PluriCourts, Center of Excellence for the Study of the Legitimacy of International Courts and Tribunals at the University of Oslo, will host the 14th Annual Colloquium of the IUCN Academy of Environmental Law.
This event with the topic “The Environment in Court” will be held in Oslo, the capital of Norway, 20-25 June, 2016.
For more information, please see: http://iucnael2016.no/about/
Deadline for abstracts is 15 January 2016: http://iucnael2016.no/call-for-abstracts/
Yesterday evening, delegates from 195 states adopted a universal climate agreement. The adoption of the agreement marks a new era of multilateralism, bridging the divide between developed and developing countries and uniting them in the common fight against climate change and its adverse effects.
The agreement builds on the notion of diversified differentiation between countries based on different national circumstances. Accordingly, all Parties shall communicate national climate plans (so-called nationally determined contributions) every 5 years and increase their ambition over time according to a new legal principle of “progression”.
Importantly, all Parties will employ their highest possible level of ambition – a notion resonant of a due diligence standard in international law.
Further, the agreement establishes a transparency system according to which Parties’ efforts will go through a system of reporting and review in accordance with common methodologies (which still need to be established).
For lawyers, attention should also be drawn to the establishment of a mechanism to promote compliance with and facilitate the implementation of the provisions of the agreement. The mechanism will funtion through a committee with 12 members.
This post is not exhaustive in its description of elements in the Paris agreement. Especially, the articles on the privision and mobilization of financial support, adaptation, loss and damage, response measures etc. would merit deeper legal analysis.
Having been in plenary Le Seine at the UN conference center at Le Bourget last night, feeling the world keeping its breath for a moment, hearing the gavel go down to the thundering applaus of hundreds of delegates, I feel deeply grateful to all those that relentlessly put their efforts behind this cause.
It truly is victory of multilateralism, making the collective effort greater than the sum of the individual parts.
Christina Voigt
Legal advisor to the Norwegian delegation
Readers no doubt are well aware that in July the U.N. Human Rights Council resolved to set up
an independent, international commission of inquiry to investigate all violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Soon after, the Council’s President, Ambassador Baudelaire Ndong Ella of Gabon, announced appointments to the Gaza Commission: as finally constituted, the commission comprises a chair, Professor William A. Schabas of Canada, who holds academic posts at inter alia London’s Middlesex Law and the Netherlands’ Leiden Law, along with 2 members: Dr. Doudou Diène of Senegal, who has served in the past as the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and also as its Independent Expert on the situation of human rights in Côte d’Ivoire; and Mary McGowan Davis of the United States, formerly a state trial judge and federal prosecutor in New York.
The appointment of Schabas, my longtime colleague, was met with astounding commentary from some sectors. In the 9-minute video pictured above and available here – an interview broadcast yesterday on CNN – Schabas responds to that critique. He further outlines the work of the commission going forward, as well as its potential interrelation with the work of the International Criminal Court.
(Cross-posted from Diane Marie Amann)
I had the pleasure of attending the 2014 IHL Dialogs last week in lovely Chautauqua, NY. The event—co-hosted by IntLawGrrls, the Robert J. Jackson Center, the American Bar Association, and the American Society of International Law (among others)—is an annual gathering of international criminal law professionals, government officials, and academics in a relaxed setting to take stock of the field, evaluate recent developments, and think about how the international justice system will and should develop in the future. We’ve covered prior Dialogs in the past on these pages (see here and here).
The Gambia Trial
The event began with a fascinating discussion at the Robert H. Jackson Center about one of the first efforts at hybrid justice: the 1981 trials of would-be coup leaders in the Gambia. The coup, staged by local actors, was rumored to be part of a Pan-African Marxist conspiracy spearheaded by Muammar Gaddafi. In response, the Gambia invoked a mutual defense pact with Senegal, whose troops helped to quickly oust the rebels. Thousands of people were detained in connection with the uprising. Fearing that key members of the government and judiciary had been involved in the attempt, the Gambia established special tribunals staffed by lawyers and judges from the British Commonwealth to assess the legality of the detentions and prosecute those who were deemed most responsible. All told, 45 people were tried in 4 years.
