UNICRI - United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute

Graduation ceremony

The LL.M is characterized by an interdisciplinary academic strategy that integrates theory and practice, favours active exchange of ideas, and furthers the comparative and critical thinking skills of the students.

The academic curriculum of the programme unfolds in three phases:

During the Distance-learning Phase (22 November 2021 – 14 January 2022), students will have access to the online platform of the LL.M. Programme, on which, in addition to self-study, they will have to attend webinars, carry out group projects and other interactive activities with the support of a tutor. At the end of this phase, an exam is foreseen.

The Residential Phase (26 January – 24 June 2022) comprises of theoretical lectures, seminars and practical exercises including workshops, simulations, study visits, moot courts and other activities led by prominent subject-matter experts and scholars and organized in cooperation with international organizations, NGOs, research institutions and entities belonging to the UN System. The international group of selected students will be attending classes both in the morning and in the afternoon (full-time commitment for 6 class hours a day/4-5 days a week) at the UN Campus, unless an exception is granted due to special circumstances, in which case students may attend classes virtually through live-streaming, as described above. Attendance is compulsory in order to be awarded the degree.

The Graduation Project, at the end of the residential phase, will consist in a Moot Court simulation that will help students refine their skills in written and oral courtroom advocacy on selected matters of substantive international criminal law. The Graduation will take place on 8 July 2022.

Upon successful completion of the course, students will have acquired in-depth and up-to-date knowledge on the main subjects around which the global debate on international and transnational crime and justice articulates:

• International Law Dimensions of Peace and Conflicts, including transitional justice and peacekeeping operations;
• Transnational organized crime and transnational crimes, including corruption, trafficking in persons, smuggling of migrants, environmental crime, terrorism, and cybercrime; 
• Global efforts to strengthen the rule of law and justice reform in developing democracies and post-conflict environments, including corrections;
• International Humanitarian Law;
• International Criminal Law and International Criminal Procedure;
• International Human Rights Law;
• Public International Law;
• Criminal Law and Procedure in a Comparative Perspective.

The programme further envisages dedicated sessions on career guidance and professional development, including reference to the UN System. Students will have the opportunity to interact with human resources specialists and participate in an outreach session led by United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme, that might select students for individual meetings.

The selected students, in order to be awarded the final Master of Laws Degree worth 40 UPEACE credits (equivalent to 40 US credits/60 ECTS), need to:

a. receive passing marks in all the assessments and foreseen exams and

b. meet the minimum average of attendance by attending at least 2/3 of each weekly schedule and at least 75% of the total residential schedule over a two-month period.

UPEACE

The University for Peace (UPEACE), headquartered in Costa Rica, is a Treaty Organization established in 1980 through an International Agreement approved by the United Nations General Assembly in Resolution 35/55, and has the mandate "to provide humanity with an international institution of higher education for peace and with the aim of promoting among all human beings the spirit of understanding, tolerance and peaceful coexistence, to stimulate cooperation among peoples and to help lessen obstacles and threats to world peace and progress, in keeping with the noble aspirations proclaimed in the Charter of the United Nations". By virtue of the mandate granted to it by Article 15 of the Charter of the University for Peace, annexed to the International Agreement Establishing the University for Peace, UPEACE conducts Master and Doctorate Degree programmes in fields that promote peace and security.

UNICRI is one of the main training and research institutes of the UN System. It was established in 1968 and is mandated to support countries worldwide in preventing crime and promoting criminal justice. Over the years the Institute has developed a sound expertise in research and training, which is reflected in the organization of several capacity-building activities and specialized postgraduate courses.

The Faculty of the Master of Laws in Transnational Crime and Justice is composed by international academics, experts and practitioners.

UPEACE will contribute to the programme through its distinguished faculty members that, over the years, have included:

Juan Carlos Sainz-Borgo – Dean of UPEACE; Former Associate Professor of International Law at the Central University of Venezuela in Caracas and Professor of Humanitarian International Law at the Universidad Sergio Arboleda in Bogota (Colombia); Former Fulbright Visiting Professor at the Washington College of Law at American University (USA); Former Jurist to the Regional Delegation of Venezuela and the Caribbean of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

Mihir Kanade – Head of the Department of International Law and Human Rights at UPEACE and Director of the UPEACE Human Rights Centre; Member of the UN Human Rights Council’s Expert Mechanism on the Right to Development, Former lawyer in the Supreme Court of India and the Bombay High Court, focusing on issues of fundamental human rights violations; Adjunct faculty at Universidad Alfonso XI El Sabio (Spain), Long Island University (USA), and Universidad de Los Andes (Colombia).

