Vrede & Recht brochure ENG

2015 #peacejustice

“The Hague is recognised globally as the home of international justice.”

- Ban Ki-moon, United Nations Secretary-General

THE HAGUE INTERNATIONAL CITY OF

PEACE AND JUSTICE

“The Hague is the present and future legal capital of the world.�

- Boutros Boutros-Ghali, former United Nations Secretary-General (1998)

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The Hague: working towards a better world

World-level conferences are held with great regularity in the Netherlands. In 2014, the Nuclear Security Summit, the largest summit ever organised in the Netherlands, took place in The Hague. Other examples of top-level consultations of this kind held in The Hague are the Afghanistan Conference in 2009 and the Global Conference on CyberSpace in 2015. At these meetings, dozens of world leaders consult on the prevention of, and non-violent solutions to, problems in the field of peace, justice and security.

There are good reasons for holding these conferences in The Hague. The city has a strong reputation when it comes to peace and justice. It is the only city outside New York to boast a main UN organ, that is, the International Court of Justice. In The Hague, every day, tens of thousands of people jointly pursue a more peaceful, just and secure world. They work in around 160 organisations, hundreds of companies and various knowledge centres, and also in the Peace Palace, the symbol of international justice for more than 100 years. The Hague is the place where conflicts are prevented and peacefully solved. It is, furthermore, the host city for international conferences and a meeting place for dialogue and debate. For everyone; both now and in the future.

This brochure tells you about The Hague as City of Peace and Justice. Meet the people behind the scenes and see the results of their work. Find out all about this fascinating city, its history and its ambitious plans for the future.

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An unforgettable day

Official opening of the Peace Palace in the presence of Queen Wilhelmina, 1913 United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, King Willem-Alexander and Prime Minister Mark Rutte attending the celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the Peace Palace, 2013

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The Peace Palace was established in The Hague on 28 August 1913 as a ‘temple for world peace’, with two courtrooms and an extensive legal library. The building was officially opened by ScottishAmerican financier Andrew Carnegie in the presence of Dutch Queen Wilhelmina, and journalists from all over the world flocked to the event. This was an unforgettable day for The Hague.

The Peace Palace was the only place in the world where international disputes were resolved before a court in order to prevent nations from fighting them out on the battlefield. It was the very first institution in The Hague where people worked daily to achieve world peace. The Peace Palace has developed into a global symbol of peace and justice during these past hundred years, and The Hague has become the International City of Peace and Justice where institutions are working every day towards a better world.

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Resolving disputes instead of fighting 06

The concept of building a Peace Palace arose during the First Hague Peace Conference in 1899, when delegates from 26 countries met to discuss peace and disarmament. This was the first time in history that such an event had taken place. Emperor Nicholas II of Russia was very much in favour of the talks. He was aware of the effects of war on the Russian people and he wanted to create dialogue among nations by holding a conference. His message was clear: dialogue prevents war. Nicholas chose The Hague as the location for this conference for three reasons: the city was easily accessible for people from other countries, it was situated in the Netherlands which was a neutral country, and Queen Wilhelmina and Nicholas were distant relatives.

Melted-down cannons During the Peace Conference, the French emissary proposed that all participating nations make a contribution to the building of the Peace Palace. This might be a gift for the interior such as building materials, decorations or works of art. The other emissaries were very keen on this idea, and as a result, the Peace Palace was constructed using the very best types of timber, marble and other materials and embellished with works of art from all over the world. One of these - a bronze replica of the statue of Christ the Redeemer of the Andes - truly symbolises peace and justice. The original statue was made from the melteddown arms of two countries which almost declared war on one another: Chile and Argentina.

The Hague Peace Conference resulted in the founding of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), an international arbitration tribunal whose purpose is to mediate in conflicts. Since the PCA needed its own premises, Andrew Carnegie donated one and a half million dollars to finance construction of the Peace Palace and the State of the Netherlands donated the plot of land in The Hague.

