On 1 June 2026, the Nuremberg Academy co-organised a side event titled " Higher Education for Peace and Justice: Building Young Generations’ Competencies to Prevent Atrocity Crimes and Advance Accountability” at the 35th session of the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) held in Vienna. The side-event was co-organised along with the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI) and the United Nations mandated University for Peace (UPeace). Senior Officer Kiran Mohandas Menon introduced the mandate and work of the Nuremberg Academy and spoke of the importance of empowering frameworks focussing on the prevention of international crimes. He also emphasised the significance of acknowledging younger generations as agents of change who have made significant but under-explored contributions to landmark international law developments.
Apart from Mr Menon, the panel, which was moderated by Professor Olympia Bekou, Head of the School of Law, University of Nottingham, was further composed of H.E. Olga Sauma, Ambassador of Costa Rica and Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna, Dr Juan Carlos Sainz-Borgo, Vice-Rector, University for Peace, Leif Villadsen, Acting Director, UNICRI, Giuseppina Maddaluno, Programme Management Officer, UNICRI and Marcelo Martoy Pitetta, UNICRI alumni. The audience was composed of representatives of CCPJ member states, high-ranking UN officials and members of civil society organisations.
Please find the programme of the event below. (km)
