Professor Gerhard Kemp

About

I studied law at the Universities of Stellenbosch (South Africa) and Antwerp (Belgium). I joined Derby Law School in February 2020 as a Professor of Law, specialising in international and transnational criminal justice, international humanitarian law, comparative criminal law, and post-conflict studies. I currently serve on the board of directors and executive committee of the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) in Cape Town and am a member of the advisory council of the Crimes Against Humanity Initiative, Whitney R Harris World Law Institute, Washington University (St Louis) in the United States. In April 2021 I was elected a fellow of the Royal Society for Arts, London.

I was previously an Erasmus Mundus visiting scholar at the Institute for Global Studies, University of Wroclaw, Poland and a senior research fellow at the Robert Bosch Stiftung, Berlin. I am a recipient of the prestigious Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellowship in Germany and was appointed a fellow of the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study (STIAS) in South Africa.

I am active in the broader academic community as regional editor of the Criminal Law Forum (Springer Press). I also serve on the editorial advisory boards of the African Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law (Juta), the South African Journal of Criminal Justice (Juta), the Zeitschrift für Internationales Strafrechtsdogmatik (ZIS), and The Journal of Criminal Law (SAGE). I am a member of the advisory board of the African-German Research Network for Transnational Criminal Justice (Transcrim).

Teaching responsibilities

I am teaching mostly at the postgraduate level in the Law School, with responsibility for the following modules and programmes:

LLM (Transnational Organised Crime)
LLM (International Criminal Law)

Professional interests

I am admitted as an advocate of the high court in South Africa and serve on the board of directors of the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation, a Cape Town based think tank.

Research interests

I am a research active legal academic with a broad interest in international, transnational, and comparative criminal justice. I am also part of interdisciplinary research projects, involving law, political science, history, and international relations.

Membership of professional bodies

International Law Association (ILA)
Law and Society (LSA)
Association Internationale De Droit Penal (AIDP)
Society of Legal Scholars (SLS)

Qualifications

BA (Stellenbosch)
LLB (Stellenbosch)
LLM (Stellenbosch)
LLD (Stellenbosch)
International Legal Studies Certificate, cum laude (Antwerp)

Recent conferences

Paper delivered: Africa’s oldest liberation movement, the humanitarian imperative and the future of ICL/IHL in South Africa, International Conference – State socialism, legal experts and the genesis of international criminal and humanitarian law after 1945, Humboldt University, Berlin, Germany, 24-26 November 2016
Paper delivered: The evolution of the core atrocity crimes, Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences (KNAW) Academy Colloquium, International Criminal Justice and the Enforcement Deficit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 26-27 October 2017
Paper delivered: Immunity of high-ranking officials before the ICC – between international law and politics, University of Potsdam/Humboldt University and the German Embassy to the Netherlands conference on “The International Criminal Court in turbulent times”, The Hague, the Netherlands, 31 May-1 June 2018
Paper delivered: Corporate criminal liability: Is it still fit for purpose?, International conference - Too Big to Convict? Corporate Criminal Liability - Challenges and Solutions, London Centre for Commercial and Financial Law, Portsmouth University, University of the West of England & University of Derby, with financial support of the Society of Legal Scholars, 7 June 2022

Experience in industry

Advocate of the High Court of South Africa (1999 to present)
Amicus curiae (with John Dugard, Kevin J Heller and Hannah Woolaver) in the South African Constitutional Court matter of National Commissioner of the South African Police Service v Southern African Human Rights Litigation Centre 2015(1) SA 315 (CC)

International experience

Professor of Law, Stellenbosch University (South Africa) 1999-2019
Visiting Professor, Nelson Mandela University, Port Elizabeth (South Africa) 2007-2013
Senior Research Fellow, Robert Bosch Foundation, Berlin (Germany) 2016-2017
Alexander von Humboldt Research Fellow, Berlin (Germany) 2017-2019
Course presenter: Fondation René Cassin, International Institute of Human Rights, Strasbourg, (France) 2019
Professor Extraordinary, Stellenbosch University (South Africa) 2020 to present

Additional interests and activities

I have a great interest in history, geography, food, culture and love to travel, when time and opportunity allow.

