Just Peace Open Day 2023

• Date: 24 September 10:00 - 17:00
• Location: The Hague, multiple locations 

Save the date for the next Just Peace Open Day on September 24.

This entire day, The Hague will be in the theme of peace and justice! Several (inter)national organizations will open their doors to the public. Learn, see and experience how these places are working on Peace and Justice!

Participating organizations:

Rijksmuseum De Gevangenpoort:

Discover the differences between modern Dutch law and the legal system as it used to be. Principles that now serve as the basis for our legal system would have seemed very strange in medieval times - and vice versa. How has the law evolved over the centuries to become what we know today? Was The Hague always the city of Peace and Justice? Join us for a walk through some places that have played a significant role in the legal history of our country.

Register here

Haags Historisch Museum 

During the Just Peace Open Day 2023, the Hague Historical Museum presents the lecture, "History of the Humanisation of Dutch Criminal Law." As early as the sixteenth century, voices were raised against the barbarity of the justice system of the time. Yet it would be centuries before the death penalty and any form of torture were abolished in the Netherlands. This lecture will take you through the history of the humanisation of Dutch criminal law. Please note that the lecture will be given in Dutch.

Register here

Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH):

Since 1893, the Hague Conference on Private International Law (HCCH) works for the progressive unification of the rules of private international law through the negotiation, adoption and monitoring of international treaties – the HCCH Conventions - and other legal instruments. The HCCH Conventions and normative projects deal with a wide range of issues – child protection, adoption, vulnerable adults, trade, investment, tourism, the digital economy and more - with a direct practical impact on individuals, families and companies. What happens if a person in the Philippines seeks child support from their ex-partner in Portugal, or if a child in Australia is wrongfully taken to Argentina by their parent, in breach of the other parent’s rights of custody? Can a witness in Morocco provide evidence in a civil case in Mexico, or a high school diploma issued in the Dominican Republic be recognised in Denmark? Join the HCCH’s Open Day to learn more!

Register here

Justice and Peace:
Hague based human rights organisation Justice & Peace is a non-profit organisation dedicated to defending and promoting respect for human rights and social justice for everyone. They believe everyone can be a change maker. Their work is focused on building and empowering local communities of change makers to take action in creating more just, sustainable, and welcoming societies.

During this Just Peace Open Day Justice & Peace is opening their doors at the exhibition space Anna Vastgoed and Culture at the Hofvijver. In the exhibition “My Point, your View” you can explore the powerful works of the cartoon artist Yves Kulondwa from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Yves is the current participant of Justice & Peace’s Artists’ Safe Haven initiative. During your visit you’ll also have the chance to meet Justice & Peace staff and learn more about their work on human rights defenders & security and migration & human rights.

Register here

International Criminal Court (ICC):

Enter the ICC Public Gallery to view the Courtroom: Presentations there include a video and Q&A with Court staff and run every hour (first session at 10:30). Learn how the ICC, as a permanent Court of last resort, works to bring justice to victims of some of the world’s worst crimes, and pose your questions to ICC experts. Visitors are then welcome to visit other information booths throughout the public area of the building, to learn about jobs and internships, the Trust Fund for Victims, as well as the work of the International Criminal Court staff.

Register here

UN International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (IRMCT):

On this year’s Open Day, take the opportunity to step inside our courtroom where, since the 1990s, dedicated Judges, lawyers, interpreters, and many others have worked in the pursuit of international justice. Over the years, dozens of the most senior military and political officials were tried in this courtroom and many were found responsible for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide committed in the former Yugoslavia. Legal and other professionals will share their experiences working in and outside the courtroom and will be able to answer your questions about our work.

Register here

Peace Palace: Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), International Court of Justice (ICJ), Carnegie Foundation:

This is an opportunity for members of the general public to visit the Peace Palace building and to learn more about these international institutions. About the program: • All presentations and tours (duration approx. 70 minutes) are scheduled during the following six timeslots: 11:00, 11:40, 13:20, 14:00, 14:40, 15:20 CEST. During the program you will visit different areas of the Peace Palace. The separate presentations are each approximately 20 minutes long. All registered attendees must be present for the entire program. It is not possible to leave halfway. All presentations and tours will be provided in English.

