Victor Van Steendam

Areas of expertise

International public law - International criminal law - International and regional human rights

Biography

Victor Van Steendam is a PhD fellow of the Research Foundation Flanders (FWO) at the Brussels Centre for Law, Government and Society (BruCeL) of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Stefaan Smis. He holds two Master's degrees in Law from the VUB, with specialisations  in International & European law and in Law & Technology. His thesis, on the protection of indigenous peoples through provisional measures within the African Union and the Organization of American States, was awarded the 2025 Prize of the Belgian Society of International Law. 

Victor previously worked at the Brussels School of Governance, where he aided Prof. Dr. Lizarazo Rodriguez with her work on the Toolbox Business and Human Rights (edition 2025).

Research

Victor's doctoral research is situated within the area of international criminal law and broader international public law, and centers on the legitimacy of regional approaches to the enforcement of the crime of aggression. As the International Criminal Court's jurisdiction regarding this crime is limited, he examines to what extent regional initiatives are legally and legitimately possible.

His broader research activities concern, among others, the functioning of regional and international human rights systems, and other areas regarding the application of international criminal law.

Functions outside of the VUB

Victor is currently co-president of the Belgian Network of Junior Researchers in International Law.

Prijzen

• Prize of the Belgian Society of International Law of 2025.