The Centenary of the International Association of Penal Law (AIDP/IAPL)
Authors: Kharytonova Olena Volodymyrivna 
Published: December 2024

The centennial of the International Association of Penal Law (Association Internationale de Droit Pénal / International Association of Penal Law, AIDP/IAPL) is the topic of this article. The anniversary was celebrated in Paris during the 21st Congress of the Association, held from June 25 to 28, 2024. This event became a pivotal moment in the history of the AIDP, marking a century of the organization's contributions to the advancement of national and international criminal law frameworks, while also fostering broader opportunities for academic, diplomatic, and legal collaboration on a global scale.
The author scrutinizes the primary moments and symbolism of the celebrations and focuses on exploring the significance of the Association's contribution to shaping legal standards and approaches in the field of criminal justice policy, as well as its role in supporting legal institutions in the global arena.
Honoring the Association's history and its connection with the traditions of the International Union of Penal Law, the author outlines the historical factors, characteristics, and key stages of the Association's evolution. The analysis points out its influence on the advancement of international criminal law, the promotion of the rule of law, efforts to combat international crimes, the protection of human rights, and explores the prospects for its future growth.
Through an analysis of initiatives carried out within the organization and its structural network, which includes individual, collective, and national membership, the article emphasizes the importance of the diversity of legal systems and visions and the significance of international cooperation in criminal law science and practice.
Drawing on the study of the Association’s achievements and scholarly biographies of its Presidents, the author underscores the importance of influential figures who laid the foundations for the development of criminal law in both comparative and international contexts. These figures played active roles in humanizing criminal justice policy, supported and promoted the creation of the international criminal justice system, contributed to the development of important international conventions and other mechanisms for human rights protection, worked on expanding institutions and strengthening the role of AIDP, advanced interdisciplinary approaches in legal scholarship, and enriched international cooperation among associations in the field of criminal sciences.
An examination of the key areas of the Association's work – such as criminal justice policy, comparative criminal justice, international criminal law, and human rights in criminal justice administration – demonstrates that the Association’s congresses and other platforms have become vital spaces for exchanging ideas. These forums play a crucial role in shaping and refining criminal justice policies at various levels, fostering the development of more substantiated, inclusive, and effective approaches. As a result, they contribute to enhancing legal education, advancing legal science, and improving legal practice. AIDP continues to serve as an organization of strategic importance for addressing challenges such as the marginalization of international criminal law, jurisdictional conflicts, and global, climate, and digital issues of the modern world, contributing to the foundation of legal ideas that may eventually lead to significant social transformations.