The conversation at the Jackson Center involved Hassan Jallow (ICTR Chief Prosecutor) and Fatou Bensouda (ICC Chief Prosecutor), who were young Gambian professionals working in the judicial system at the time, and Sir Desmond Da Silva (United Kingdom) who, as an expert on the 1351 English Treason Act, was seconded to help with the trial. Jallow covers the event in more detail in his recently-published memoire, Journey for Justice.
Ambassador Tiina Intelmann on the Worrisome State of International Justice
Ambassador Tiina Intelmann (Estonia), President of the ICC’s Assembly of States Parties (ASP), gave a sobering keynote address at the Chautauqua Institution about the state of international justice. (The YouTube video is here). Intelmann observed that the security situation in the world changed dramatically over the summer, suggesting that Francis Fukuyama was prematurely optimistic in his essay, The End of History. She noted that the ICC was established during the peek of global optimism and unanimity about the prospects of international justice, but surmised that such an effort would fail if it were attempted today. Although the number of cases before the Court (21), the range of situations being referred to the Court (8), and the number of requests for the Court to get involved in conflicted areas around the world (1000s) have reached unprecedented levels, support for the Court is waning in some circles. This is true most notably among certain members of the African Union, who have indicated that maintaining cooperation and a positive attitude toward the Court may
generate economic and political problems. She cautioned that this ambivalence is not limited to Africa, however. Even though one European country has annexed part of another European country, some European states—including long-time supporters of the Court and of international law—are “remaining neutral” and raising concerns about the local impact of the sanctions that have been imposed. She observed that when complicated situations come closer to home, states start thinking more parochially about their own national interests.
Ambassador Intelmann also argued that while Article 27 of the ICC Statute—withholding immunities traditionally enjoyed by heads of state—was a major achievement in Rome, the Kenya and Darfur situations reveal that prosecuting sitting heads of state is not something the international community is very good at. She lamented the fact that the ASP, which was designed as an administrative body to deal with budgetary and other more quotidien issues, turned itself into a political body at its last session when considering proposals to undo Article 27 and limit the Court’s ability to prosecute heads of state. These proposals remain on the table and will likely appear on the ASP’s agenda again soon.
Prosecutors’ Roundup
A highlight of the IHL Dialogs is always the prosecutors’ roundup, which is followed by a year-in-review offered by a leading ICL academic. Professor and Dean Valerie Oosterveld of Western Law in Ontario, Canada, delivered the 2014 ICL Year in Review. The material below is a composite of several panels convened over the course of the Dialogs that covers some highlights of the year’s events. Continue reading
The Institute for Global Law and Policy (IGLP) at Harvard Law School invites you to apply to participate in its 2015 Workshop in Doha, Qatar, from January 2-11, 2015:
At the 2015 Workshop (January 2-11) we will continue to seek ways to deepen the network of collaboration among our Workshop alumni as well as continue to strengthen and renew our core program with new themes and new participants. Our aim is to build on the momentum of our first five Workshops as we strive to develop the premier site for networked innovation in the fields of global governance and economic policy among young scholars and policymakers from across the world. The full program for the 2015 IGLP Workshop, including Workshop Streams, will be announced soon.
IGLP: The Workshop is an intensive residential program designed for doctoral and post-doctoral scholars and junior faculty. This initiative aims to promote innovative ideas and alternative approaches to issues of global law, economic policy, and social justice in the aftermath of the economic crisis. Our aim is to strengthen the next generation of scholars by placing them in collaboration with their global peers as they develop innovative ideas and alternative approaches to issues of global law, economic policy, social justice and governance.
The IGLP is pleased to announce that we are currently accepting Participant applications for the 2015 IGLP Workshop, which will be held in Doha, during the first week of January 2015. We particularly encourage those who have not previously participated in the IGLP Workshop to apply as Participants.
The application deadline for the 2015 IGLP Participant application is September 12, 2014. Click HERE to apply.