External Lecturers and Keynote speakers that have joined our Faculty over the years include:

Adama Dieng – Former Special Adviser to the United Nations Secretary General on the Prevention of Genocide; Former Registrar for International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR).

Navi Pillay – Judge ad hoc on the International Court of Justice (ICJ); President of the Advisory Council of the Nuremberg Principles Academy (Nuremberg, Germany); President of The International Commission against the Death Penalty (ICDP); Former United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights; Former President of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR); Former Judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Guido Acquaviva – Lecturer, Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights (Geneva, Switzerland); Deputy Registrar, Kosovo Specialist Chambers; Former Chef de Cabinet, Office of the President, Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL); Former Legal Officer, International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

Tamás Ádány – Associate Professor, Head of the Department of Public International Law, Pázmány Péter Catholic University (Budapest, Hungary).

Rosario Salvatore Aitala – Judge of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Kai Ambos – Lecturer, Georg August Göttingen University (Göttingen, Germany); Judge, Kosovo Specialist Chambers; Advisor, (amicus curiae) Colombian Special Jurisdiction for Peace.

Elena Atzeni – RSD Associate, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Ghenadie Barba – Chief, Rule of Law Unit, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Office for Democratic Institution and Human Rights.

Gabriele Baratto – Senior Researcher, eCrime, Faculty of Law and Institute of Safety and Security Sciences, University of Trento (Trento, Italy).

Stefano Betti – International Consultant; Former Senior Counsel (Illicit Trafficking), INTERPOL.

Adám Békés – Associate Professor, Department of Criminal Law, Criminal Procedural Law and Enforcement, Pázmány Péter Catholic University (Budapest, Hungary).

Chris Black – Legal Officer, Pre-trial Chamber, Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL); Former Regional Legal Adviser, Red Cross International Committee (ICRC).

Abigail Bridgman – Member of California Bar and United States District Court of Northern California (USA); Former Assistant to Counsel at International Criminal Court (ICC).

Emiliano Buis – Professor of Ancient Greek (Department of Classics) and of International Law (Law School) at the University of Buenos Aires (Buenos Aires, Argentina).

Nicolò Bussolati – Criminal Lawyer; Consultant in Legal and Cyber Issues; International Criminal Law Specialist.

Paolo Campana – University Lecturer in Criminology and Complex Networks, Cambridge University (Cambridge, UK); Former Research Fellow at the Extra-Legal Governance Institute, Department of Sociology, University of Oxford (Oxford, UK); Former Fellow of Nuffield College, University of Oxford (Oxford, UK).

Salvatore Cannata – Case Analyst, Eurojust; Former Legal Officer, UN Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate.

Linda Carter – Distinguished Professor of Law Emerita, Mc George School of Law, University of Pacific (Sacramento, USA).

Stephanie Chaban – Regional Advisor on gender equality and women's empowerment, ‎UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (New York, USA).

Mark Dietrich – Vice-President, East-West Management Institute (EWMI) (Geneva, Switzerland).

Andrea Di Nicola – Associate Professor of Criminology and Scientific Coordinator of eCrime, Faculty of Law, and Institute of Safety and Security Sciences, University of Trento (Trento, Italy).

Reinhold Gallmetzer – Appeals Counsel, Office of the Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC).

Laura Guercio – Coordinator of the Universities Network for Promoting the Rights of Children in Armed Conflicts; Professor of Sociology, University of Perugia (Perugia, Italy); Secretary General at the Inter-Ministerial Committee for Human Rights at the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (Rome, Italy).

Fabricio Guariglia – Director Prosecutions Division, International Criminal Court (ICC).

Nobuo Hayashi – Senior Legal Advisor, International Law and Policy Institute (Oslo, Norway); Visiting Professor on International Humanitarian Law and International Criminal Law, International University of Japan (Niigata, Japan); Associate Senior Lecturer, Swedish Defence University (Stockholm, Sweden).