In the media

“South Africa’s withdrawal from the ICC: An immoral and wrong-headed decision”, Rand Daily Mail 25 October 2016
Interview with Legal Tribune Online (Germany) on Russia’s and African states’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute of the ICC
“Grace Mugabe: Why diplomatic immunity isn’t always an ‘out of jail ticket’”, The Conversation, 21 August 2017
“Is it too early to speak about justice in Donbas?” (with Igor Lyubashenko), New Eastern Europe, 2017 (6)
“Innocent civilians, prisoners of war need better protection”, Cape Argus, 17 August 2018
"Legal proceedings against Prince Andrew", CNN, 11 August 2021

Recent publications

Books

S Sayapin, R Atadjanov, U Kadam, G Kemp, N Zambrana Tévar, N Quénivet (eds) International Conflict and Security Law (2022) Springer. The Hague (ISBN 978-94-6265-514-0)
K Bachmann, G Kemp & I Ristić (eds) International Criminal Tribunals as Actors of Domestic Change – The Impact on Institutional Reform Vol I (2019) Peter Lang. Berlin (ISBN 978-3-631-77093-1)
K Bachmann, G Kemp & I Ristić (eds) International Criminal Tribunals as Actors of Domestic Change – The Impact on Institutional Reform Vol II (2019) Peter Lang. Berlin (ISBN 978-3-631-77089-4)
K Bachmann, G Kemp & I Ristić (eds) International Criminal Tribunals as Actors of Domestic Change – The Impact on Media Coverage Vol I (2019) Peter Lang. Berlin (ISBN 978-3-631-77051-1)
K Bachmann, G Kemp & I Ristić (eds) International Criminal Tribunals as Actors of Domestic Change – The Impact on Media Coverage Vol II (2019) Peter Lang. Berlin (ISBN 978-3631-77055-9)
G Kemp, S Walker, R Palmer, D Baqwa, C Gevers, B Leslie, A Steynberg Criminal Law in South Africa third edition (2018) Oxford University Press. Cape Town (ISBN 978-0-19-0723620)
G Kemp Individual Criminal Liability for the International Crime of Aggression second edition (2016) Intersentia. Antwerp/Cambridge (ISBN 978-1-78068-350-8)

Chapters in books

G Kemp "Valuating international criminal law and transitional justice: A South African perspective", in Jessberger, F, Vormbaum, M & Burghardt, B (eds) Strafrecht und Systemunrecht (2022) Mohr Siebeck: Tubingen (ISBN 978-3-16-158862-4)
G Kemp "Appeal against sentence" in Klip, A & Freeland, S (eds) Annotated Leading Cases of International Criminal Tribunals Vol 63 (2021) Intersentia: Cambridge (ISBN 978-1-83970-110-8)
G Kemp “The right to legal assistance” in Joubert, JJ (ed) Criminal Procedure Handbook 13 (2020) Juta: Cape Town (ISBN 978 1 48513 389 6)
G Kemp “The accused: his or her presence as a party” in Joubert, JJ (ed) Criminal Procedure Handbook 13 (2020) Juta: Cape Town (ISBN 978 1 48513 389 6)
G Kemp “The exercise of powers and the vindication of individual rights” in Joubert, JJ (ed) Criminal Procedure Handbook 13 (2020) Juta: Cape Town (ISBN 978 1 48513 389 6)
G Kemp “The ICC and institutional reform in Kenya” in Bachmann, K, Kemp, G & Ristić, I (eds) International Criminal Tribunals as Actors of Domestic Change – The Impact on Institutional Reform Vol II (2019) Peter Lang: Berlin (ISBN 978-3-631-77089-4)
G Kemp “Immunity of high-ranking officials before the ICC – between international law and political reality” in Werle, G & Zimmermann, A (eds) The International Criminal Court in Turbulent Times (2019) TMC Asser Press: The Hague (ISBN 978-94-6265-302-3)
G Kemp “South Africa” in Reed, A & Bohlander, M (eds) Homicide in Criminal Law: A research companion (2018) Routledge: London & New York (ISBN 97811-384-984-19)
G Kemp “The conflict in Ukrainian Donbas: International, regional and comparative perspectives on the jus ad bellum options” (with I. Lyubashenko) in Sayapin, S & Tsybulenko, E (eds) The Use of Force against Ukraine and International Law (2018) Asser Press/Springer: The Hague/Berlin (ISBN 978-94-6265-221-7)
G Kemp “The crime of unconstitutional change of government” (with S. Kinyunyu) in Werle, G & Vormbaum, M (eds) The African Criminal Court – A commentary on the Malabo Protocol (2017) Asser Press/Springer: The Hague/Berlin (ISBN 978-94-6265-149-4)
G Kemp “South Africa” in Reed, A & Bohlander, M (eds) Consent – Domestic and Comparative Perspectives (2017) Routledge: London & New York (ISBN 978-1-472-46995-3)
G Kemp “Sword and shield: The human rights imperative informing the international criminal justice project – A South African perspective” in Dewulf, S (ed) Liber Amicorum Chris van den Wyngaert (2017) Maklu: Antwerp (ISBN 978-9-04660-889-0)

