War Crimes Ambassador Rapp to Speak at USD

The University of San Diego’s Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice will host U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for War Crimes Stephen J. Rapp on February 17 as the next speaker in the Joan B. Kroc Distinguished Lecture series. This year’s series focuses on post-conflict challenges.

Ambassador Rapp’s lecture, entitled “Achieving Justice for Victims of Genocide, War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity,” will draw from his expertise in diplomacy and international law, particularly prosecution.

Rapp was tapped as ambassador-at-large for War Crimes Issues by President Obama and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on September 8, 2009.  Prior to his appointment, he served as prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone beginning in January 2007, leading the prosecutions of former Liberian President Charles Taylor and other persons alleged to bear the greatest responsibility for the atrocities committed during the civil war in Sierra Leone.

Rapp’s appearance in San Diego this week is especially significant as the lawyers in the Charles Taylor trial will be making their closing arguments this week after the three-year long trial for 11 counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity and other serious violations of international humanitarian law.

The Joan B. Kroc Distinguished Lecture Series is a forum for high-level national and international leaders and policy makers to share their knowledge and perspectives on issues related to peace and justice. Designed to broaden our understanding and thinking about how to prevent and resolve conflict and promote peace with justice, the series is made possible by a generous endowment from the late Joan B. Kroc.

This event is open to the public and to the press but reservations are required at http://peace.kintera.org/dls.

WHO: Stephen J. Rapp, U.S. ambassador-at-large for War Crimes Issues

WHAT: Ambassador Rapp will present his lecture entitled, “Achieving Justice for Victims of Genocide, War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity,” followed by a question-and-answer period

WHERE: Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice
University of San Diego
5998 Alcalá Park
San Diego, CA

WHEN: Thursday, February 17, 2011 at 7 p.m.

About the University of San Diego

Strengthened by the Catholic intellectual tradition, we confront humanity’s challenges by fostering peace, working for justice and leading with love. With more than 8,000 students from 75 countries and 44 states, USD is among the Top 20 Best Private Schools for Making an Impact according to The Princeton Review. USD’s eight academic divisions include the College of Arts and Sciences, the Knauss School of Business, the Shiley-Marcos School of Engineering, the School of Law, the School of Leadership and Education Sciences, the Hahn School of Nursing and Health Science, the Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies, and the Division of Professional and Continuing Education. In 2021, USD was named a “Laudato Si’ University” by the Vatican with a seven-year commitment to address humanity’s urgent challenges by working together to take care of our common home.