC (FR).

Maja Groff

As an international lawyer based in The Hague, Maja has extensive experience participating in a number of UN organisations and working closely with various international organisations alongside the fieldwork she’s completed in international development, and her exploration of climate impact. She wears many hats as a Principal Legal Officer at the Hague Conference on Private International Law, a Convenor for the Climate Governance Commission, and including her civic involvement in causes such as addressing corporate social responsibility. Her exceptional academic and professional training background in international criminal and humanitarian law makes her stand out in combination with her high-achieving professional success. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to ask Maja questions and learn from the wealth of knowledge he has gained from her experiences!

Be Part of a Global Movement:

By attending the Just Peace Movie Night, you will not only witness the power of storytelling but also join a global conversation on how international courts, like the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, are crucial in ensuring climate justice. This event aims to highlight The Hague’s role as a leader in legal and environmental advocacy, showcasing how legal frameworks can support and enforce critical climate justice initiatives.

How to Participate:

This event is open to the public, but spaces are limited so make sure to secure your spot on time!

*Make sure to arrive on time to have enough time to go through the security control.

**Don't forget to bring your valid ID, all guests will need to go through security control and show their ID.

See you there!

Become part of a global movement:

By attending the Just Peace movie night, you will not only witness the power of storytelling, but also participate in a global conversation about how international courts, such as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, are crucial to ensuring climate justice. This event is designed to highlight The Hague's role as a leader in legal and environmental advocacy and demonstrate how legal frameworks can support and enforce climate justice initiatives.

How to participate:

This event is open to the public, but seating is limited, so be sure to secure your spot via the link below.

See you there!

Photo credit: Pacific Islands students battling climate change

Show on map