David Donat-Cattin
David Donat-Cattin is a CILRAP Research Fellow and an Adjunct Associate Professor of International Law at New York University (NYU) Center for Global Affairs. His academic work has been running parallel to a career in the civil society/non-profit sector, which led to his election for three consecutive terms as Secretary-General (2014-22) of Parliamentarians for Global Action (PGA), the largest international network of individual lawmakers from all regions of the world, where he had been Senior Director, Legal Advisor and European Coordinator (2000-13). He is currently serving pro-bono causa in the Advisory Councils of the Global Institute for the Prevention of Aggression (GIPA) and the International Center for Multigenerational Legacies of Trauma (ICMGLT).
Dr. Donat-Cattin has been Adjunct Professor at the University of Verona Department of Law (2023) and a Visiting Professor at the Salzburg Law School on International Criminal Law, International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights founded by Prof. Otto Triffterer (1999-2018). From 2000 to 2004 he served as scientific co-ordinator of LL.M. Programme on International Cooperation against International and Transnational Crimes at the Università degli Studi di Teramo Faculty of Law. From 1995 to 1999, he was scientific director of the Arusha School on International Criminal Law, International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, Tanzania and the Gaborone School on International Criminal Law, International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, University of Botswana.
He studied law and obtained his Laurea in Giurisprudenza (J.D., summa cum laude) at Libera Università Internazionale degli Studi Sociali (LUISS) Guido Carli, Rome, Italy. He holds a Ph.D. in International Law and Human Rights from Università degli Studi di Teramo, Italy and a post-doc diploma from the Center for Study and Research of the Hague Academy on International Law.
At PGA, Dr. Donat-Cattin informed, sensitized and helped to mobilize parliamentarians who promoted the universality and effectiveness of the Rome Statute system in more than 120 countries. Under his co-ordination, PGA Members contributed to the ratification process of 78 out of the current 123 States Parties to the Rome Statute while supporting and assisting the domestic implementing legislation processes of 37 States. He participated in the entire ICC process since 1995. One of his drafting-proposals was tabled by New Zealand in 1997 and led to the incorporation of victims’ participation in the ICC procedural law.
Among the academic institutions in which he gave presentations, it is noteworthy to mention the Brazilian Institute of Criminal Sciences (IBCCRIM), Free University and Humboldt University in Berlin, Italian Society for International Organisations (SIOI), T.M.C. Asser Institute for International Law, Pretoria University, Cambridge University, Harvard University and NYU Law Schools. He has been heard as expert-witness by the German Bundestag (2007), the Italian Chamber of Deputies (2008-09, 2021), the National Diet of Japan (2008), the Africa-Caribbean-Pacific—EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly (2008) and the European Parliament (2014, 2020).
Dr. Donat-Cattin has been cited in a number of media, including BBC World Service, Reuters, Deutsche Welle, RNW, Corriere della Sera, Avvenire, Sky TG 24, Rai News 24 and Radiotelevisione Svizzera Italiana.
Some publications of Dr. David Donat-Cattin:
“The ICC at 20 from the Rome Statute’s entry into force: looking backwards and forward, or learning from mistakes and building on achievements”, in Carsten Stahn (editor), The International Criminal Court in Its Third Decade: Reflecting on Law and Practices, Nijhoff Specials Series, Leiden/The Hague, 2023 (forthcoming).
“Article 68: Protection of Victims and Witnesses and their Participation in the Proceedings”, in Kai Ambos (editor), The Rome Statute of the ICC: A Commentary, C.H. Beck/Hart/Nomos, Berlin/London/Baden Baden, 2021, Fourth Edition, pp. 2001-2035 (in the Third Edition, pp. 1681-1711, Second Edition, pp. 1275-1300, and First Edition, pp. 869-888).
“Article 75: Reparations to Victims”, in Kai Ambos (editor), The Rome Statute of the ICC: A Commentary, C.H. Beck/Hart/Nomos, Berlin/London/Baden Baden, 2021, Fourth Edition, pp. 2240-2075 (in the Third Edition, pp. 1853-1870, Second Edition, pp. 1399-1412, and First Edition, pp. 965-978).
“Making the Case for a Hybrid Chamber at the ICC”, in Harvard International Law Journal (online), 2021 (co-authored with Philippa Greer).
“Integrity and the Preservation of Independence in International Criminal Justice”, in Morten Bergsmo and Viviane E. Dittrich (editors), Integrity in International Justice, Torkel Opsahl Academic EPublisher, Brussels, 2020, pp. 1079-1094 (co-authored with Melissa Verpile).
“Victims’ Rights in the International Criminal Court”, in Mangai Natarajan (editor), International and Transnational Crime and Justice, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2019, Second Edition pp. 421-426 (in the First Edition, pp. 373-380).
