The ICJ Decision on Kosovo - Rapid Response Seminar

Thursday 5 August 2010 17:00 to 19:00

Location

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

Participants

Chair:


Professor Robert McCorquodale
, Director, British Institute for International and Comparative Law

Speakers:


Dr Catriona Drew
, SOAS

Professor James Gow, King's College London


In October 2008, the General Assembly of the United Nations requested that the International Court of Justice render an opinion on the legality of Kosovo's February 2008 unilateral declaration of independence. On 22 July the Court delivered its opinion that there was not a violation of UN Resolution 1244, and that international law contains no prohibition on declarations of independence: therefore "the declaration of independence on 17 February 2008 did not violate general international law." This rapid response seminar will discuss the immediate aftermath of this opinion and its wider impact on the development of international law, as well as specific issues relating to self determination and state building.