International Law at Westminster (ILaW) shares recent research news, events and achievements of its members in their November newsletter. The ILaW newsletter was first published this October, and aims to be bi-monthly depending on activities.
Dr Marco Longobardo, Senior Lecturer in International Law, has published a chapter on Animals in Occupied Territory in the 2022 book, Animals in the International Law of Armed Conflict, edited by Anne Peters, Robert Kolb, and Jerome de Hemptinne.
He has presented a paper, titled The Extraterritorial Duty to Prevent Genocide at the Time of the Aggression Against Ukraine, on an online lecture for The Minerva Centre for the Rule of Law under Extreme Conditions by the University of Haifa on 26 October.
Dr Longobardo was consulted last spring as an expert in preparation for SIPRI database’s new report, titled Retaining Human Responsibility in the Development and Use of Autonomous Weapon Systems: On Accountability for Violations of International Humanitarian Law Involving AWS. The Report explores how the rules governing state responsibility and individual criminal responsibility of international humanitarian law (IHL) violations apply to the development and use of autonomous weapon systems (AWS).
His 2021 article on The Legality of Closure on Land and Safe Passage Between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, originally published in the Asian Journal of International Law, was cited in the Report of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in the Palestinian Territories Occupied Since 1967, by Francesca Albanese on 21 September 2022.
Dr Longobardo was also interviewed by Central Banking on 11 November, to discuss the legality of asset freezing against the Russian Central Bank under international law.
Professor Marco Roscini from International Law gave a keynote speech on Problems and Prospects for a Future Regulation of Cyber Warfare at the Graduation ceremony at the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights on 28 October.
He presented on the application of international law in cyberspace for cyberattacks from EU member states in Brussels on 25 October. The training session was organised by EU Cyber Direct in cooperation with the European External Action Service and the Czech Presidency of the Council.
Roscini also co-authored with Dr Riccardo Labianco for the journal article, titled The Intersections Between the Arms Trade Treaty and the International Law of Foreign Intervention in Situations of Internal Unrest, published in 52 Israel Yearbook on Human Rights 2022.
Ruth Mackenzie, Reader in International Law; Daniela Muth, Visiting Lecturer at Westminster Law School; and Dr Emma McClean, Deputy Course Leader of International Law, participated in a one-day internal workshop in September of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Research Group on Climate Change, Energy Policy and Sustainability, presenting on current and planned research projects.
Mackenzie and Muth took part in the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Symposium, held at the University of Westminster in September, organised by the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative, the Rapid Transition Alliance, University of Sussex, and Westminster Law and Theory Lab.
Mackenzie has also attended the meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species which took place between 14-24 November.
Catherine Pedamon, Senior Lecturer in Law, has written the White Paper 8 on Business and Human Rights, alongside Humberto Cantú Rivera, which is now available in English and French. This White Paper is published as part of a series of thematic white papers, covering the major challenges faced in the 21st Century as the International Law Association will celebrate its 150th anniversary.
Recent Event
The conference titled Justice for Atrocities: Dialogues and Encounters Between Latin-America and Europe was hosted at Westminster Law School and the University of Jyväskylä in Finland between 6 -7 December. The aim of the conference was to foster a dialogue between Latin-American and European scholars and practitioners on the topic of Justice for Atrocities. Professor Marco Roscini and Dr Juan Pablo Perez-Leon-Acevedo from the University of Jyväskylä organised the three-part event.
The first session took place online, focusing on National Dialogues and Encounters, with keynote speeches by Professor Paula Wojcikiewicz Almeida from FGV Rio de Janeiro Law School, and Professor Kai Ambos from Georg August Universität Göttingen.
The second session was both online and in person, consisting of a masterclass by Professor Philippe Sands from UCL on the Pinochet judicial proceedings in London and the impact on justice for atrocities almost 25 years later.
The third session was online and focused on Supranational Dialogues and Encounters, with speeches by Professor Hélène Tigroudja from the UN Human Rights Committee and Aix-Marseille University, and Dr Fabricio Guariglia from the International Development Law Organization.
Dr Elizabeth Mavropoulou, Lecturer in International Law, encourages colleagues to send over news, events, and achievements with relevant photos where possible.
Follow the research cluster on Twitter at @ILAWWestminster.
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