Ukraine, Gaza and Genocide before the International Court of Justice - Hosted by the AIIA Queensland


Join us in-person or online with Professor of International Law at the Australian National University, Donald Rothwell, who will speak on the complexities and developments of three active cases concerning genocide before the International Court of Justice.


If you are attending in-person, please arrive at Holding Redlich at 5:30pm for registration and drinks. This event will be available online. After registering, on June 11 at 5:30pm, you will receive a follow-up confirmation email containing further details on how to join the webinar which will commence at 6:00pm AEST. The event is free for AIIA Queensland members and AIIA members from all states. Those who are non-members will pay $10, while student non-members will pay $5.


If you arrive after 6:00pm, the lifts may not be accessible. Ring 0481 522 665 for assistance.


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For in-person attendees, please note that you may be photographed or filmed for public consumption.

In 2024 the International Court of Justice in The Hague has been actively dealing with three cases concerning genocide. They are:

  • Ukraine v. Russian Federation commenced on 26 February 2022 dealing with Russia's allegation that genocide was taking place in Ukraine which provided justification for its 2022 military intervention;
  • South Africa v. Israel commenced on 29 December 2023 alleging that Israel is committing acts of genocide against Palestinian peoples in Gaza; and,
  • Nicaragua v Germany commenced on 1 March 2024 alleging that Germany is supporting acts of genocide by supplying Israel with military assistance and suspending humanitarian assistance to UNRWA.

These three cases, which sit alongside the ICJ's ongoing consideration of The Gambia v Myanmar genocide case commenced in 2019, are unprecedented, placing the Court at the centre of intense legal, diplomatic and political controversies.


This presentation will sketch out the three cases, consider recent developments, and Australia's role and interest in these cases. Particular attention will be given to the increase in ICJ litigation based on the Genocide Convention, and the interest of States parties to the Convention to commence ICJ proceedings even though their citizens are not directly impacted by alleged acts of genocide.

Agenda

Presentation by Professor Donald Rothwell
Professor Donald R. Rothwell
  • Professor Donald R. Rothwell (Professor of International Law at the Australian National University College of Law)

    Professor Donald R. Rothwell

    Professor of International Law at the Australian National University College of Law

    Donald R Rothwell is Professor of International Law at the ANU College of Law, Australian National University where he has taught since July 2006. His research has a specific focus on law of the sea, law of the polar regions, and implementation of international law within Australia as reflected in over 200 articles, book chapters and notes in international and Australian publications. Rothwell has authored, co-authored or edited 28 books including most recently Islands and International Law (Hart, 2022). Major works include The International Law of the Sea 3rd (Hart, 2023) with Tim Stephens; and The Oxford Handbook of the Law of the Sea (Oxford, 2015) co-edited with Oude Elferink, Scott and Stephens. He has acted as a consultant or been a member of expert groups for UNEP, UNDP, IUCN, the Australian Government, and acted as advisor to the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). In 2012 Rothwell was also appointed an inaugural ANU Public Policy Fellow by the ANU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian Young. He is a regular media commentator on international law issues.

    More information about speaker
Online and In-person Questions from the Audience
Professor Donald R. Rothwell
  • Professor Donald R. Rothwell (Professor of International Law at the Australian National University College of Law)

    Professor Donald R. Rothwell

    Professor of International Law at the Australian National University College of Law

    Donald R Rothwell is Professor of International Law at the ANU College of Law, Australian National University where he has taught since July 2006. His research has a specific focus on law of the sea, law of the polar regions, and implementation of international law within Australia as reflected in over 200 articles, book chapters and notes in international and Australian publications. Rothwell has authored, co-authored or edited 28 books including most recently Islands and International Law (Hart, 2022). Major works include The International Law of the Sea 3rd (Hart, 2023) with Tim Stephens; and The Oxford Handbook of the Law of the Sea (Oxford, 2015) co-edited with Oude Elferink, Scott and Stephens. He has acted as a consultant or been a member of expert groups for UNEP, UNDP, IUCN, the Australian Government, and acted as advisor to the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). In 2012 Rothwell was also appointed an inaugural ANU Public Policy Fellow by the ANU Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ian Young. He is a regular media commentator on international law issues.

    More information about speaker

Location

Holding Redlich
Level 1, 300 Queen Street, Brisbane, 4000
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

See route

Contact us

For additional event or venue information, please send an email to bencolter99@gmail.com

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