Digital Justice Center

On June 15 2026, a seminar "Consent, Grey S*x & Technology: New Dimensions of the Crime of R**e" was held by the DJC at the Faculty of Law, Administration and Economics of the University of Wroclaw.

The event gathered academics presenting current research on the intersection of criminal law, victims’ rights, and digital technologies.

During the first session:
- Renata Gołdyn-Badowiec (Nicolaus Copernicus University) presented the special report for the Association Internationale de Droit Pénal (AIDP), written together with Karolina Kremens, Wojciech Jasiński and Kamil Sobański, "Gender sensitive and victim‑centered criminal procedural measures in the digital era," which examines how criminal procedure can better respond to victims in technologically mediated contexts.
- Dominika Czerniak (University of Wrocław) presented national report for the International Association of Comparative Law (IACL) prepared in collaboration with Artur Pietryka, concerning methods of proving consent or lack of consent in criminal proceedings, highlighting evidentiary challenges in that regard.
- Karolina Śliwecka (Jagiellonian University in Kraków) introduced her work-in-progress research project "Not Only Consent: Grey Areas of S*xual Violence in Long-Term Romantic Relationships," addressing complex dynamics beyond binary understandings of consent.
- Tomasz Piekot (University of Wrocław) presented results of empirical research titled "Comprehensible, but Not for Everyone," focusing on accessibility and clarity of legal communication.

In the second session:
- Aleksandra Bodzioch-Bryłkowska (University of Wrocław), presented the article "From Instruction Forms to Chatbots: Tools for Accessible Information for Victims," analyzing how digital solutions such as chatbots reshape communication with victims and improve access to legal information. The article is a result of collaboration of Aleksandra, Karolina Kremens and Tomasz Piekot.
- Klaudyna Horniczak (Jagiellonian University in Kraków), discussed "What is the Function of Article 197 of the Polish Criminal Code? On Hermeneutical Injustice in the Wording and Interpretation of R**e Provisions," offering a critical perspective on legal interpretation and its consequences. The article is a work in progress co-authored with Karolina Śliwecka.
- Karolina Kremens (University of Wrocław), presented the research project "Justice for Victims 2.0: Leveraging Technology in R**e Cases" (NCN OPUS: 2024/55/B/HS5/02138), examining how digital tools can support victims in criminal proceedings.

We would also like to thank Wojciech Ciszewski and Maciej Pichlak for their valuable participation as discussants. It was a great opportunity to discuss both current legal and social challenges, as well as ongoing research within the Justice for Victims 2.0 project.

See more about the project: https://digitaljustice.uwr.edu.pl/en/projects/justice-for-victims-2-0-leveraging-modern-technology-in-rape-cases/.

In June 2026, Katarzyna Goclik, a PhD candidate at DJC and judge trainee at the National School of Judiciary and Public Prosecution, represented Poland in the EJTN THEMIS Competition 2026 Semi‑Final on European Criminal Procedural Law, held in Vilnius, Lithuania. 🇱🇹

Together with two colleagues, she competed against teams of judicial trainees and junior judges from across Europe. The team’s written paper and oral presentation addressed the topic: "Universal jurisdiction: between the fight against impunity and the right to a fair trial."

Their work examined how universal jurisdiction, a key mechanism for prosecuting core international crimes, must be exercised with full respect for procedural safeguards. They highlighted that the pursuit of justice must not undermine fundamental rights of the defendant, including access to evidence, equality of arms, and the ability to mount an effective defence. 📚

Katarzyna’s participation in the semi‑final offered a valuable opportunity to engage in substantive discussions with other judicial trainees and junior judges, contributing to a broader European dialogue on criminal procedure, fair trial standards, and the future of international criminal justice.

Kamil Sobański attended the START scholarship award ceremony in the Senate Hall at Wawel Royal Castle in Kraków. The START Program of the FNP Foundation for Polish Science is Poland’s oldest scholarship initiative for the best young researchers across all fields. This year, only four representatives of the legal sciences were among the hundred most talented Polish researchers under the age of thirty.

Kamil is conducting his doctoral research at the Digital Justice Center under the academic supervision of Karolina Kremens. He specializes in criminal procedural law and international criminal law, and his current research focuses on the impact of digitization on individual rights in criminal proceedings.

Karolina Kremens took part in the Editorial Board meeting of the European Journal of Crime, Criminal Law and Criminal Justice, hosted by the Maastricht University Faculty of Law. The meeting brought together an international group of leading experts in criminal law and criminology responsible for shaping one of the key European academic journals in this fields: Michele Caianiello, André Klip, Jannemieke Ouwerkerk, Gorazd Meško, Nina Peršak, Christopher Murphy, Audrey McMahon.

Discussions focused on the future direction of the Journal, current challenges in criminal law and criminology research, and strengthening its role as a platform for international academic debate. The Journal serves as an important forum for scholarship on European and comparative issues in crime, criminal law, and criminal justice.

Today the DJC team is proud to support the ‘3% for science, 100% for Poland’ strike, as we believe that Polish researchers can make a meaningful contribution to science and help brighten our future! The strike aims to increase public funding for universities and researchers based in Poland 🚨
See more at: https://3procentnanauke.pl/info/

Kamil Sobański has been awarded a START scholarship from the Foundation for Polish Science (FNP) as one of the 100 researchers. The program is Poland’s longest‑running scholarship initiative for the best young scientists across all fields, aimed at supporting outstanding young researchers and fostering their further scientific development.

Kamil Sobański is a PhD candidate at our Center. He specializes in criminal (procedural) law and international criminal law, and his current research focuses on the impact of digitalization on individual rights in criminal proceedings.