Gary Hill – Member of the Board and Training Chair, International Corrections and Prisons Association (ICPA); Scientific Coordinator of the International Scientific and Professional Advisory Council, the United Nations Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme Network (PNI); Chief Executive Officer, CEGA Services (Lincoln, USA) operating in Haiti, Rwanda and Kosovo.

Princess Inyang Okokon – Cultural Mediator; President of the PIAM NGO: Project for Integration and Welcoming of Immigrants (Asti, Italy).

John-Mark Iyi – Director, African Centre for Transnational Criminal Justice (ACTCJ), University of the Western Cape (Cape Town, South Africa).

Patricia Janega – International Trainer, Facilitator and Intercultural Expert, International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization (ILO); Intercultural Communications Trainer, Intercultures (Berlin, Germany).

Kristiina Kangaspunta – Chief of the Crime Research Section, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNOCD); Former Deputy Director, United Nations Interregional Crime and Research Institute (UNICRI).

Theodore Leggett – Research Officer, Crime Research Section, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Nicola Lettieri – Alternate Judge in the Trial Chamber of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL).

Carola Lingaas-Louwerse – Lecturer, University of Oslo, Law Faculty (Oslo, Norway).

Marco Lombardi – Lecturer and Director of the Sociology Department of the Catholic University of Sacro Cuore (Milan, Italy).

Marina Lostal Becerril – Senior Lecturer in Public International Law and Human Rights, University of Essex (Colchester, UK).

Vittoria Luda di Cortemiglia – Senior Project Manager, Sustainable Cycles Programme (SCYCLE) co-hosted by United Nations University (UNU) and United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).

Antonio Giovanni Luzzi – Associate Programme Officer, Implementation Support Section III, Terrorism Prevention Branch, Division for Treaty Affairs, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

Paula Lynch – Associate Legal Officer, Defence Office, Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL).

Elena Maculan – Postdoctoral researcher at UNED (Madrid, Spain); Visiting Research Fellow at the Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law in Freiburg and University of Göttingen (Germany).

Nicolas Mansfield – Director of Legal Programs, East-West Management Institute (EWMI) (Geneva, Switzerland).

Lt. Col. Gianluca Mascherano – Military Researcher, Post-Conflict Operations Study Centre (PCOSC), Italian Army (Turin, Italy); Lecturer of Stabilization and Reconstruction Orientation Course, University of Turin (Turin, Italy).

Paolina Massidda – Principal Counsel, Office of Public Council for Victims (OPCV), International Criminal Court (ICC).

Lt. Col. Paolo Mazzuferi – Chief of Department for Study and Doctrine within the Post-Conflict Operations Study Centre (PCOSC), Italian Army (Turin, Italy).

Peter McCloskey – Former Senior Trial Attorney, Office of the Prosecutor, International Criminal Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

Deirdre Montgomery – Attorney at Law; Solicitor (England & Wales); Legal Officer at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon (STL).

Yasmin Naqvi – Legal Officer in Chambers at International Criminal Tribunals for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

Wendy Ann O’Brien – Legal Officer, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC); Associate Professor, Deakin University (Melbourne, Australia).

Marie O’Leary – Attorney-at-Law, Legal Adviser/Counsel, Office of Public Counsel for the Defence of the International Criminal Court (ICC-OPCD).

Niccoló Pons – Associate Legal Officer, Chambers of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers; Former Associate Legal Officer, Trial Chamber Extraordinary Chambers in the Court of Cambodia (ECCC); Former Associate Legal Officer, Pre-Trial Division, Chambers, International Criminal Court (ICC).

Ola Quarnstrom – Officer, Rule of Law Unit, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Office for Democratic Institution and Human Rights.

Rod Rastan – Legal Advisor, Jurisdiction, Complementarity and Cooperation Division, Office of the Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC).

Alice Riccardi – Senior Research Fellow in International Law, University of Roma Tre (Rome, Italy).

Jacopo Roberti di Sarsina – Member of the Legal Service (RELEX Team), European Commission.

Carlotta Sami – Senior Regional Public Information Officer, Spokesperson at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

Karine Simonsen – Officer, Rule of Law Unit, Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), Office for Democratic Institution and Human Rights.

Davyth Stewart – Coordinator, Global Forestry Enforcement and Pollution Crime Unit, INTERPOL. James Stewart – Deputy Prosecutor, International Criminal Court (ICC).