On 15 July 1899, the British journalist G.H. Perris wrote in his diary: “[The city is] a place of contemplation, courtesy and patience. Convening a Parliament for Peace here was an excellent notion. And The Hague has reaped its just reward, for this modest city has meanwhile grown into the world’s legal centre. Could a higher honour befall any metropolis?�

“This modest city has meanwhile grown into the world’s legal centre.” - G.H. Perris, British author on world peace, 1899

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The International Court of Justice seeks peaceful alternatives in disputes between nations, and the Permanent Court of Arbitration also gives rulings on matters between nations and international organisations or private individuals. The Permanent Court of Arbitration and the International Court of Justice are held in very high esteem all over the world.

Snowball effect

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An increasing number of organisations involved in international law and world peace became established in The Hague during the second half of the 20th century. This was particularly noticeable during the 1990s. The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia opened in The Hague in 1993, and the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) followed suit in 1997.

The International Criminal Court, whose origins date from 1998, was established in 2002. This Court is the first permanent international court of justice founded on the basis of an international treaty: Rome Statute.

At the International Criminal Court, individuals are put on trial for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Its predecessors include the Nuremberg Trials held at the International Military Tribunal, the Tokyo War Crimes Tribunal, and special ad hoc tribunals such as the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.

The Municipality of The Hague and the Dutch government provide these international organisations and their staff with an excellent working and living environment. The city is happy to do this. “Here in The Hague, we’re working towards a better world,” says Mayor Jozias van Aartsen.

“We’re very proud of this fact and we want to spread the word everywhere.”

World centre for international justice

After the Second World War, the United Nations was founded by 51 nations. All the UN’s principal organs established their main offices in New York, with one exception: the UN’s judicial organ, the International Court of Justice, was housed in the Peace Palace in The Hague. Like the Permanent Court of Arbitration, its purpose is to resolve disputes between nations and to prevent war wherever possible.

Success stories

“Eurojust is proud to have its seat in The Hague, the city of peace and justice, surrounded by many other international organisations. Our mission is to support and strengthen coordination and cooperation between national judicial authorities in the fight against serious cross-border crime and terrorism and ultimately to make Europe a safer place.”

- Michele Coninsx, President of Eurojust

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International Court of Justice 02 Yugoslavia Tribunal, Churchillplein

Nowadays there are about 160 international organisations in The Hague that are working towards a better world. These organisations prevent and resolve innumerable conflicts all over the globe using peaceful means.

Here in The Hague, we resolve conflicts with a well-balanced and legally valid ruling, not by force of arms. Knowledge, science and experience in the field of peace and justice join forces in The Hague.

The presence of a large number of international organisations in The Hague attracts other internationallyactive organisations. In 2014, for example, the NATO Civil-Military Cooperation Centre of Excellence, the Global Network of Women’s Shelters and the Human Security Collective established offices in The Hague.

The Hague frequently hosts major international conferences as well, thanks to its worldwide reputation as City of Peace and Justice.

Prime examples of this are the Afghanistan Conference in 2009, the Nuclear Security Summit in 2014 and the Global Conference on Cyberspace in 2015.

“The Hague is the world centre of international justice. If people organise anything to do with international law, they always look to The Hague. It works better to have everyone with the same ambitions and mission all in one place.”

- Joan Donoghue, ICJ Judge

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Device encapsulates what The Hague stands for For over a century, The Hague and its citizens have worked to further peace and justice the world over. That is why on 9 May 2012, the Dutch Queen Beatrix bestowed this heraldic device on the city.

And since 5 June 2014, the Municipality of The Hague also includes the phrase in its logo.

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Peace and justice is in The Hague’s blood

Article 90 of the Dutch Constitution states that it is the duty of the Dutch government to promote development of the international rule of law. The Netherlands is one of the very few countries in the world to include this kind of article in its Constitution.

In practice, this means that the Dutch government endeavours to foster international peace and security and to safeguard human rights. Another aspect of this is that the Dutch government, in collaboration with the city of The Hague, ensures that the Netherlands is a good host country to organisations concerned with peace and justice. This includes such factors as being easily accessible and providing attractive public space, excellent international schools and topquality cultural and other facilities for international staff.

This policy has proved successful. It can be seen in the number of NGOs with offices in the city, such as the Red Cross, Amnesty International and UNICEF (the United Nations Children's Fund). This number has more than doubled from 60 to 135 during the past ten years. The NGOs appreciate the presence of the courts, tribunals and other international organisations, as well as the stable political climate in the Netherlands. In addition to this, The Hague has set up a multi-tenant office building for NGOs in order to facilitate contact among them, and has created a special International Zone in the city.