Since 2023, he has been working on his PhD dissertation under the supervision of Prof. Karolina Kremens as part of "Virtual Justice. Remote Proceedings before the International Criminal Court – Threat or Opportunity?" project, funded by the Polish National Science Centre (PRELUDIUM BIS, 2022/47/O/HS5/01229).

Preliminary results of Kamil Sobański’s PhD research have been published in leading journals, including the Journal of International Criminal Justice (Oxford University Press) and the European Journal of Crime, Criminal Law and Criminal Justice (Brill | Nijhoff).

More information on Kamil’s PhD project: https://digitaljustice.uwr.edu.pl/en/projects/virtual-justice-remote-proceedings-before-the-international-criminal-court-threat-or-opportunity-2023-2027/

Last month, on the 8th of April, we had the pleasure of hosting a full day of lectures on international law and EU law for high school students from Liceum Ogólnokształcące [high school] No. 5 in Wrocław — and what a day it was! 🎓

Our speakers brought current, thought-provoking topics straight to the classroom:

📚 Katarzyna Parchimowicz — EU Law: facts and myths
📚 Dominika Kuźnicka- Błaszkowska — Deepfakes in EU Law (research funded by Digital Democracy Centre (SDU) and TrygFonden)
📚 Agata Wnukiewicz-Kozłowska — Bioethical dimensions of EU Law
📚 Maciej Gajos — Public International Law: an overview through the lens of current events

It's always energising to bring law out of the lecture hall and into conversations with the next generation. Thank you to all our speakers and to the students for their engagement and curiosity!

We would like to remind you that on Monday we will host the next meeting of the Digital Justice Seminar Series!
Kaja Kowalczewska will deliver a presentation titled: “Who Gets to Build International Justice? Civil Society, Digital Evidence and the Participatory Turn” ⚖️ 🌐

🗓️ Date: 11 May 2026
🕑 Time: 11:30-13:00
📍Place: room 2D, Faculty of Law, Administration and Economics, University of Wroclaw + online via Teams: https://teams.microsoft.com/dl/launcher/launcher.html...
🗣️Language: English

Short decription: Mass atrocities are now documented in real time by people far beyond the formal justice system. Videos, testimonies, satellite images, social media posts and open-source investigations are reshaping how international crimes are reported, preserved and prosecuted. Yet the legal system often still treats civil society organizations as external actors rather than central partners. This presentation introduces the DIGDEM project under MSCA framework, which examines how digitalization and democratization are transforming international criminal justice, and asks how cooperation between civil society, domestic authorities and international institutions can become more ethical, effective and survivor-centered.

📢 We are pleased to invite you to the next meeting of the Digital Justice Seminar Series!

This time, Kaja Kowalczewska will deliver a presentation titled: “Who Gets to Build International Justice? Civil Society, Digital Evidence and the Participatory Turn” ⚖️ 🌐

🗓️ Date: 11 May 2026
🕑 Time: 11:30-13:00
📍Place: room 2D, Faculty of Law, Administration and Economics, University of Wroclaw + online via Teams: https://teams.microsoft.com/dl/launcher/launcher.html?url=%2F_%23%2Fmeet%2F346041796980774%3Fp%3D3UHVlqS3NrkOMglURf%26anon%3Dtrue&type=meet&deeplinkId=186d047c-9dc7-494a-8b33-6b2873deee6d&directDl=true&msLaunch=true&enableMobilePage=true&suppressPrompt=true
🗣️Language: English

About the topic: Mass atrocities are now documented in real time by people far beyond the formal justice system. Videos, testimonies, satellite images, social media posts and open-source investigations are reshaping how international crimes are reported, preserved and prosecuted. Yet the legal system often still treats civil society organisations as external actors rather than central partners. This presentation introduces the DIGDEM project under MSCA framework, which examines how digitalisation and democratisation are transforming international criminal justice, and asks how cooperation between civil society, domestic authorities and international institutions can become more ethical, effective and survivor-centred.

Kaja Kowalczewska is a Marie Skłodowska Curie Postdoctoral Fellow at Queen’s University Belfast and Principal Investigator of the DIGDEM project, which analyses the digitalization of international criminal justice and the participatory turn in accountability processes. She also leads the ‘From Voices To Verdicts’ project at the Digital Justice Center, University of Wrocław, examining the risks and benefits of user generated evidence, and coordinates KOOS, a coalition of Polish civil society organizations advocating for stronger domestic capacity to investigate and prosecute international crimes in Poland.

Her research sits at the intersection of international criminal law, international humanitarian law, and human rights, with a particular focus on how digital documentation, open sources, and platform mediated data shape evidentiary practice, coordination between civil society and prosecutors, and victim centred approaches in war crimes investigations. She holds PhD in Law from Jagiellonian University and has a background in applied legal and policy research with civil society and institutional partners.

We are happy to share that our Student Research Assistant, Aleksandra Maszyńska, has been part of the Arqus Student Ambassadors programme at the Uniwersytet Wrocławski since December 2025.

The Arqus European University Alliance brings together the universities of Granada, Graz, Leipzig, Lyon 1, Maynooth, Minho, Padua, Vilnius and Wrocław - nine broad‑profile research universities with strong regional roots in medium‑sized European cities.

As a Student Ambassador, Aleksandra regularly takes part in meetings where she collaborates with international students from European universities and works to promote Arqus values, support students, and break down barriers. Aleksandra is a member of the Student Services Group, where she contributes to initiatives supporting career development, promoting equity, strengthening student engagement and personal development, and fostering physical, mental, and emotional well‑being.

See more about the programme: https://uwr.edu.pl/en/arqus-ambassadors-at-the-university-of-wroclaw/