To learn more, visit: http://www.harvardiglp.org/iglp-the-workshop/
by Brian Citro, Acting Director, International Human Rights Clinic, University of Chicago Law School and Bill Watson, PILI Fellow, International Human Rights Clinic, University of Chicago Law School
On August 13th and 14th in Geneva, Switzerland, an international committee of experts reviewed the United States’ compliance with the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD). Four committee members separately questioned a delegation of U.S. officials about the racially disparate impact of last year’s Chicago public school closings—the largest wave of school closings in U.S. history. The closings were one of the most frequently cited specific instances of racial discrimination in the United States addressed during the review process.
CERD is one of only a few international human rights treaties the United States has ratified. Unlike U.S. constitutional law—which generally prohibits only intentional discrimination based on race—CERD prohibits any government action that has a disparate impact on a racial minority. Under CERD, the United States must therefore ensure equal enjoyment in practice of several political, economic, social, and cultural rights listed in the treaty, including “the right to education and training.” The treaty is binding on all levels of government—whether federal, state, or local—and requires the federal government to “review governmental, national and local policies, and to amend, rescind or nullify any laws and regulations which have the effect of creating or perpetuating racial discrimination.”
In advance of last week’s review, the International Human Rights Clinic at the University of Chicago Law School, the Chicago Teachers Union, the Pozen Family Center for Human Rights at the University of Chicago, the Collaborative for Equity and Justice in Education, and Blocks Together (BT) jointly submitted a “shadow” report to the Committee. The report provided the Committee with sobering statistics on the racially disparate impact of the Chicago school closings. While African American students represent only 40 percent of Chicago students, 80 percent of the students impacted by the closings were African American. Moreover, roughly 90 percent of the closed schools had a majority African American student population, and 71 percent had a majority African American teaching staff.
Although the City claimed that all students displaced by the closings would receive a better education, its promise failed to materialize. Instead, 34 percent of students affected by the closings were moved to a lower performing school and more than 50 percent were forced to attend a school on probation for poor performance. Students remained surrounded by violence as they walked to school, and there were reports of altercations and tension in the receiving schools between new and old students. Moreover, in the build up to the school closings, the City largely failed to respect African American parents’ right to participate in public affairs, protected under CERD. Recommendations from parents and experts during public hearings prior to the closings were largely ignored: the City closed eleven of the thirteen schools that hearing officers recommended stay open.
Unfortunately, these problems exemplify issues of de facto segregation and racial disparities in achievement in public education across the United States; the Chicago school closings are merely a case study in government action exacerbating preexisting segregation and achievement disparities. The fact is that, as of 2010, 74 percent of African American students in the United States attended majority-minority schools. Many of these schools are underfunded and under-resourced, with a high proportion of uncertified or out-of-field teachers. High school graduation rates for racial minorities remain lower than for White students and only 56 percent of African American high school graduates enroll in postsecondary education, as compared to 72 percent of White graduates.
The ultimate result of the CERD Committee’s review will be a series of “concluding observations” that give an official interpretation of the United States’ compliance with the treaty. Concerns raised by the Committee about public education in the United States—and specifically Chicago—will very likely find their way into these observations. It will then be up to civil society to work to ensure the United States Government and the City of Chicago fulfill their obligations under CERD to ensure all students enjoy a quality education free from racial discrimination.
Stunned to listen to this poem by Caitlyn Clark, recited on stage at a John Legend’s Hollywood Bowl concert 2 days ago. It’s moving, heartfelt, raw, and real. She wants to make revolution not with the children who have been felled but with those who still live and can bring change to our troubled times. And, I am most proud to say, she is my cousin, daughter of my favorite first cousin, who, as she tells the world in this amazing video, did 6 months’ active duty at Bagram Prison, Afghanistan. ¡Brava, Caitlyn!
(Cross-posted by Diane Marie Amann)
As we end 2013 and look forward to 2014, as Editors of IntLawGrrls, we reaffirm our commitment to discussing and exploring developments within international law that form a foundation for a just international society, including in the areas of human rights, trade law, environmental law, refugee and immigration law, international criminal law, etc.