And the Municipality has made additional investments in security, accessibility, public space and excellent facilities in this zone, where many international organisations have their offices.

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Initiatives and cooperation in The Hague

“The Hague is a fascinating city to work in.”

- Abi Williams, president of The Hague Institute for Global Justice

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The city is developing its own institutions for peace and justice. One of these is The Hague Institute for Global Justice (The Hague Institute), which was set up in 2011 in collaboration with organisations located in the city. Its purpose is to carry out research and practical activities and to provide recommendations in connection with peace, justice and security. This institute’s objective is to prevent and resolve conflicts and to promote international peace through programmes such as Conflict Prevention, Rule of Law and Global Governance. It conducts innovative top-quality research, such as a report on working towards peace published in 2013 and entitled ‘The Hague Approach’.

In addition to the above, the institute focuses on bringing international experts together - in public and in camera - and facilitates professional training courses. In the summer of 2013, for instance, the institute received a delegation of eminent judges and prosecutors from Libya for a training course on international criminal law. The Hague Institute is strongly emerging as a leading international 'think-and-do tank' and will make a major contribution to consolidating The Hague’s position as International City of Peace and Justice.

Security The Netherlands and The Hague are committed to the pursuit of national and international security; after all, this is an essential condition

for peace and justice. Increasing national and international links are being made between peace, justice and security in the Hague region through various bodies, including the Hague

“HSD is guiding the golden triangle of knowledge institutes, government and the business community towards full maturity, which will enable us to use innovative security solutions to create a safer world and achieve economic growth.” - Rob de Wijk, General Manager, HSD (The Hague Security Delta)

Security Delta (HSD), the largest security cluster in Europe. In this cluster, companies, authorities and knowledge institutes throughout the whole of the Netherlands cooperate on innovations and the development of knowledge in the fields of cyber security, national and urban security, the protection of vital infrastructure and forensic activities.

These organisations have a common ambition: a more secure world and more jobs.

The Hague is the beating heart of this cluster, with 400 security companies providing employment for 13,400 people. The HSD Campus, the national innovation centre for security, with living labs, training facilities and flexible office and meeting rooms, is, moreover, also located in The Hague. Of particular interest is the presence of the Cyber Security Academy, a unique partnership between Leiden University/Campus The Hague, The Hague University of Applied Sciences and Delft University of Technology in the field of cyber security education.

Employment In addition to all the organisations concerned with peace and justice, there are more than 300 international companies located in The

Hague and environs. The biggest of these are Shell, AEGON and KPN, all of which have their head offices in the city. The Hague’s international image also attracts other large companies.

The Hague is of particular interest to companies in the energy, IT and security sectors.

‘The Hague’ has meanwhile become an international byword, which is good for the city and the rest of the Netherlands too. The international organisations in The Hague have a positive effect on employment and the economy, since their total workforce numbers about 19,500 people. Sectors such as IT, cleaning services, tax-related services, the catering industry, the retail trade, taxi services, security and education benefit from the presence of international organisations, while indirect employment is estimated at about 17,500 jobs. This means that the presence of international organisations in The Hague has resulted in a total of more than 37,000 jobs for people at all levels of education, and it has also had a positive effect on tourism.

There are about 160 intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations (IGOs and NGOs) in The Hague that work hard every day to make the world a better place.

At least 26 of the 35 IGOs in the Netherlands are located in The Hague and environs.

1 The Hague Conference on Private International Law (HccH)

The purpose of the HccH is to conclude global agreements on private international law. This relates to matters such as uniform international regulations on adoption or child abduction.

2 Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)

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peacefully resolves disputes between nations, intergovernmental organisations and private individuals.

115 nations have joined and the number of members is increasing.

3 International Court of Justice (ICJ)

“Thanks to the numerous international institutions, government organisations and knowledge-intensive companies, The Hague is the obvious place for us to work every day on research and innovation that foster peace and security in the world.”

- Henk Geveke, Managing Director for Defence, Safety and Security at TNO

The ICJ is the only principal United Nations (UN) organ located outside New York. The ICJ deals exclusively with legal disputes between nations, and makes recommendations to the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council on request.

