Haydee Dijkstal

  • Year of Call 2018

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Introduction

Introduction

Haydee Dijkstal is a barrister practicing international criminal law and international human rights law and general crime.  She is also a US attorney with over a decade of experience practicing in international law.  Haydee is Head of International Law at 33 Bedford Row Chambers.

Directories

Haydee is ranked in both Legal 500 and Chambers and Partners in the area of International Criminal Law.

  • In the field of international criminal law, Haydee is a leading authority on the judicial review of decisions related to the opening of investigations at the International Criminal Court.” - Tier 2 (Legal 500 UK Bar, 2024 edition)
  • "Her true expertise enables her to craft a strong case to push for justice."  (Chambers & Partners UK Bar, 2024 edition).
  • "Haydee is an excellent barrister. Her knowledge of international criminal law and international human rights law is formidable." - Tier 3 (Legal 500 UK Bar, 2023 edition)
  • "A pleasure to work with, and really knowledgeable about the ICC" - and - "A dynamic barrister who is excellent with clients. Top notch." (Chambers & Partners UK Bar, 2023 edition)
  • "Haydee is an international law barrister of the highest calibre. Her forensic attention to detail when examining evidence and legal arguments, her expert knowledge of international law and human rights systems, and [her] fierce advocacy mean that in every case her client's interests are managed and protected in the best possible way." - Tier 3 (Legal 500 UK Bar, 2022 edition)
  • "She is extremely hard-working and puts a lot of herself into the cases she works on. Her work ethic and strong analytical skills have been recognised by her team mates." - Rising Star (Legal 500 UK Bar, 2021 edition)

International Criminal Law

Haydee's practice in the area of international criminal law includes cases before the International Criminal Court, International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, and the Special Court for Sierra Leone, and has involved the representation of victims, governments and accuseds.

Haydee is currently instructed as counsel for a group of Afghan victims participating before the ICC, and on behalf of victims in the Ukraine situation. Her previous instructions before the ICC include the following work: 1) co-counsel representing victims of the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, as well as the Government of the Comoros, in proceedings before the ICC which included the first Article 53(3) judicial review of a prosecutor’s decision not to investigate; 2) member of the Defence team for former Libyan spy chief, Abdullah Al-Senussin in the Libya Situation; 3) member of the legal team for the Government of Kenya for the admissibility challenge before the ICC; 4) co-counsel instructed to submit an amicus curiae brief in the Palestine Situation (on the scope of the court’s territorial jurisdiction); 5) co-counsel instructed to submit an amicus brief in the case against Bosco Ntaganda (on the definition of ‘attack’ for war crimes against cultural property). Haydee has also been instructed as counsel for a number of Article 15 Submissions to the Office of the Prosecutor. Before other international criminal tribunals, she was previously instructed as a member of the defence team for Charles Taylor at the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL), and on the defence team for Milan Lukic at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) for review proceedings.

International Human Rights Law

Haydee’s practice in the area of international human rights law covers issues including arbitrary detention, fair trial rights, torture, enforced disappearance, diplomatic protection, free speech and association, indigenous peoples’ rights, natural resources, cultural heritage and the right to family life, privacy and identity.  Haydee is regularly instructed for cases before the European Court of Human Rights, African Commission and African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, and UN bodies such as the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Committee against Torture, the Committee on Enforced Disappearances and before UN Special Rapporteurs.

International law in domestic court

In addition, Haydee has experience addressing international violations in domestic jurisdictions. She was recently instructed as a legal expert to provide advise in a domestic war crimes trial.  She has previously been instructed as co-counsel to advise a UK Parliamentary panel established to investigate and report on Saudi political prisoners, and has worked on case behalf of victims under the principle of universal jurisdiction in both the UK and France.  She has also worked on cases involving the Alien Tort Statute, Torture Victim Protection Act and Foreign Sovereign Immunity Act in US federal courts.

Transitional Justice

Haydee has also worked in the area of transitional justice assisting the Truth, Reconciliation and National Unity Commission (TRNUC) of Seychelles as a legal consultant.

Notable Cases

Professional Admissions

Qualifications

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