ANNUAL MEETINGS

PacificJust Annual Meetings convene judicial, prosecutorial, law enforcement, policy, and civil society practitioners from across the Pacific Rim to strengthen cooperation in the investigation and prosecution of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. They serve as the Network’s principal mechanism for deepening transnational collaboration, aligning domestic frameworks with evolving international criminal law standards, and advancing regional leadership in accountability for core international crimes.

2nd PacificJust Network Meeting

Conclusions of the 2nd Meeting of the Network for Investigation and Prosecution of War Crimes, Crimes against Humanity and Genocide

30-31 October 2025, Brisbane

Theme: Leveraging Global Best Practices in the Investigation and Prosecution of Core International Crimes: Innovation, Casework, & Capabilities 

Summary

On 30 and 31 October 2025, in Brisbane, Australia, over 40 participants met to discuss current challenges in the practice of accountability for core international crimes, with participants from seven states across the Pacific Rim, two observer states from the European Union (EU), three mechanisms, and four CSO’s represented. It also included participants from the EU’s Genocide Prosecution Network hosted by Eurojust, and the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG).

The key focus of this meeting was further fostering cooperation and leveraging global best practices in the investigation and prosecution of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide. In addition, the meeting also achieved four things:

  • Consolidated a cross-regional accountability architecture: The meeting strengthened operational linkages between Pacific Rim jurisdictions and the EU Genocide Prosecution Network hosted by Eurojust, reinforcing PacificJust as a best-in-class practitioner-level mechanism for coordinated investigation and prosecution of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.

  • Advanced legal and jurisprudential innovation: Participants affirmed the importance of engaging with emerging doctrines — including gender-based crimes and ecocide — and aligning domestic frameworks with evolving international standards under instruments such statutes, conventions and customary international law, ensuring legislation and prosecutorial strategies remain future-fit.

  • Elevated operational capability and cooperation tools: Practical exchanges demonstrated the effectiveness of Joint Investigation Teams (JITs), Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) frameworks, and secure information-sharing models, underscoring the need for sustained investment in specialised war crimes units, evidentiary management, and transnational case coordination.

  • Committed to institutional maturity and regional leadership: The Network agreed to document governance arrangements, strengthen whole-of-government legislative readiness, and position PacificJust as a strategic bridge between Pacific Rim jurisdictions and global justice forums — contributing regional expertise to the expanding architecture of international criminal accountability.

1st PacificJust Network Meeting

Conclusions of the 1st Meeting of the Network for Investigation and Prosecution of War Crimes, Crimes against Humanity and Genocide

24-25 October 2024, Canberra

Summary:

The Pacific Justice Network (‘PacificJust’) was established as an annual professional cooperation event, to enable close collaboration between national judicial and law enforcement officials responsible for investigating and prosecuting core international crimes (genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes), and practitioners and civil society organisations (CSOs) also practicing in this field. It aims to leverage international best practice to uplift the accountability ecosystem across the Pacific Rim region, create dialogue and collaboration within this ecosystem, and identify and provide uplift in the adoption of global best practices in accountability by national judicial and law enforcement officials.

On 24 and 25 October 2024, in Canberra, Australia, over 50 participants met to discuss current challenges and opportunities in the practice of accountability for core international crimes. Judicial and law enforcement practitioners from seven states and 14 different civil society organisations participated.  PacificJust is modelled on the European Union’s (EU’s) Genocide Network, which is hosted by Eurojust.

The initial focus of this meeting was establishing networks across the accountability ecosystem, leveraging global best practices, and cooperation in specific cases.

Conclusions:

The key themes identified across the two-day event were, as follows:

  • The continuing value in building a judicial and law enforcement network, which includes CSO and NGOs, across the Pacific Rim, including engaging in regular meetings;

  • The importance of networks in facilitating effective investigation and prosecution for core international crimes in the national context;

  • There is value in sharing case information between CSOs, NGOs and judicial and law enforcement officials, and also in conducting closed government-only sessions; 

  • The importance of cooperation across the accountability ecosystem, including a judicial and law enforcement officials, international mechanisms, academia and NGOs/CSOs;

  • The many opportunities for uplift and capacity building in relation to the legislative frameworks, investigative practices and prosecutorial processes associated with core international crimes across the Pacific Rim for the purpose of accountability in national courts; and

  • The PacificJust forum could be further enhanced by linking to existing forums across the Pacific Rim to expand participation.

A plan for the future conduct of PacificJust meetings was briefed during the event, with a three-year plan proposed for the event to run as a not-for-profit facilitated event, with an intention to transition to a government-led forum by 2026.

Like the EU’s Genocide Network, PacificJust is a unique forum, with State national authorities joining other States and associate organisations from the Pacific Rim, the European Union, United Nations and beyond, as well as civil society, in a common goal: the fight against impunity.