Democratization and digitalization of ICJ. Digital documentation of ICL violations and the participatory turn

The DIG&DEM project addresses the growing field of digitalization and democratization in international criminal justice (ICJ), responding to the need for critical research in this evolving landscape. The ICC’s 2024 dynamic complementarity underscores the urgency for stronger domestic engagement, especially as universal jurisdiction gains renewed focus after Russia's aggression against Ukraine. This research targets the challenges within ICJ, where often unprepared domestic jurisdictions remain ineffective. Civil society organizations (CSOs) play a crucial role in bridging authorities with survivors and spotlighting issues like gender-based violence and ecocide.The project aims to integrate CSOs more effectively into the ICJ ecosystem. First, it develops cooperation methods between CSOs and authorities, enhancing guidelines for less experienced jurisdictions. Second, it examines digitalization's impact on CSOs' roles, identifying best practices and mitigating risks. This research offers new theoretical insights and practical guidelines to strengthen CSOs' roles in the increasingly digitalized and complex ICJ landscape.This project will take place at Swansea University and Queen's University Belfast, United Kingdom (under the supervision of prof. Yvonne McDermott Rees) with secondment at the UC Berkeley Human Rights Center, United States (under the supervision of prof. Alexa Koenig). The knowledge transfer between Dr. Kaja Kowalczewska and world-leading universities in digital evidence and open-source investigations will equip her with expertise at the intersection of law, technology, and gender in ICJ processes. Paired with strategic leadership and advocacy skills, this will enable her to secure a tenured academic position in Poland, consult on ICL reform, and work as a criminal lawyer. Additionally, she will serve as a trainer and campaigner in the CSO sector, directly contributing to closing the accountability gap and strengthening justice mechanisms in the EU.