International Law Roundtable “Challenging punishment as the justice norm in the face of ongoing atrocities” with Mattia Pinto, University of York
The Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies hosts, in Aula 3 of Palazzo Pilo Boyl, the event “Challenging punishment as the justice norm in the face of ongoing atrocities”, featuring Mattia Pinto (University of York).
Giulia Bosi will introduce and chair the session on behalf of Sant’Anna School.
The seminar offers a critical reflection on the role of punishment as a central instrument of justice in international criminal law and in the global anti-impunity agenda. Starting from the idea of “never again” and from the conviction that criminal sanctions represent the necessary response to atrocities, Pinto examines the limits and distorting effects of this paradigm, with particular attention to the ongoing violence in Palestine.
The presentation highlights how the automatic association between justice and punishment can weaken prevention tools, obscure structural responsibilities, normalize dominant narratives, and support retaliatory impulses.
The seminar concludes with an invitation to rethink the concept of justice through more plural approaches, grounded in material and political contexts, capable of giving voice to demands for solidarity and protection of affected populations. The full article is available for consultation.