Articles

K Bachmann & G Kemp, “Was quashing the Maji-Maji Uprising genocide? An evaluation of Germany’s conduct through the lens of International Criminal Law” (2021) 2 Holocaust and Genocide Studies 235-249 (doi: 10.1093/hgs/dcab032)
G Kemp “Like Dust before the Wind, or, the Winds of Change? The Influence of International Criminal Tribunals on Narratives and Media Frames” (2019) 2 International Journal of Transitional Justice 368-386 (with K Bachmann et al) (doi: 10.1093/ijtj/ijz005)
G Kemp “Recent cases: International criminal law” 31 (2018) 1 South African Journal of Criminal Justice 155-171
G Kemp “Perspectives on South Africa’s unfinished business of dealing with past atrocities, and considering present priorities” 2018 (4) Diritto Penale Contemporaneo 264-272
G Kemp “South Africa’s (possible) withdrawal from the ICC and the future of the criminalization and prosecution of crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide under domestic law: A submission informed by historical, normative and policy considerations” 16 Washington University Global Studies Law Review 411 (2017) Vol 16 (3) 411-438

The Union Flag and The Stars And Stripes flags.

Prince Andrew, Epstein and the US request for co-operation

Professor Gerhard Kemp of the University of Derby examines the legal and diplomatic issues at the heart of the high profile case involving a member of the Royal Family.

Posted: 22 June 2020

By: Professor Gerhard Kemp

Recent Publications

Books

S Sayapin, R Atadjanov, U Kadam, G Kemp, N Zambrana Tévar, N Quénivet (eds) International Conflict and Security Law (2022) Springer. The Hague (ISBN 978-94-6265-514-0)

K Bachmann, G Kemp and I Ristić (eds) International Criminal Tribunals as Actors of Domestic Change – The Impact on Institutional Reform Vol I (2019) Peter Lang. Berlin (ISBN 978-3-631-77093-1)

K Bachmann, G Kemp and I Ristić (eds) International Criminal Tribunals as Actors of Domestic Change – The Impact on Institutional Reform Vol II (2019) Peter Lang. Berlin (ISBN 978-3-631-77089-4)

K Bachmann, G Kemp and I Ristić (eds) International Criminal Tribunals as Actors of Domestic Change – The Impact on Media Coverage Vol I (2019) Peter Lang. Berlin (ISBN 978-3-631-77051-1)

K Bachmann, G Kemp and I Ristić (eds) International Criminal Tribunals as Actors of Domestic Change – The Impact on Media Coverage Vol II (2019) Peter Lang. Berlin (ISBN 978-3631-77055-9)

G Kemp, S Walker, R Palmer, D Baqwa, C Gevers, B Leslie, A Steynberg Criminal Law in South Africa 3^rd edn (2018) Oxford University Press. Cape Town (ISBN 978-0-19-0723620)

G Kemp Individual Criminal Liability for the International Crime of Aggression 2^nd edn (2016) Intersentia. Antwerp/Cambridge (ISBN 978-1-78068-350-8)