4 Iran-United States Claims Tribunal (IUSCT)

This international tribunal was established by Iran and the United States in 1981 in order to resolve the crisis that arose between these countries as a result of the holding hostage of people in the US Embassy in Teheran in 1979. The tribunal arbitrates on claims made by US and Iranian citizens against Iran or the United States respectively. The governments of both countries can submit claims to the tribunal as well.

5 International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY)

The United Nations (UN) Security Council established the ICTY in 1993. This tribunal brings individuals charged with genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and violations of the Geneva Conventions to trial. This relates to crimes committed by these individuals in the former Yugoslavia from 1991 on.

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6 International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals (MICT)

The MICT is a mechanism established in 2010 to complete the remaining tasks of the tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda. Both tribunals are scheduled to be closed down at the end of 2014, and the mechanism will take over their respective jurisdictions, rights, obligations and functions in the meantime.

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7 Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL)

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The STL was established by the United Nations (UN) Security Council in 2007. Its purpose is to investigate a bomb attack carried out in Lebanon in 2005, in which 23 people were killed, and to bring the perpetrators to trial. One of the people killed in this attack was former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri.

8 Residual Special Court for Sierra Leone (RSCSL)

This special court has taken over the jurisdiction, rights, obligations and functions of the former Sierra Leone tribunal, which was closed down in 2013. The tribunal brought individuals to trial who were guilty of violating international humanitarian law and the laws of Sierra Leone from 1996 on.

9 European Space Agency (ESA/ESTEC)

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ESTEC is the European Space Agency (ESA)’s technical centre.

Practically all ESA projects are managed from ESTEC.

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10 International Criminal Court (ICC)

The ICC is a permanent court established for the purpose of bringing individuals charged with genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes to trial.

11 Europol

Europol is one of the European Union’s organs whose purpose is to improve mutual cooperation and effectiveness among the police forces in its affiliated member states. Europol helps to combat serious international crime.

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12 Eurojust

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Eurojust is one of the European Union’s agencies whose purpose is to improve cooperation among judicial authorities in the EU member states in connection with serious organised crime in the EU.

13 NATO Communications and Information Agency (NCIA)

The NCIA is one of NATO’s agencies. It focuses on information technology, digital defence and anti-missile defence.

14 NATO CIMIC Centre of Excellence (CCOE)

The NATO Civil Military Cooperation Centre of Excellence is an international military centre of expertise in the field of militarycivilian collaboration. The CCOE is one of the 18 Centres of Excellence established by the NATO member states.

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15 OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM)

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The High Commissioner is charged with seeking early solutions to ethnic tensions and identifying tensions that might pose a threat to peace, stability or friendly relations between members of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

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16 International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) IDEA is an intergovernmental organisation that contributes to democratic reforms, electoral processes, constitutional reforms, the political participation of women and the reinforcing of political parties all over the world.

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17 International Development Law Organisation (IDLO) The IDLO is an intergovernmental judicial organisation that is responsible for developing the rule of law. It consolidates institutions that dedicate themselves to fostering peace, justice, sustainable development and social and economic opportunities in fragile states.

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18 Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)

The OPCW is an international organisation that has been monitoring the destruction of all chemical weapons in the world since 1997. The organisation carries out inspections all over the world, and it was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2013.

The Hague: the place to be for international study

19 Benelux Office for Intellectual Property (BOIP)

The BOIP is responsible for registering trademarks, designs and drawings in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg.

20 European Patent Office (EPO)

The EPO ensures that patents are granted to inventors, academic and scientific researchers and companies through one central patent application in a large number of European countries.

21 Representation of the European Commission (EC) in the Netherlands

This representation forms part of the European Commission.

It explains how EU policies impact citizens’ lives; monitors public opinion in the Netherlands and contributes to European dialogue with its citizens and civil society organisations.

22 European Parliament (EP) Information Office in the Netherlands

The EP Information Office represents the European Parliament and its members in the Netherlands. It is one of the 28 EP information offices, one for every EU member state.

23 Dutch Language Union (NTU)

The NTU focuses on the Dutch language, education in Dutch and teaching Dutch, Dutch literature and the Dutch language in the world. The NTU also determines the spelling in Dutch.

