Institute for Global Justice can start

The Dutch Cabinet on 19 February 2010 appropriated € 17.45 million to create the Institute for Global Justice (IGJ) in The Hague. The institute should become an authoritative top institute in the area of peace, justice, security and development and make an important contribution to promoting international law.

According to Dutch Minister Maria van der Hoeven (Economic Affairs), ‘The creation of the institute fits in well with the Cabinet’s vision on strengthening the international profile of the Randstad. The IGJ promotes The Hague’s character as an international city. This kind of climate is welcome in economic terms because it will encourage more companies to locate here and it will have an economic spin-off for the city.’

Deputy Mayor Sander Dekker (Education, Youth and Sport) of The Hague said that the new institute enables The Hague to offer a top education in the area of peace and justice. ‘Leiden University’s decision to establish a campus in The Hague was the first step towards high-quality academic education in The Hague. With the IGJ The Hague is definitively developing itself as the international knowledge cluster in this area.’

Strengthening existing knowledge infrastructure

Jaap de Zwaan, director of the Clingendael Institute of International Relations, spoke on behalf of the Hague Academic Coalition (HAC), which consists of eight large knowledge institutes in The Hague. ‘We had constructive talks with the Municipality of The Hague and other interested parties on the project. We welcome the creation of the IGJ and hope and expect that it will strengthen the existing knowledge infrastructure in The Hague.’

De Zwaan said that in light of developments worldwide in terms of peace, justice and security, the IGJ could work to stimulate new activities in the area of courses, research and consultancy. He said that the knowledge institutes in The Hague were looking forward to making a substantial contribution to the process.

A 'renowned institute'

According to Mayor Jozias van Aartsen, The Hague was getting a renowned institute with the Institute for Global Justice. ‘The power of the existing institute in The Hague in the area of peace, justice, security and development will be combined and strengthened. People will be working in The Hague on developing new expertise, products and service which address the world’s complex problems.’

Archived article from denhaag.com:

Top Institute for Global Justice in The Hague

An Institute for Global Justice needs to be established in The Hague, providing a place where new and existing knowledge institutions can work together on research in the field of peace, justice and security.

This new Institute not only will increase the international competitive position of the Netherlands, where the strengthening of international justice is anchored in the constitution, but will also strengthen the position of The Hague as a knowledge city. The latter is crucial to the development of The Hague as the International City of Peace and Justice.

These were the most important recommendations given by the Peace and Justice Committee led by President of the Delft University of Technology Dirk Jan van den Berg. Also serving on the committee were Jan Dekker, President of the Royal Institute of Engineers in the Netherlands, and Willem van Genugten, Professor of International Law at Tilburg University.

‘Peace and Justice’ knowledge cluster

The Van den Berg committee, which was commissioned by The Hague Municipal Executive, gave its independent recommendations in follow-up to a request by a number of Dutch ministries -- including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Economic Affairs – to further underpin the market opportunities for the ‘Peace and Justice’ knowledge cluster.

The intention is for international and prominent knowledge institutes in The Hague, such as the Carnegie Foundation, the Clingendael Institute and the T.M.C. Asser Institute, to work together in the Institute for Global Justice.

According to Committee Chairman Dirk Jan van den Berg, “The Hague has great opportunities for strengthening the knowledge cluster in this field. With this we are thinking of academic research, consultancy and policy recommendations. The number of training courses, study programs, seminars, symposiums and international conferences on peace and justice can also be increased. At the same time, academic training on issues concerning peace, justice and security can be stimulated in The Hague via this institute.”

Top academic institute

The establishment of the Institute for Global Justice in The Hague will give the city a top academic institute, which should be led by an internationally renowned researcher according to the Van den Berg Committee. Former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright has already agreed to serve on the Board of the new Institute.

In terms of its organisation, the institute should work closely together with Leiden University’s Campus The Hague, and there is a possibility of cooperation with the future University College of Leiden University. University College will give The Hague a full-time academic study program within its borders, which will finally make it a true university town.

From the archives of www.denhaag.com (16 June 2009)