State Immunity and Human Rights

Nineteenth Conference on Theory and International Law

This event has been organized by the British Institute of International and Comparative Law and The Society of Legal Scholars

Monday 12 April 2010 14:00 to 19:00

Location

British Institute of International and Comparative Law, Charles Clore House, 17 Russell Square, London WC1B 5JP
 

Participants

Dapo Akande, St Peter's College, Oxford
Prof. Craig Barker, University of Sussex
Prof. Annalisa Ciampi, University of Verona
Paul Eden, University of Sussex
Prof. Maria Gavouneli, University of Athens
Christopher Hall, Amnesty International
Prof. Matthew Happold, University of Luxembourg
Richard Hermer QC, Doughty Street Chambers
Lorna McGregor, Redress
Daniel Machover, Hickman & Rose
Dr Roger O'Keefe, Magdalene College, Cambridge

The last few years have seen numerous cases in various jurisdictions seeking to hold foreign states and their agents accountable for human rights violations. The ruling of the European Court of Human Rights in Al-Adsani v UK cannot be said to have settled the controversy, and the issue has returned to the Court in Jones v UK, as well as being put before the International Court of Justice in by Germany against Italy for failing to respect its jurisdictional immunities as a sovereign State.

The conference will provide an overview of how different national courts in Europe have approached questions of the immunities of States and their agents for human rights violations and the conflicts that have arisen, culminating in Germany's recent application to the ICJ. Panels will examine key theoretical and conceptual issues, current developments and proposals for reform of the law.

SLS members can book by emailing m.hall@biicl.org