Law of the Future 2011 23 & 24 June 2011, Peace Palace, The Hague, The Netherlands Title: Opening Speech By: Mayor Van Aartsen, the mayor of The Hague Workshop: Online Dispute Resolution www.lawofthefuture.org

1. 23 June 2011 | 09:00 - 09:45 | Opening Speech
By: Mayor Van Aartsen, the mayor of The Hague
Allow me Ladies and Gentlemen,
Three weeks ago, it finally happened: Ratko Mladic arrived at the place where he should have arrived much,
much earlier: Scheveningen prison. Several days later, he was brought before the judges of the
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). The world press had travelled to The Hague
to report on this historic event.
Ten days later, we were in the Knights‟ Hall to witness the founding of The Hague Institute for Global
Justice. One of its founding fathers is The Hague Institute for the Internationalisation of Law.
In the short introductory film
In the short introductory film shown on that occasion, we saw – not surprisingly – images of the recent
mass demonstrations in the Middle East. Syrian President Assad heard protesters chanting “See you in The
Hague!”.
That these demonstrators want to see their president in The Hague shows how much the name of our city
has become – worldwide – a symbol of peace and justice. And of hope – hope for a decent future. Hope that
perpetrators of crimes against humanity do not go unpunished.
The world is in motion. Panta rhei. After the unforgettable Autumn of Nations in 1989, when the nations of
Central Europe cast off the suffocating blanket of communism, we now have the Arab Spring.
And it is partly up to us
And it is partly up to us that that Spring actually brings about freedom, justice and peace, and does not go
the way of that other Spring, that short dream of freedom that so sadly had to end, the Prague Spring of
1968.
The challenge now is to invest in everything that strengthens the democratic movement in the Middle East
as well as the rule of law and civil society in these countries. It may be that many in the West have
underestimated the fortitude that resides in the freedom aspirations of the Arab peoples. But nothing,
absolutely nothing, justifies a sceptical, even cynical attitude of the West.
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2. The Law of the Future Joint Action Programme
The Law of the Future Joint Action Programme is, therefore, timely. Because if the Arab Spring shows us
anything, it's that nothing is forever and even the most entrenched structures can be stirred into motion.
At the same time, the outcome of developments in the Middle East is still terribly uncertain. Working with
scenarios – the core of the Law of the Future Programme and a first for the legal world – perhaps offers us
some interesting possibilities in this case.
Panta rhei. If this is evident anywhere, then it is in the cities. Cities have always been centres of innovation
and change. Likewise, the law is not static. It, too, develops with the passage of time.
Yet, strangely enough,
Yet, strangely enough, we are mostly aware of the constant change in other areas such as fashion or
technology. Achievements that would cause the mouths of our parents to drop in amazement, only conjure
smiles on our own faces.
In The Hague, since time immemorial, the law has been ruminated and cogitated over. But always with
a practical, hands-on mentality. It was here that Hugo Grotius formulated in his Mare liberum not only the
basis for modern maritime law. Inspired by Cicero, he also drafted the concept of an international
community.
He believed that the international community
He believed that the international community, this ‘societas humana’, by no means consisted of nations
states alone; it also included individuals, enterprises and groups which we would describe nowadays as „non-
state actors‟. Grotius‟ work, commissioned by the Dutch East India Company, delivered a new law for a new
era. The 17th century was no less a period of internationalisation, albeit that tall ships, mostly so-called
Spiegelretour ships, rather than the Internet opened up the world at the time.
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries people such as Tobias Asser and Benjamin Telders made significant
contributions to the development of international law and in doing so reaffirmed the position of The Hague
as the focus of legal knowledge.
This building was and still is
This building was and still is, even after almost one hundred years, the bricks-and-mortar symbol of that
reputation.
But The Hague, as an international academic centre, has not in the least fossilised. During the past ten
years, more new knowledge institutes have been established here than in the decades before. The Hague
Institute for the Internationalisation of Law, as part of The Hague Academic Coalition, has made an
enormous contribution to strengthening the position of our city in this area. As I have already said, the
Global Justice Institute would not have happened without the HiiL.
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3. The Law of the Future Programme
The Law of the Future Programme has encouraged HiiL to once again look to the future. A unique and
ambitious mission, entirely in the tradition of Hugo Grotius, Tobias Asser and Van Vollenhoven.
A challenging mission, given the problems that afflict the world. A difficult mission too, in these times of
increased national narrow-mindedness and isolationist tendencies. But I am convinced that HiiL will succeed
in this mission. In recent years, it has been proven that it has the necessary qualities for this. That being
said, I now declare the Law of the Future Forum open.
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