In this interactive conversation, Johann Soufi will share his unique insight as the Head of the United Nations (UNRWA) field office in Gaza until July 2022, complemented by his 17 years’ experience in transitional justice efforts around the globe. Drawing on this expertise, he will assess the merits of various legal mechanisms being employed to address the crimes committed in both Israel and Palestine, while discussing the potentially far-reaching implications of various strategies seeking to hold accountable those most responsible for these crimes. The conversation will be led at the Law School by Christopher Lentz, with Johann participating directly from Geneva. 

Johann Lounès Soufi brings unique expertise in the field of international criminal law, transitional justice, and international advocacy, with over 17 years of experience at both the national and international levels. His domestic experience includes working for the Office of the Prosecutor and representing accused and victims in complex cases before French criminal courts. At the international level, Johann has played a significant role in various high-profile cases before international courts and tribunals, such as the trials of five ministers allegedly involved in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda (ICTR), the trial of former Liberian President Charles Taylor for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sierra-Leone (SCSL), the trial for terrorism of the alleged assassins of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri (STL), and the trial of various individuals accused of crimes against humanity before the Special Criminal Court in the Central African Republic (SCC). Johann has also led investigations and prosecutions of international crimes in Africa (Rwanda, Ivory Coast, Central African Republic, and Mali), Southeast Asia (East-Timor) and in the Middle-East (Lebanon and Palestine). He has held senior positions in United Nations legal offices, including the UN Operation in Cote d'Ivoire, the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, the UN Commission of Inquiry for Mali, and most recently, as the head of UNRWA's Field Office in Gaza, overseeing the work of over 14,000 employees providing humanitarian relief to 1.6 millions Palestinian refugees. Johann is a Counsel and advocacy trainer before various international courts, including the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the co-founder and director of strategy of the Institute for International Legal and Advocacy Training (The Hague) providing bespoke training to a wide range of national and international practitioners. In academia, Johann is a PhD researcher at the universities of Paris II (France) and Laval (Canada), focusing his work on "ICC Prosecutorial strategies from a field perspective.

This event is sponsored by the University of Chicago Law School's International Programs and International Law Society.

Lunch will be provided. Please submit dietary requests eight business days prior to the program to Aican Nguyen at aican@uchicago.edu. Although we will try to accommodate dietary needs, it is not guaranteed.