Gregory Townsend – Former Chief of the Court Support Services Section, International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY); Former Prosecutor, UN Mission to Kosovo; Former Head of Office, Special Court for Sierra Leone (STL).

Bakhtiyar Tuzmukhamedov – Member of the Committee Against Torture (CAT); Former Judge in the Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Tribunals for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and for Rwanda (ICTR).

William Wiley – Executive Director, Commission for International Justice and Accountability (CIJA); Former International Legal Advisor, Iraqi High Tribunal; Former Human Rights Officer, UN Assistance Mission to Iraq; Former Investigator, International Criminal Court (ICC) and International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR); Former Intelligence Analyst, International Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia (ICTY).

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

• Hold at least a 3-year university degree issued by an internationally recognized university in Law, Political Science, International Relations, Criminology, Social Sciences, or equivalent academic subjects.

• Full proficiency in written and spoken English. Please note that a good command of English is essential. During the course of the programme, students will be asked to actively engage in class activities, draft documents, analyze case files and legal documents, discuss practical scenarios and work in groups.

Although a certificate of English knowledge is not required, proficiency score ranges from the below internationally recognized certificates are suggested to be equal to or above the following:

The programme coordination officers may arrange phone interviews to assess the competencies of candidates before the selection is finalized.

For additional information on the required documents to apply to the LL.M., please visit the relevant section.

Applicants will need to submit a duly completed application form (in MS Word format only) and send it, together with all the documents listed below, to the following email address unicri.llm@un.org:

• Motivation letter, a personal statement explaining why you are interested in this particular programme and outlining any relevant experience you have. The statement should be written in English and not exceed one page.
• Curriculum Vitae in English
• Scanned copy of passport reproducing only the personal details and photo page(s).
• Official English certificate if available (see section on entry requirements and item number 10 of the application form).
• An official copy of the Bachelor's (or higher) diploma(s) in its original language issued by the competent University.
• An official certified translation of the above diploma(s) into English if the original document(s) is issued in another language.*
• An official copy of the university transcript(s) of records of all the university studies completed or on-going in the original language issued by the competent University. The official transcript of records must include the following information: full titles of all the courses completed throughout the degree; dates of completion of each course (or at the very least the overall time spent to complete the entire programme); grades obtained; credits awarded; and information on the grading scale.
• An official certified translation of the above transcript(s) of records into English if the original document(s) is issued in another language.
• Any other document that Italian Embassies may require in order to issue study visa. Once selected, you are kindly requested to ask for relevant information to the Italian Embassy.

Please download the Application Form here.

Please note that the submitted application is valid for the 2021/22 edition of the LL.M. only. If you are not selected and wish to apply for the forthcoming edition of the same programme, you may submit a new application as soon as the new call for applications is open. UNICRI reserves the right to reject an application if the scanned documents are of such a quality that the documents cannot be read.

*The official certified translation of the university diploma(s) and transcript(s) of records are issued by the National Competent Authority of the country where the student has conducted his/her studies according to national regulations.

Tuition fees

Tuition fees amount to USD 12,000.

Please note that:

• Tuition fees do not cover additional expenses such as those related to VISA, travel, food, and accommodation.
• Tuition fees are non-refundable under any circumstances including rejection of VISA applications.
• The only event under which tuition fees will be refunded is the cancellation of the course by its organizers.
• Applicants receiving an offer for the 2021-22 edition of the LL.M. cannot defer it to the following academic year.

Selected candidates will be notified by 21 September 2021 on the results of the selection process. They are then required to confirm their attendance by 26 September 2021 and finalize their payment by 3 October 2021.

Disclaimer: Please note that, if you are offered a place, you will have 5 (five) days to accept the offer (from the date of the confirmation email sent to you), and after that, you will have 12 (twelve) days to complete the payment. These deadlines cannot be postponed and payment in multiple instalments is not allowed.

Cancellation Policy

UNICRI and UPEACE reserve the right to cancel the programme due to low enrolment or unforeseen circumstances. Participants will be notified by 18 October 2021 of any change in the programme. If the programme is cancelled by the organizers, tuition fees will be reimbused to participants.

In case of cancellation, the organizers will not be liable for any loss, including travel and accommodation costs suffered by or on behalf of any person who wished to attend the course.