Chapters in books

G Kemp "Valuating international criminal law and transitional justice: A South African perspective", in Jessberger, F, Vormbaum, M & Burghardt, B (eds) Strafrecht und Systemunrecht (2022) Mohr Siebeck: Tubingen (ISBN 978-3-16-158862-4)

G Kemp “Appeal against sentence”, in Klip, A & Freeland, S (eds) Annotated Leading Cases of International Criminal Tribunals Vol 63 (2021) Intersentia: Cambridge (ISBN 978 1 83970 110 8)

G Kemp “The right to legal assistance” in Joubert, JJ (ed) Criminal Procedure Handbook 13^th (2020) Juta: Cape Town (ISBN 978 1 48513 389 6)

G Kemp “The accused: his or her presence as a party” in Joubert, JJ (ed) Criminal Procedure Handbook 13^th (2020) Juta: Cape Town (ISBN 978 1 48513 389 6)

G Kemp “The exercise of powers and the vindication of individual rights” in Joubert, JJ (ed) Criminal Procedure Handbook 13^th (2020) Juta: Cape Town (ISBN 978 1 48513 389 6)

G Kemp “The ICC and institutional reform in Kenya” in Bachmann, K, Kemp, G & Ristić, I (eds) International Criminal Tribunals as Actors of Domestic Change – The Impact on Institutional Reform Vol II (2019) Peter Lang: Berlin (ISBN 978-3-631-77089-4)

G Kemp “Immunity of high-ranking officials before the ICC – between international law and political reality” in Werle, G & Zimmermann, A (eds) The International Criminal Court in Turbulent Times (2019) TMC Asser Press: The Hague (ISBN 978-94-6265-302-3) (https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6265-303-0_5)

G Kemp “South Africa” in Reed, A & Bohlander, M (eds) Homicide in Criminal Law: A research companion (2018) Routledge: London & New York (ISBN 97811-384-984-19)

G Kemp “The conflict in Ukrainian Donbas: International, regional and comparative perspectives on the jus ad bellum options” (with I. Lyubashenko) in Sayapin, S & Tsybulenko, E (eds) The Use of Force against Ukraine and International Law (2018) Asser Press/Springer: The Hague/Berlin (ISBN 978-94-6265-221-7)

G Kemp “The crime of unconstitutional change of government” (with S. Kinyunyu) in Werle, G & Vormbaum, M (eds) The African Criminal Court – A commentary on the Malabo Protocol (2017) Asser Press/Springer: The Hague/Berlin (ISBN 978-94-6265-149-4)

G Kemp “South Africa” in Reed, A & Bohlander, M (eds) Consent – Domestic and Comparative Perspectives (2017) Routledge: London & New York (ISBN 978-1-472-46995-3)

G Kemp “Sword and shield: The human rights imperative informing the international criminal justice project – A South African perspective” in Dewulf, S (ed) Liber Amicorum Chris van den Wyngaert (2017) Maklu: Antwerp (ISBN 978-9-04660-889-0)

Articles

K Bachmann & G Kemp, “Was quashing the Maji-Maji Uprising genocide? An evaluation of Germany’s conduct through the lens of International Criminal Law” (2021) 2 Holocaust and Genocide Studies 235-249 (doi: 10.1093/hgs/dcab032) https://academic.oup.com/hgs/article/35/2/235/6330489

G Kemp, “Like Dust before the Wind, or, the Winds of Change? The Influence of International Criminal Tribunals on Narratives and Media Frames” (2019) 2 International Journal of Transitional Justice 368-386 (with K Bachmann et al) (doi: 10.1093/ijtj/ijz005)

G Kemp, “Recent cases: International criminal law” 31 (2018) 1 South African Journal of Criminal Justice 155-171

G Kemp, “Perspectives on South Africa’s unfinished business of dealing with past atrocities, and considering present priorities” 2018 (4) Diritto Penale Contemporaneo 264-272

G Kemp, “South Africa’s (possible) withdrawal from the ICC and the future of the criminalization and prosecution of crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide under domestic law: A submission informed by historical, normative and policy considerations” 16 Washington University Global Studies Law Review 411 (2017) Vol 16 (3) 411-438