New York, 5 December 2023, 13:15-14:45, UNHQ, Conference Room 8

Programme | Anthology on religion and hate speech | Lexsitus | AV recording | UN Web TV

Digital public goods are rapidly changing the way international criminal law is disseminated, studied and consulted around the world. The Digital Public Goods Alliance has already certified a publisher that specializes in international criminal law (the Torkel Opsahl Academic EPublisher (‘TOAEP’)) and the leading e-learning platform in the field (Lexsitus), both built onto the award-winning ICC Legal Tools Database. Chaired by Professor Gregory S. Gordon (Chinese University of Hong Kong), this special event at UNHQ discussed a significant new TOAEP-release on religion and hate speech and a commentary in Arabic, English and French on Lexsitus.

In addition to detailed case-studies and analyzes of normative frameworks and motivations behind hate speech in the name of religion, the anthology Religion, Hateful Expression and Violence (1,156 pp.) contains more than 230 pages of discussion on measures available for religious leaders to reduce hate speech originating in their communities. The book also discusses the role of international criminal law (‘ICL’) and justice, including the use of thematic prosecution. The following experts offered their reflections on the comprehensive anthology:

• H.E. Karim A.A. Khan KC (Prosecutor, International Criminal Court);
• H.E. Dr. Bahia Tahzib-Lie (Dutch Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative);
• Professor Nazila Ghanea (Oxford University; UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief);
• Professor Mohamed E. Badar (Northumbria University); and
• Dr. Song Tianying (CILRAP Research Fellow).

Welcoming the book as “a renewed opportunity to globally better grapple with issues around religious hatred and violence”, Ambassador Tahzib-Lie stated that the event provided “an excellent moment of reflection on how intolerance and prejudice, when leading to hateful expression or hate speech, can have a profoundly corrosive effect on society”. Underlining that religious leaders “should think in terms of their spiritual responsibility and the long-term interest of the group”, Dr. Song Tianying urged them to “see hate speech as it is – a perversion of religion and erroneous interpretations of doctrines. They should not use or endorse hate speech to gain influence in the first place. They should sharpen their radar for hate speech and intervene as early as possible”.

The 2,300-page Commentary on the Law of the International Criminal Court (‘CLICC’) is freely available in Lexsitus, the leading ICL e-learning platform, in Arabic, English and French. Four thought leaders discussed the significance of digital public goods and digital capacity-building, Lexsitus and the commentary (including a new three-volume English edition), and the positive implications for the LTD as an ICL global commons:

• Professor and Head of School Olympia Bekou (University of Nottingham);
• H.E. Judge Marc Perrin de Brichambaut (International Criminal Court);
• Professor Mohamed E. Badar (Northumbria University; Chief Editor, Arabic CLICC); and
• Professor Mark Klamberg (Stockholm University; the Chief Editor of CLICC).

Professor Olympia Bekou described how “a wider vision of creating a public commons of legal information” in international criminal law is becoming a reality through the ICC “Legal Tools Database, with its impressive coverage and millions of users, and recipient of prestigious awards”, a clear example of how the ICC “has successfully taken the lead and demonstrated innovation, in partnership with universities and external organisations”. As “one of the successful services that has been built drawing on the LTD”, Lexsitus “is not only evolving into the leading e-learning platform for international criminal law, but it is also transforming into a truly global platform that embraces the diversity of linguistic traditions around the world”, she remarked. Both she and Mark Klamberg expressed the hope that the development of digital public goods in international criminal law can serve as a model for other disciplines of international law.

This was a UN Web TV-streamed side-event to the 22^nd Session of the ICC Assembly of States Parties, convened by CILRAP, sponsored by Norway, co-sponsored by the Indian Society of International Law, Coalition for International Criminal Justice, Clinique de droit international pénal et humanitaire (Université Laval), Stockholm Center for International Law and Justice, Human Rights Law Centre (University of Nottingham), Northumbria Centre for Evidence and Criminal Justice Studies, Norwegian Helsinki Committee, and Canadian Partnership for International Justice.