Register here 

High Commissioner on National Minorities of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE HCNM):

Thirty years ago, amid the challenges of the changing European geopolitical landscape of the early 1990s, the position of OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities was established with a mandate to provide early warning and take early action at the first sign of tensions involving national minorities in the OSCE region: an area stretching from Vancouver to Vladivostok. Today, the High Commissioner continues to work with all 57 OSCE participating States to identify the causes of interethnic tensions and help build well-integrated, multi-ethnic societies that celebrate diversity.

During the Just Peace Open Day 2023, the OSCE HCNM programme will exist from two presentations: Each HCNM presentation will last for approximately 1 hour and will focus on the work of the High Commissioner on National Minorities. There will be space for a discussion and questions.

Register here

EUROJUST:

On Sunday 24 September, Eurojust invites you to its Open Day. Join us to gain unique insights into the work of the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation at our headquarters in The Hague.

On 24 September, we will welcome pre-registered visitors in two identical sessions in the morning and in the afternoon. Registration is possible until Thursday 21 September. Please indicate whether you wish to attend the morning session (from 10:00 until 12:00) or the afternoon session (from 13:00 until 15:00). We kindly ask you to carefully read the instructions on the registration page.

Register here

International Commission on Missing Persons (ICMP):

Established in 1996, initially to coordinate efforts to account for the 40,000 people who were missing as a result of the wars in the former Yugoslavia, ICMP has developed into a major intergovernmental organization with a worldwide mandate. It moved its Headquarters to The Hague in 2015. Currently, ICMP has programs related to Canada, Syria, Iraq, Libya, Mediterranean Migration, the Western Balkans, Ukraine, and Vietnam. Its mandate is firmly based on supporting the rule of law and in delivering truth, justice, and reparations to families of the missing.

Join us on Just Peace Open Day, when our staff will present key ICMP activities, including institution building and assistance to justice, the application of forensic science and database technology, and efforts to support civil society. There will also be an opportunity to have a closer look at ICMP’s state-of-the-art DNA laboratory.

The missing persons issue is connected to conflict, human rights abuses, organized crime, people trafficking, political instability, climate change, irregular migration and forced displacement of refugees. This means it is connected to the work of multiple international organizations that also have their Headquarters in The Hague.

The session will be from 11 am – 12:30 pm
It will be a short presentation followed by interactive session on DNA, a small competition and Q & A. 

Register here

Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW):

During Open Day 2023, visit the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) – recipient of the 2013 Nobel Peace Prize – to learn about chemical weapons, why we need to work together to completely eliminate them and how you can contribute.

Register here

Kosovo Specialist Chambers (KSC):

As part of the Just Peace Festival, the Kosovo Specialist Chambers is happy to welcome you to their premises for a tour and presentation on the mandate and work of the Court. For an hour, our outreach team will show you around the public areas of the court including the press briefing room, the media centre and the public gallery overlooking the courtroom. During this time, we will tell you more about the establishment of the Chambers, the ongoing legal proceedings and the KSC Outreach programme.
There will be two time slots available for the tour of the KSC, at 10:00am and 12:30pm. Due to limited seating arrangements, we will only be able to accommodate a maximum of 40 participants per timeslot.

Register here

TU Delft | The Hague:

As a prestigious university, TU Delft strives to have an impact on a better society through research and education. But how can we positively influence decision-making on our society? The TU Delft | The Hague strategic programme and our new location serve this purpose perfectly. The Hague offers opportunities for more 'impact for a better society', connect to UN SDG; give substance to civic engagement. Our mission is to better involve state-of-the-art engineering in political and administrative deliberations, policy-making and implementation.

To this end, we train a certain type of engineers: transdisciplinary, policy-conscious and application-oriented in addition to system thinking. The 'next step' in this development requires a more intensive exchange between practice, research and education.

For the Just Peace Open Day TU Delft will organise an interactive debate: Participating debaters are ngo-affiliates, politicians/civil servants and scientists. There will be two statements. Each debater will have 2 minutes to present their standpoint about the statement. With those in mind, the public can vote on the statement. When that is done, they can ask a question that gives the starting point for the in-depth debate of 10 minutes between two debaters (selected beforehand). Followed by a Q&A.

Register here. 