2013 ends with images of Syrian refugee men, women, and children left to languish in camps unable to resettle abroad in spite of the destruction of their nation. Some states have offered generous humanitarian assistance to address this situation. Further, they are cooperating to destroy the chemical weapons. We hope that, in 2014, these states will go a step further and follow the example provided by Sweden which has taken in some 14,700 asylum seekers from Syria and has guaranteed future protection.
We have also witnessed in 2013 the signing of a Global Arms Trade Treaty (ATA) and progress toward its implementation. The ATA creates common standards and rules to improve the control by states of the flow of arms that lead to the carnage that we see in Syria, and so many other states around the world.
In Pope Francis’ words: “The ever-increasing number of interconnections and communications in today’s world makes us powerfully aware of the unity and common destiny of the nations. In the dynamics of history, and in the diversity of ethnic groups, societies and cultures, we see the seeds of a vocation to form a community composed of brothers and sisters who accept and care for one another. But this vocation is still frequently denied and ignored in a world marked by a ‘globalization of indifference’ which makes us slowly inured to the suffering of others and closed in on ourselves.”
The ongoing challenge of the international community is to demonstrate greater consistency in the pursuit of social justice, at home and abroad. Key to attaining this goal is support for sustainable development, human rights, and an international society built on the principle of solidarity, including protection of its most vulnerable communities.
We hope that, through our posts, IntlLawGrrls will continue to engage in exposing the challenges presented by globalization while pointing to the core values which have the potential to support the path towards a more humane world.
Happy New Year!
Cecilia, Andrea, Sital, Elizabeth, Jaya & Milena
Physicians for Human Rights, a US-based international human rights organization, has recently posted a job listing for a Democratic Republic of Congo (“DRC”) Coordinator as part of the Sexual Violence in Conflict Zones Program. This position is based in Bukavu, DRC.
PHR launched the Sexual Violence in Conflict Zones Program, a multi-year training and advocacy initiative, in 2011, with the aim of forging coalitions among regional medical, law enforcement, and legal experts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, and Central African Republic. The goal of the Program is to increase local capacity for the collection of court-admissible evidence of sexual violence to support local and international prosecutions for these crimes.
Among a number of other qualifications, a successful candidate for this position will have an advanced degree in international relations, medicine, public health, law, social sciences, education, or a related field; 5 years of experience in the NGO sector in Africa; 3 years of experience in a management position; and be fluent in French.
For more information on this position, click here.
To apply, send a cover letter (with compensation requirements) and resume to resumes@phrusa.org. Please include the job title you are applying for in the subject line of your email.
DePaul’s Center for Art, Museum & Cultural Heritage Law will bring together lawyers, museum professionals, representatives of indigenous communities, and other scholars and experts in the field to examine the repatriation of cultural artifacts. The symposium will be held at DePaul University College of Law on November 14, 2013 and will address the underlying legal, ethical and moral reasons and policies behind the return of cultural objects. Participants will discuss the justification for repatriation requests, evidence concerns, researching provenance, museum issues and the conflicting ethical concerns that confront in-house museum attorneys and other attorneys when a restitution claim is received.
The event is the vision of Distinguished Research Professor Patty Gerstenblith, director of the Center for Art, Museum & Cultural Heritage Law, and of Assistant Professor of Anthropology Morag Kersel, affiliated faculty member of the Center for Art, Museum and Cultural Heritage Law. Gerstenblith and Kersel are moderating the symposium, in addition to Julie Getzels, Executive Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary of The Art Institute of Chicago.
Among the confirmed speakers are Jane Levine, Worldwide Director of Compliance for Sotheby’s; Victoria S. Reed, Curator for Provenance at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Lori Breslauer, Acting General Counsel, Legal Affairs Director at the Field Museum of Natural History; Rebecca Tsosie, Willard H. Pedrick Distinguished Research Scholar and Professor of Law at the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University and Susan Taylor, director at the New Orleans Museum of Art.
More information is available at the symposium’s website.
IntLawGrrls 