24 International Organisation for Migration (IOM) in the Netherlands The IOM endeavours to ensure orderly migration with respect for human dignity, and provides humanitarian aid to migrants in need, including refugees and displaced persons.

25 United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

The UNHCR is mandated to protect and support refugees at the request of individual nations or the UN.

26 UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education

The UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education is the world’s largest water and water management knowledge and training facility. It was established by the United Nations UNESCO organisation, and is the property of all UNESCO member states.

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“I chose The Hague because this city offers so many international career opportunities. Both the private and public sectors are amply represented in this city.”

- David Chadwick, student of International Studies at Campus The Hague

People wishing to work in an international environment at the very centre of everything that is going on in relation to international peace and justice will naturally gravitate towards The Hague. “The Hague is the world’s leading international city for peace and justice, and this means it’s a fascinating city to work in,” says Abi Williams, president of The Hague Institute for Global Justice. “We also have the unique advantage of a very supportive government in The Hague, which gives us every assistance in our work, and also the Municipality of The Hague, which supports us.”

Students intending to pursue a career in peace issues, international law and security are well aware that The Hague is the place to be. That is why more and more students from the Netherlands and all over the world come to The Hague. Some of them study for a bachelor’s or master’s degree in international law at Campus The Hague-Leiden University, while others enrol for an international study course at The Hague University of Applied Sciences, the Institute for Social Studies, or The Hague Institute for Global Justice.

In the words of one of our international students “A lot of important decisions are made in The Hague.

You can feel it in the air.” David Chadwick from the UK is a student of International Studies at Campus The Hague. He sees The Hague as a prominent city in the international landscape and consciously decided to study here. “Before moving here, I had already read about The Hague being the International City of Peace and Justice but didn’t understand what that really means. After living here for two years, I can see that it’s authentic.”

The Hague’s international environment appeals to David. “It’s wonderful how people here really do their best to embrace the international community.

This is tremendously valuable to me. Moreover, it’s a good place to find a traineeship at an international organisation or embassy. I’ve attended a number of information days held at buildings of the UN, but also at Shell’s head office. Both organisations offer very attractive career opportunities.”

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In David’s view, having so many international organisations in one spot offers considerable added value. “The international organisations are aware that their presence alone is not enough to secure a more just and more peaceful world, that depends on their efficacy. In 2013 the OPCW was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize – so they must be doing something right!”

There are 11 international schools in The Hague: International School of The Hague, The British School in The Netherlands, The American School of The Hague, Deutsche Internationale Schule Den Haag, Lycée Vincent van Gogh de La Haye, The Indonesian School, The Ukranian School, The Polish School, Schoolvereeniging Foundation The Hague, Mondriaan International School, and The European School of The Hague.

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“Without justice no peace, without peace no justice. In The Hague, this formula is reality rather than an abstract concept. Here, world leaders, diplomats, activists and other representatives of the world population meet to work on a better, more secure world for tomorrow.�

- Bert Koenders, the Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs

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The future The Netherlands and The Hague are very proud of the fact that the city is internationally acknowledged as City of Peace and Justice.

The Dutch government and the Municipality of The Hague are working hard to ensure that the international organisations remain here and to attract more institutions to the city. The Hague will be the place where peace and justice belong and are safeguarded in the future too.

Here in The Hague, all the international governmental organisations, including the international courts and tribunals, and about 135 non-governmental organisations are endeavouring to create a just and peaceful world for everyone. The fact that their offices are close together has resulted in increasing cooperation, and encourages institutions that are not yet located here to come to The Hague. This will further consolidate the position of the Netherlands and The Hague as the centre of expertise for peace and justice in the future.

And there is increasing focus on national and international security as well. The Hague Security Delta, which is a network of businesses, knowledge institutes and government authorities, acts as a magnet for other businesses and institutions in the same field of activity. The Dutch government and the Municipality of The Hague fully support these developments too.

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More than 30 NGOs have established offices in the Bertha von Suttner multi-tenant building (on Laan van Meerdervoort). This building was set up specially for them and its presence played a role in their decision to opt for The Hague.

