Human Rights Law Committee

Over the course of the day, we heard from the world’s leading international human rights law and international humanitarian law experts from governments, the United Nations, international NGOs, academic institutions and international tribunals.

Speakers included:

• U.S. Ambassador Karen Hideko Sasahara, who opened the event with remarks highlighting the earliest written codes governing conduct in war, including the Lieber Code;
• Ms. Ghada Al-Taher, United Nations Resident Coordinator to Kuwait, gave a moving presentation on her lived experiences through armed conflict in war zones across Africa and the Middle East;
• Former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice (ret.) Stephen Rapp treated the Marten’s Clause within the context of the principle of humanity and discussed the evolution of the crime of aggression;
• Sara Elizabeth Dill, Co-Vice Chair of the IBA War Crimes Committee, highlighted common themes in international criminal law and Islamic law in her cogent presentation on the prohibition of conflict-related sexual violence;
• Dr. Saad Rüstem, Syria Program Coordinator for Geneva Call, discussed humanitarian assistance and protection within the context of Syria;
• Ms. Nisreen Rubaian, Representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to the State of Kuwait, spoke about her decision to dedicate her professional life to the protection of displaced persons in armed conflict;
• Prof Mohamed Elewa Badar of Northumbria University called for greater inclusion within the “general principles of law” that form part of the sources of public international law, as recognised by the ICJ Charter;
• Omar Mekky, the ICRC Regional Legal Coordinator for the Near and Middle East, presented the challenges of engaging with armed groups in the Middle East towards compliance with international humanitarian law;
• Ms. Federica D'Alessandra, Director of the Oxford Programme on International Peace and Security, examined the immunity of government officials within the framework of international criminal justice;
• Prof. Mohammad Fadel of the University of Toronto discussed Islamic public international law, taking the audience through 1,000 years of Islamic diplomatic and treaty practice and outlining the concept of state sovereignty in Islamic international law; and
• Dr. Iyad Nasr of the European City University-France and Dr. Mohamed Abdelaziz GadelHak Ibrahim of the United Nations in New York discussed their success stories and lessons learned in negotiating with armed groups towards the protection of fundamental human rights and humanitarian protection in time of armed conflict.

Other notable speakers:

• Shirley Magniez-Pouget, Legal Director of Business & Human Rights at DLA Piper and Co-Chair of the IBA Human Rights Law Committee;
• John Balouziyeh, Chief of National Security Law at Task Force Spartan and Treasurer of the IBA Human Rights Law Committee;
• Professor Jonathan Hafetz, IBA and Seton Hall Law School;
• Mr. Mamadou Sow, Head of Delegation for the GCC, ICRC; 
• Michael Fish, Staff Judge Advocate, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Task Force Spartan;
• Frank Lumpkin, IV, National Security Law Attorney, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Task Force Spartan; Associate Attorney, Hall Booth Smith, P.C;
• Dr. Humoud Y. Alfadhli, Cambridge University and Kuwait University;
• Ms. Amal Albeedh, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Kuwait:
• Dr. Felicity Gerry, International King's Counsel, London;
• Ms. Meriam Al-Rashid, Business and Human Rights Lawyer's Association;
• LTC Dan Bagley, Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, Office of the Staff Judge Advocate, Task Force Spartan;
• LTC Doug Fahl, Chief of Administrative and Fiscal Law, Operation Inherent Resolve;
• LTC Emeka Igwe, Chief of Military Justice, Task Force Spartan;
• Maj Doug Bryson, Staff Judge Advocate, Office of Military Cooperation, Kuwait;
• MAJ John Ford, Command Judge Advocate, ASG-Kuwait;
• MAJ Bryan Root, National Security Law Judge Advocate, Task Force Spartan;
• JohnPaul LeCedre, Assistant United States Attorney, Los Angeles; Ms. Suha Alsahli, Advocates Group Academy; and
• Mr. Yohei Suda, Japanese Federation of Bar Associations.

The Symposium will be followed by the publication of an edited book volume entitled Law, Ethics and Armed Conflict: An International Law Reader, comprised of articles submitted by the Symposium’s speakers.