Purpose
The Forum aims to identify, frame, articulate and facilitate discourses on key issues in international criminal and humanitarian law and transitional justice. Matters of interest to the Forum also include humanitarian affairs, criminal justice, truth and reconciliation and other questions surrounding the two fields of law and related disciplines, as well as general public international law. Through its activities - primarily seminars and publications - the Forum aspires to academic excellence and creativity, drawing on contributions by legal academics and practitioners, government officials, NGO representatives, philosophers, political scientists and others.
Those wishing to collaborate with the Forum may propose joint events for consideration. Curiosity, a will to challenge the established framing of issues, and a practical sense of community needs should guide the formulation of the agenda. Forum events are driven by the topicality and scholarly/practical potential of the issues addressed. Particular emphasis is placed on weak links in institutional practice.
The Forum seeks to include interested institutions and individuals in all continents in its activities, in particular in materially less resourceful countries. To that end, it uses this Internet site to disseminate information about its activities and the ideas and topics it places on the agenda, and to provide access to its publications through an open and free platform.
The Forum has established the Torkel Opsahl Academic EPublisher (TOAEP) to give proper effect to its contributions to research and the democratization of access to academic literature in this area.
The Forum has legal personality under the laws of Belgium. Its Director is Morten Bergsmo.