“What Reparations for the Descendants of the Victims of “the Armenian Genocide”?”, in Flavia Lattanzi and Emanuela Pistoia (editors), The Armenian Massacres of 1915–1916 a Hundred Years Later - Open Questions and Tentative Answers in International Law, Springer, Heidelberg, 2018, pp. 181-191.
International Law and the Protection of Humanity – Essays in Honor of Flavia Lattanzi, Brill/Nijhoff, Leiden, 2017, 564 pp. (co-edited with Pia Acconci, Antonio Marchesi, Giuseppe Palmisano and Valeria Santori).
“Intervention of Humanity or the Use of Force to Halt Mass Atrocities, the Peremptory Prohibition of Aggression and the Interplay between Jus ad Bellum, Jus in Bello and Individual Criminal Responsibility on the Crime of Aggression”, in Pia Acconci, David Donat Cattin, Antonio Marchesi, Giuseppe Palmisano and Valeria Santori (editors), International Law and the Protection of Humanity, Brill/Nijhoff, Leiden, 2017, pp. 353-396.
“The Politics of Impunity and the purported ‘Yemen Model’ - Why the ‘Amnesty’ to Former President Saleh Not Only Violated International Law, But Was One of the Conditions for the Dramatic Eruption of the Armed Conflict”, in Peace Processes and Human Dignity: On-Line Review of International Law and Politics, Vol. 1 (2015), No. 1.
““Approximation” and Harmonization as a Result of the Implementation of the Rome Statute”, in Larissa van den Herik and Carsten Stahn (editors), Fragmentation and Diversification of International Criminal Law, T.M.C. Asser Press/Cambridge University Press, The Hague/Cambridge, 2012, pp. 360-388.
“Una breve riflessione sul diritto internazionale e la libertà di movimento”, in Diario Europeo (volume on Climate Refugees), Vol. 1 (2012).
“Post-Conflict Justice in Central and Eastern Europe and the former USSR”, in M. C. Bassiouni (editor), The Pursuit of International Criminal Justice: A World Study on Conflicts, Victimization, and Post-Conflict Justice: Volume 2, Intersentia, Mortsel, 2010, pp. 803-833.
“Accettazione della competenza ad hoc e funzione preventiva della Corte penale internazionale: il caso della Costa d’Avorio”, in Ornella Ferrajolo (editor), Corte penale internazionale: la cooperazione con gli Stati e con l'ONU, Istituto di Studi Giuridici Internazionali, Rome, 2007 pp. 89-110.
“Il Diritto Applicabile”, in Giorgio Lattanzi and Vito Monetti (editors), La Corte Penale Internazionale: Organi-Competenza-Reati-Processo, Giuffrè, Milano, 2006, pp. 269-312.
“Le Organizzazioni Non Governative”, in Giorgio Lattanzi and Vito Monetti (editors), La Corte Penale Internazionale: Organi-Competenza-Reati-Processo, Giuffrè, Milano, 2006, pp. 901-916.
“Corte Penale Internazionale e Stati Uniti d’America: problemi e prospettive”, in Revista Brasileira de Ciencias Criminais, Vol. 13 (2005), No. 53, pp. 38-65.
“Decision-making in the International Criminal Court: Functions of the Assembly of States Parties and Independence of the Judicial Organs”, in Flavia Lattanzi and William Schabas (editors), Essays on the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court: Volume II, Il Sirente, Fagnano Alto, 2004, pp. 69-84.
“The Rights of Victims and International Criminal Justice”, in Gaetano Carlizzi, Gabriele Della Morte, Siliana Laurenti and Antonio Marchesi (editors), La Corte Penale Internazionale – Problemi e Prospettive, Vivarium, Naples, 2003, pp. 347-367.
“Introduction to the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda”, in Christof Heyns and Paul Tavernier (editors), Human Rights Law in Africa Series: 1998, Kluwer Law International, 2001.
“Overview of The Rules of Procedure and Evidence of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda”, in Christof Heyns and Paul Tavernier (editors), Human Rights Law in Africa Series: 1998, Kluwer Law International, 2001.
“A general definition of crimes against humanity under International Law: the contribution of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court”, in L’Astrée–Revue de Droit Pénal et des Droits de l’Homme, Vol. 8 (1999).
“The Role of Victims in ICC Proceedings”, in Flavia Lattanzi and William Schabas (editors), Essays on the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court: Volume I, Il Sirente, Fagnano Alto, 1999, pp. 251-277.
“Lo Statuto di Roma della Corte Penale Internazionale: riflessioni a margine della Conferenza Diplomatica dell’ONU”, in La Comunità Internazionale, Vol. 53 (1998), No. 4, pp. 703-730.
“Crimes against Humanity”, in Flavia Lattanzi (editor), The International Criminal Court: Comments to the Draft Statute, Editoriale Scientifica, Naples, 1998, pp. 49-93.
“The Role of Victims in the Proceedings before the ICC”, in Flavia Lattanzi (editor), The International Criminal Court: Comments to the Draft Statute, Editoriale Scientifica, Naples, 1998, pp. 251-272.