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“The presence of all the international organisations, NGOs and knowledge institutes serves to make The Hague an even more attractive location for other institutions as well as businesses. The Municipality naturally encourages these developments in every way, and we do all in our power to provide the international community in The Hague with the best possible services.� - Jozias van Aartsen, Mayor of The Hague

Locations for peace and justice open to the public

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A great deal of the work relating to peace and justice goes on behind the scenes. While it is obviously impossible to access the activities of Europol staff involved in combating cyber crime, there are still a number of locations which are open to the public, and special events are held to enable people to experience The Hague’s international character.

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The Peace Palace A visit to the Peace Palace is a must, and we particularly recommend a guided tour. A number of such tours are available several weekends a year. Visitors can also go to the Peace Palace Visitors’ Centre and view an exhibition or watch a film about the palace. Admission to the Visitors’ Centre is free.

General Ban Ki-moon and other world leaders discussed nuclear security in March 2014. And they can also follow in the footsteps of famous peace activists like Dr. Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi.

www.vredespaleis.nl

2 Legal proceedings Individuals accused of war crimes all over the world are prosecuted and tried in The Hague, and conflicts are resolved here too. Many of these legal proceedings are open to the public, such as those at the International Court of Justice, the Yugoslavia Tribunal and the International Criminal Court. If you would like to attend any of these legal proceedings, just have a look at the agenda on the relevant court or tribunal’s website. For more information, please go to www.icj-cij.org, www.icty.org and www.icc-cpi.int 3 The city hall The City of Peace and Justice is administered from the city hall, whose building was designed by American architect Richard Meier. The film “The Hague Impressions” is continually showing in the film theatre. This film tells you about the International City of Peace and Justice’s past and future. www.denhaag.nl/home/bezoekers/vvv.htm 4 The Hague Peace app The Hague Peace App is a prime example of how The Hague is working towards a better world. This app takes users on a digital and interactive voyage of discovery through many international organisations and unique locations in The Hague’s International Zone. It enables people to experience the way in which these organisations work, and gives them the opportunity to see from the outside what is happening on the inside.

Users can pay virtual visits to the world-famous Peace Palace, Nobel Peace laureate OPCW and the World Forum, where President Obama, UN Secretary-

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The app was developed by Museon, The Hague’s cultural and science museum. For more information, please go to http://werkenaanvrede.museon.nl/nl/vredesapp 5 Movies that Matter The Hague has its own film festival, an initiative of Amnesty International, which shows films on peace and justice. The name of the festival is “Movies that Matter”. This programme also comprises interviews and debates with international film makers, activists and politicians, and there are exhibitions and live music too. www.moviesthatmatter.nl

6 Humanity House Humanity House is a unique museum set up by the Dutch Red Cross and many of its partners. It shows visitors what it is really like to have to flee your home as a result of war or natural disasters.

The museum tells stories about real-life refugees who have endured terrible wars or other disasters.

Humanity House is suitable for children aged 10 and over. www.humanityhouse.org

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Just Peace

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One goal: just peace The first ‘Just Peace’ weekend was held in The Hague in 2014, and The Hague, as International City of Peace and Justice, celebrated the United Nations International Day of Peace during this weekend.

The celebrations included music, debates, exhibitions, running events, guided tours, walking tours and lots more. About 500 people took part in ‘Peace Palace by Night’, a unique tour of the Peace Palace which had been beautifully lit up for the occasion. A further 8,000 people ran for peace during the Peace Run and about 3,500 others joined in a tour of The Hague’s international organisations, which are normally closed to the public.

In 2015 'The Hague for UNICEF' will be a central theme during the ‘Just Peace’ weekend.

Peace Run The second edition of the Peace Run The Hague was held on 20 September 2014, and more than 8,000 people took part in a 10-kilometre run near the Peace Palace. The Peace Run was held for the first time in 2013 to mark the centenary of the Peace Palace.

HagueTalks HagueTalks is a new series of interactive debates in which experts, critics and other interested parties can debate global issues relating to peace and justice online, in the Peace Palace Academy Building, and offline. HagueTalks brings together views on topical peace and justice situations from all over the world. About 200 people - mostly enthusiastic students - took part in the first edition of HagueTalks on 19 September 2014, and it was followed online in 21 countries.

The debate will be held in and outside The Hague on several more occasions during the next few years.

