Project description
Civil society’s role in international criminal justice in the digital age
The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) focus on dynamic complementarity emphasises the need for enhanced domestic engagement, as universal jurisdiction draws growing attention in the wake of mass atrocities around the world. Civil society organisations (CSOs) connect authorities with survivors and address gender-based violence and ecocide. Supported by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the DIGDEM project will examine the roles of digitalisation and democratisation in international criminal justice (ICJ). It will focus on the challenges faced by often-unprepared domestic jurisdictions and aim to enhance the integration of CSOs within the ICJ framework. The project will strengthen cooperation between CSOs and authorities, improve guidelines for less experienced jurisdictions, and assess the impact of digitalisation on CSOs.
Objective
The DIG&DEM project addresses the growing field of digitalization and democratization in international criminal justice (ICJ), responding to the need for critical research in this evolving landscape. The ICC’s 2024 dynamic complementarity underscores the urgency for stronger domestic engagement, especially as universal jurisdiction gains renewed focus after Russia's aggression against Ukraine. This research targets the challenges within ICJ, where often unprepared domestic jurisdictions remain ineffective. Civil society organizations (CSOs) play a crucial role in bridging authorities with survivors and spotlighting issues like gender-based violence and ecocide.
The project aims to integrate CSOs more effectively into the ICJ ecosystem. First, it develops cooperation methods between CSOs and authorities, enhancing guidelines for less experienced jurisdictions. Second, it examines digitalization's impact on CSOs' roles, identifying best practices and mitigating risks. This research offers new theoretical insights and practical guidelines to strengthen CSOs' roles in the increasingly digitalized and complex ICJ landscape.
This project will take place at Swansea University and Queen's University Belfast, United Kingdom (under the supervision of prof. Yvonne McDermott Rees) with secondment at the UC Berkeley Human Rights Center, United States (under the supervision of prof. Alexa Koenig). The knowledge transfer between Dr. Kaja Kowalczewska and world-leading universities in digital evidence and open-source investigations will equip her with expertise at the intersection of law, technology, and gender in ICJ processes. Paired with strategic leadership and advocacy skills, this will enable her to secure a tenured academic position in Poland, consult on ICL reform, and work as a criminal lawyer. Additionally, she will serve as a trainer and campaigner in the CSO sector, directly contributing to closing the accountability gap and strengthening justice mechanisms in the EU.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
BT7 1NN BELFAST
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.