Collective Trends in International Litigation: Implications for Human Rights Protection and for Small States

Event Details

In the last few years, a trend has emerged in international litigation with States joining forces before international courts, either as parties to a case or as third-party interveners. These trends have been observed in cases involving the Russian aggression in Ukraine, cases related to torture and genocide (Canada and the Netherlands v Syria, South Africa v Israel), and cases (and requests for advisory opinions) relating to climate change.

This event will discuss the impact and opportunities that this collectivisation of litigation strategies may bring for the protection of human rights and for Small States, particularly in areas such as climate change.

Discussions will build on research developed at CIGAD and BIICL on inter-state communications before human rights bodies, led by Dr Rosana Garciandia and Dr Jean Pierre Gauci, which resulted in a Special issue of the International Human Rights Law Review and an edited volume.

Chairs:

• Dr Rosana Garciandia, Co-Director of CIGAD, Senior Lecturer in Public International Law, King's College London, Research Leader on Human and Labour Rights, BIICL
• Dr Jean Pierre Gauci, Arthur Watts Senior Research Fellow in Public International Law and Director of Teaching and Training, BIICL

Speakers:

• Professor Nicolas Angelet, Professor of International Law. Universite Libre de Bruxelles, Associate, Doughty Street Chambers
• Dr Margaretha Wewerinke-Singh, Associate Professor of Sustainability Law, University of Amsterdam
• Eran Sthoeger Esq, Attorney and Consultant in International Law, Lecturer of International Environmental Law, Columbia University. 
  
• Professor Frans Viljoen, Professor of International Human Rights Law, University of Pretoria
• Dr David Keane, Associate Professor in Law, Dublin City University
• Dr Veronica Boticelli, Postdoctoral Fellow, Universita degli Studi di Milano
• Professor Jorge Contesse, Professor of Law, Rutgers Law School
  
• Merryl Lawry-White, International Law Association British Branch, Joint Secretary and Independent Practitioner, International Law