Beth Van Schaack, J.D. Closed Now

Beth Van Schaack, J.D., is an internationally recognized expert in international criminal law, human rights, and transitional justice. Since 2022, she has served as the U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice, leading U.S. diplomatic efforts to promote accountability for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

Ambassador Van Schaack’s career has been marked by a deep engagement with transitional justice in both academic and policy arenas. Prior to her current appointment, she was the Leah Kaplan Visiting Professor of Human Rights at Stanford Law School, where she taught and wrote extensively on international justice, transitional mechanisms, and the intersection of law and global governance.

Her research and advocacy have addressed a wide range of accountability processes, from international tribunals and hybrid courts to truth commissions and reparations programs. She has been closely involved in initiatives addressing atrocities in regions such as the Balkans, Rwanda, and more recently, Ukraine and Myanmar.

Ambassador Van Schaack also played a leadership role in the Office of Global Criminal Justice at the U.S. State Department during the Obama administration, where she advised on transitional justice mechanisms in post-conflict societies. She has worked with international NGOs, including the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), contributing to global policy development on how societies can confront past atrocities while strengthening democratic institutions.

As a prolific scholar, she has published in leading law journals and co-authored texts on human rights and international criminal law. Her writings emphasize the integration of transitional justice into broader strategies for peacebuilding and the prevention of future violence.

Ambassador Van Schaack’s combination of scholarship, teaching, and policy leadership exemplifies the multifaceted nature of transitional justice. Her work underscores the importance of linking accountability efforts to international diplomacy and ensuring victims’ voices are central in justice processes.