The Hague for UNICEF Every two years since 2005, The Hague, the International City of Peace and Justice, has been campaigning to raise funds for an organisation that works for international peace and justice.

UNICEF was the first charitable organisation it selected ten years ago. After having supported the Red Cross, Warchild, AMREF Flying Doctors and Save the Children, in 2015, The Hague will once more be coming into action for UNICEF. The Hague’s municipal executive has selected this UN children’s rights organisation as the city´s charitable foundation of choice this year because of the long-standing special relationship between them and because, in 2015, it has been 60 years since UNICEF Nederland was set up.

UNICEF is one of the largest children’s rights organisations in the world. It assists children in 190 countries with better education, vaccinations, drinking water supplies and emergency help.

The funds raised in The Hague in the campaign year, will be spent on preventing child marriages in Indonesia. This good cause will be the theme of various events, including the City-Pier-City race and the ‘Just Peace’ weekend, to be held in 2015. Schools, companies, sports clubs, the municipality and other parties in the city will also be dedicating activities to this cause for the duration of a year. www.denhaagvoorunicef.nl

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The effect can be seen the world over

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Prosecution at the International Criminal Court Individuals accused of crimes such as genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity can be prosecuted at the International Criminal Court in The Hague if they cannot be brought to justice in their own countries. These proceedings are given a great deal of attention in the international media, and hundreds of journalists flock to The Hague to cover proceedings against leaders accused of war crimes. One example is the former Congolese rebel leader Thomas Lubanga, who was charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity. The International Criminal Court found Lubanga guilty of these charges in 2012.

International Court of Justice bans Japanese whaling

Sipadan: a tropical holiday island instead of a battlefield War threatened to break out between Malaysia and Indonesia during the second half of the 20th century because both countries had laid claim to the island of Sipadan since 1969. This resulted in an outburst of violence in 1995 and two Indonesian soldiers were killed. After this incident, Malaysia and Indonesia submitted the issue to the International Court of Justice. Although neither country was willing to cede their respective claims, they did not want to go to war either.

After lengthy proceedings in which the Court investigated the history of the island, among other things, it ruled in 2002 that Sipadan rightfully belongs to Malaysia. Indonesia was disappointed, but it nevertheless respected the Court’s decision.

So peace was maintained, and the island is still a favourite holiday destination for divers and other tourists. The area is regarded as one of the world’s best locations for diving.

On Monday 31 March 2014, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) officially banned Japan from continuing its whaling activities for the time being. In its defence Japan pointed out that whaling was necessary for scientific research. But the ICJ, which has been located inside the Peace Palace in The Hague since 1946, ruled that there is no scientific justification for the large number of minke whales that Japan catches.

Australia submitted the dispute to the ICJ on the grounds that scientific research is an excuse for Japan to continue its commercial whaling activities. Japan argued that it is studying the whales’ diet and reproduction, as well as the effects of environmental pollution on these animals. The ICJ was of the opinion that the large number of whales killed is not in proportion to Japan’s scientific results.

Although Japan was disappointed with the court’s decision, it promised to enforce it. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Japan is a country that attaches considerable importance to international law.

Europol combats match fixing “Veto” is the code name under which the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) is investigating match fixing in Europe.

The team comprises staff from Europol (the European Police Office) and police teams from 13 European nations. They have discovered that corruption is rife in European football, and Europol announced in March 2013 that more than 380 football matches in 15 countries had been “fixed”.

At that point Europol had spent 18 months investigating bribery and illegal gambling in the football world.

Europol is the European Union’s law enforcement agency whose job it is to track down cross-border crime.

The agency combats international computer crime, fraud, corruption, money laundering and environmental crime, and ensures cooperation among legal authorities. This cooperation makes it easier for the police to track down and tackle international criminal networks, which in turn increases safety for EU citizens.

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OPCW awarded Nobel Peace Prize On 11 October 2013, the Nobel Committee announced that the Nobel Peace Prize would be awarded to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). This organisation established its headquarters in The Hague in 1992. The Committee praised the role played by the OPCW in reducing the number of chemical weapons all over the world. Thanks to the OPCW’s work, no fewer than 65 states made a start on destroying their chemical weapons in 1997. OPCW inspectors are helping them to dispose of these weapons of mass destruction and are making sure that countries such as Syria keep to the agreements made.