Asser Institute:

Discover the complex world of counter-terrorism through interactive discussion and games at the Asser Institute during the Just Peace Open Day.

In an interactive session you will gain insight into the Asser Institute’s research on the legal aspects of counter-terrorism. We will start with a rapid-fire quiz, where our experts will test your knowledge of terrorism, United Nations and States’ responses to it, current and future threats and ongoing prevention efforts. We’ll also discuss important terms like radicalisation, violent extremism, and political violence. These terms are being used throughout the dialogue around terrorism yet they should not be confused as they refer to different acts.

Register here

Peace in the Park:

Inner Charging Point: Learn how to recharge, discharge, relax, and find tranquility in your daily life, even when facing uncertainty, insecurity, chaos, and pressure. Inner peace and a strong self-relationship can help you better navigate stressful situations.

Did you know that a peaceful mindset is the starting point for inner tranquility? It's a crucial initial step before you take any action. At Peace in the Park, you can either enter the entire Open Day to recharge at the Inner Charging Point or participate in one of the four 30-minute sessions. Reserve your spot now and receive your free Personal Charging Card.

Register here

Nationaal Monument Oranjehotel:

The Oranjehotel was the name the Dutch attributed to the Scheveningen prison during the Second World War. Here the nazi's detained over 25,000 people for interrogation and prosecution. Those who violated regulations imposed by the nazi's covered a broad spectrum and came from all corners of the Netherlands. Most were members of the Resistance, but those imprisoned here also included Jews and Jehovah’s Witnesses, as well as people detained for economic offences, such as dealing on the black market. Even during the war, the complex was called Oranjehotel as a tribute to the Resistance members imprisoned there. Since 2019 it is a museum.

Visitors of the Just Peace Open day will receive a €2,50 discount for a ticket to the NM Oranjehotel. Register here to receive your discount.

Unplugged for Peace: Acoustic concert

Unplugged for peace is an acoustic music performance by an ensamble of the Residentie Orkest organised in collaboration with Nationaal Monument Oranjehotel and Just Peace, sharing a message of hope, solidarity, peace and justice.

As we gather at the NM Oranjehotel, to bring the Just Peace Open Day 2023 to a close, we invite you to immerse yourself in an afternoon filled with harmony, inspiration and a joint movement towards a better and more peaceful world. Let the melodies inspire you to take action in your own life, fostering peace within your community and beyond, and acting with solidarity with those who have been stripped of their basic human rights.

Symphony 2030 is the societal pillar of the Residentie Orkest and stems from the ambition to be relevant and meaningful to all residents of the city, from all walks of life. Symphony 2030 is linked to the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations. Through projects like "RO in the neighborhood," the City Orchestra The Residents, and customized initiatives with societal partners, we aim to inspire and connect the residents of The Hague. We harness the power of music to foster encounters and mutual engagement, to shed light on specific themes, and to build bridges.

Register here

The Hague Humanity Hub

As part of the Just Peace Open Day on September 24, Art Works Project, Human Rights in the Picture, and The Hague Humanity Hub are excited to collaborate on a joint pop-up exhibition that explores the powerful connection between visual advocacy and peacebuilding. This joint exhibition aims to shed light on the critical role visual advocacy plays in raising awareness, promoting dialogue, and effecting positive change in the realm of human rights and peace. ART WORKS Projects (AWP) and Human Rights in the Picture (HRitP) are two non-profit organisations dedicated to advancing social justice and human rights through documentary film and photography. Both organisations are members of the Humanity Hub and contribute to the The Hague ecosystem for a more peaceful and just world.

At this pop-up exhibition we will show a selection of their works from two exhibitions: Picturing Change, Storytelling that Amplifies Human Rights from Art Works Project and Stories from the Streets of Myanmar from Human Rights in the Picture. In addition to the photography on display, we will also preview a selected number of videos from both organisations. Art Works Project will show a video featuring the power of photography to portray the lived experiences of those seeking safety in honor of World Refugee Day.

Through this joint pop-up exhibition, we aim to celebrate the power of visuals in advocating for positive change and inspire collective action in the pursuit of a more peaceful and just society. We invite all individuals and organizations interested in the intersection of art, human rights, and peace to join us in this exploration of the visual language of advocacy. Together, we can amplify our impact and create a better world for all.

Register here