In case of limitation linked to extraordinary health and safety situations, as declared by the Italian Government and/or local and UN Campus authorities, the organizers reserve the right to modify the programme, including online implementation. In such circumstances, no reduction or reimbursement of tuition fee is foreseen.

Fee Exemptions

A limited number of fee exemptions may be available. Please indicate and motivate your request of fee exemption in the application form. Candidates will be informed in the course of the selection process about the availability of such exemptions, which will be awarded only at the end of the selection process.

UN Campus in Turin

The residential phase of the programme is held in the unparalleled setting of the United Nations Campus in Turin, Italy.

The Campus is located on 10 hectares of riverside parkland and hosts other national and international organizations such as the ITC-ILO and UNSSC. Under regular circumstances, it annually runs more than 450 programmes and projects involving approximately 11,000 people from over 180 countries, also offering to its guests leisure, dining, and sports facilities.

COVID-19 Related Special Circumstances: All applicants will be evaluated and admitted based on the merits of their application. UNICRI and UPEACE will take all necessary measures, as mandated by the Italian or local government as well as the UN Campus administration, to ensure safety of students, faculty and staff during the residential phase on campus. This may necessitate appropriate measures to ensure safe social distancing, including the possibility of splitting students into two classrooms and the use of technology. Unless otherwise mandated by the authorities noted above, the residential phase of the programme will be delivered as planned and students are expected to attend in-person. It is understandable that, exceptionally, some admitted students may not be able to travel to Turin for part or the entire duration of the programme due to pandemic-related restrictions. UNICRI and UPEACE will ensure that such students are able to take part in the programme virtually through live-streaming of classes and the use of technology facilitating synchronous and seamless interaction with instructors and students in classrooms. Admitted students allowed to join the programme virtually under these exceptional circumstances are expected to adjust their schedules to fully participate in the classes irrespective of the time zones they are in. Please note that the flexibilities envisaged above will not affect the tuition fee for the programme. In such circumstances, no reduction or reimbursement of tuition fee is foreseen.

Unfortunately, the LL.M. Staff cannot provide assistance for accommodation services. Nevertheless, useful links can be found in the relevant section of the LL.M. (http://www.unicri.it/services/education_training/postgraduate/llm/links/), and further information will be provided to selected applicants upon acceptance.

Finding housing depends on the specific needs of students. Students who prefer to live closer to the central area of Turin (zona Centro, Quadrilatero Romano, San Salvario) should expect to find accommodation that is older and more expensive than accommodation available in areas close to the UN Campus. However, public transportation from the centre to the Campus area can be less frequent at night than during the day. Expect to pay between Euro 300 up to Euro 700 per month depending on the type of accommodation you choose (i.e. shared flat, single room, double room, studio, etc.) and on the area of the city in which it is located. Public transportation from the centre to the Campus area can take approximately 30 minutes and be less frequent at night than during the day. Students may also choose to live on the UN Campus in ITC-ILO accommodations. The current cost is Euro 85 per night for a single room and Euro 120 per night for a double room. The cost includes breakfast and Internet. In case of a long stay (more than two months), the current cost of a single room is Euro 50 per night (prices may be subject to changes). Please note that an advance payment may be requested.

Turin, Italy

Students have an unforgettable experience in a multi-cultural classroom setting as well as the experiences that the city of Turin has to offer.

Turin lies at the centre of Piemonte region, the "land at the foot of the mountains". It is surrounded by the Alps, the Olympic Mountains that hosted the Turin 2006 Winter Olympics, as well as hills and various national parks. It is connected to many charming places in the vicinity and it is only two hours from the seaside. Turin is an ideal destination thanks to the access roads and efficient transport systems that provide excellent land and air links from the main Italian and European cities.

First the capital of the Kingdom of Italy, then considered one of the European centres of baroque, today Turin is a dynamic industrial and commercial city, but also a capital of contemporary art boasting a wide variety of cultural and educational opportunities and offering more than 40 museums, including the world's second largest Egyptian collection after that of Cairo.

Turin is a leading centre for higher education and research, housing some of the major academic and research institutions in Italy.

Throughout the year, Turin hosts international exhibitions and fairs, among which the most important are the Salone del libro (Book fair), held in May, the Turin Film Festival, held in November. Turin is also well known for chocolate. In Spring each year an original chocolate fair attracts countless tourists to taste the original "Gianduiotto" (the name of a famous local chocolate) in the city where it was created.