“The best way to solve problems and to fight against war is through dialogue.”

- Malala Yousafzai, Nobel Peace Prize laureate 2015

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Albania was the first country to dispose of all its chemical weapons. Children now play happily in a playground on the site where chemical weapons were formerly stored.

The Committee said that awarding the prize to the OPCW was completely in line with Alfred Nobel’s philosophy. Moreover, awarding the prize acts as an incentive. On receiving the prize, OPCW Director-General Ahmet Üzümcü immediately said he regarded it as an honour and as recognition of the work carried out by his organisation. The Mayor of The Hague, Mr. Jozias van Aartsen, is very proud that the Nobel Prize laureate is settled in his city. ‘The OPCW is one of the major international organisations in The Hague, which is known as the International City of Peace and Justice all over the world,’ Mr. Van Aartsen said.

Syria On 23 June 2014, the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which is located in The Hague’s International Zone, announced that no more raw materials are available for manufacturing chemical weapons in Syria. The UN and the OPCW transported the last part of Syria’s arsenal out of the country on that same day, and the chemicals were destroyed in Finland and the United States.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon had said a month previously that they would probably not be able to meet the 30 June deadline due to fighting between the government leader and the rebels. But they still managed to meet this deadline thanks to factors such as the Syrian authorities’ cooperative attitude.

“The striking feature of The Hague is that it houses many international organisations, courts, tribunals, and legal and security organisations.”

- Grace Asirwatham, Deputy DirectorGeneral of the OPCW (Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons)

Global Conference on Cyberspace in The Hague

Afghanistan conference

Following on from London, Budapest and Seoul, The Hague will host the fourth large-scale international cyberspace conference in 2015. Due to the rapid increase in cybercrime, cyber security needs a firm national and international response.

Since everyone in the Netherlands is confronted with this issue every day at home and at work, the fact that the Netherlands is able to implement the international cyber agenda is a very good thing. The conference is being organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Security and Justice and will be held on 16 and 17 April 2015.

The large international 1899 Peace Conference, which was the beginning of The Hague’s story as City of Peace and Justice, is not the only conference to be held in the city. Peace conferences are still being held in The Hague such as the 2009 Afghanistan Conference, which was chaired by United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. The 73 cabinet ministers who attended this conference at the World Forum in The Hague agreed to release funds for reinforcing the Afghan army, police and other security forces. They also agreed to tackle corruption in Afghanistan and invest in training administrators and civil servants in order to provide the country with reliable government.

Nuclear Security Summit The third Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) was held in The Hague in March 2014. The aim of this summit is to prevent nuclear terrorism worldwide, and The Hague was the third city to host this important world summit after Washington and Seoul. The NSS was the biggest international conference ever held in the Netherlands, and was attended by 53 world leaders including United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, US President Barack Obama, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and British Prime Minister David Cameron. About 5,000 delegation members and 3,000 journalists were also present at the summit.

Speaking of the organisation of the NSS, President Obama said: “Your hospitality has been remarkable.

Your organisation has been flawless. My first visit to the Netherlands has been truly ‘gezellig’.”

At the start of the conference, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte welcomed the world leaders with the words: ‘Welcome to the Netherlands, welcome to The Hague, International City of Peace and Justice.’ Mr. Rutte emphasised the importance of the Peace Palace to global peace and stability. He said: “Over the past hundred years the Peace Palace has become the symbol of efforts to create a stable world order by means of international cooperation.”

In his welcoming speech during the dinner for all the world leaders at the Royal Palace Huis ten Bosch, King Willem-Alexander said: “The Hague has evolved into the International City of Peace and Justice during the past century, and with good reason.”

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Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands

“The recognition that the Peace Prize brings will spur us to untiring effort, even stronger commitment and greater dedication.”

- Ahmet Üzümcü, OPCW Director-General

“The Hague has evolved into the International City of Peace and Justice, and with good reason.”

- King Willem-Alexander during the NSS 2014

WORKING TOWARDS A

This brochure is a joint publication by the Municipality of The Hague and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (February 2015). For more information on The Hague, International City of Peace and Justice, please visit the website: www.thehaguepeacejustice.com. You may freely use any of the images and written texts on this website to tell your own story of peace and justice.

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