On Sunday September 22nd, The International Open Day was held in The Hague, during which many of the international organizations and institutions located in this city opened their doors and offered guided tours as well as presentations to the public. This festival followed and partnered with the Just Peace Festival that was held during the UN International Day of Peace, celebrated on September 21 worldwide, as well as in The Hague – globally known as the international city of Peace and Justice.
This one-day event was a great opportunity to discover how various EU, UN, or intergovernmental organizations, as well as numerous NGOs operate. The Hague is home to institutions such as the International Criminal Court (ICC), Eurojust, OPCW, or the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Peace Palace, the work of which is immensely important to make the world safer and better place.
In the International Criminal Court, the visitors of the Open Day had the chance to see an interactive exhibition about the victims of the types of crimes that the court deals with, such as war crimes, crimes against humanity, crimes of aggression, or genocide.
What is more, the public was also guided through the process of investigating these crimes by following the artefacts exhibited in the halls of the ICC. Moreover, every hour the visitors were allowed to enter the main courtroom and listen to a presentation by the employees about their work for the court.
The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) also prepared a rich programme for the visitors of the open day by presenting interactive Q&A sessions with OPCW experts during which they provided an overview of the way this organisation works to eliminate the world’s arsenal or chemical weapons.
Another highlight of the open day visit to this institution were the demonstrations of a live-action of inspectors who showed the special equipment that is being used in OPCW missions.
The visit to Eurojust enabled the public to “Meet the Prosecutor”– presentations during which the real prosecutors of this institution were describing their work as well as the operational structure of the European Union’s Judicial Cooperation Unit. The president of Eurojust himself, Mrt. . Hanran gave a important welcome speech about The workers of Eurojust also guided the visitors through the interiors and rooms of the building, where they could discover the environment in which cross-border crime investigations are led.
Overall, the International Open Day was a great success among the public, and by offering a plentiful programme, the participating organisations left a forceful impression on the visitors, while also underlining their contribution to the world peace, and not least, the international nature of The Hague.
