The Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Transnational Crime and Justice is designed for professionals and university graduates wishing to specialize in the fields of international law dimensions of peace and conflicts, transnational crimes and transitional justice, humanitarian law, international criminal law and procedure, and international human rights law.
Depending on each student’s background and interest, the programme is functional for careers in the legal and political sectors both at a national and international level as well in further academic studies.
Through a combination of lectures, seminars and practical exercises selected students will acquire:
- in-depth knowledge on the theoretical and practical aspects related to the investigation and adjudication of international crimes and human rights violations;
- overall comprehension of the functioning of international criminal tribunals, special and hybrid courts and their legacy to national courts;
- familiarity with the principle of rule of law and thorough understanding of the interdisciplinary processes and mechanisms related to transitional justice and justice reform in post-conflict situations and countries in transitions;
- unique insights into the policies and tools of the United Nations, other international organizations as well as national bodies for the prevention, investigation, control and punishment of transnational organized crime and transnational crimes, including corruption, trafficking in persons, smuggling of migrants, environmental crimes, terrorism, and cybercrime.
The academic curriculum of the Master programme is divided into two phases:
- Distance-learning Phase: 22 November 2021 – 14 January 2022;
- Residential Phase: 26 January – 24 June 2022.
The The Graduation Project, at the end of the residential phase, will consist in a Moot Court simulation that will help students to refine their skills in written and oral courtroom advocacy on selected matters of substantive international criminal law. The Graduation Ceremony will take place on 8 July 2022.
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be awarded an LL.M. degree officially issued by UPEACE.
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. 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.
The LL.M. is jointly organized by UNICRI and the University for Peace (UPEACE).
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 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.
Deadline for application: 12 September 2021
LL.M. Office Contacts
E-mail: unicri.llm@un.org
Tel.: (+39) 011 6537 157-154 -- (+39) 011 6537 111
Postal address
LL.M. in Transnational Crime and Justice, UNICRI
Viale Maestri del Lavoro, 10 - 10127 - Torino ITALY
Picture by Fabrizio De Rosa/UNICRI
