3 September 2014
Joint ESIL IGPS/SHARES Symposium: ‘The Changing Nature of Peacekeeping: Challenges for Jus ad Bellum, Jus in Bello and Human Rights’
The European Society of International Law Interest Group on Peace and Security (ESIL IGPS) and the SHARES Project organise a joint symposium entitled ‘The Changing Nature of Peacekeeping: Challenges for Jus ad Bellum, Jus in Bello and Human Rights’, to be held in conjunction with the 10th ESIL Anniversary Conference in Vienna, Austria, on 3 September 2014.
The symposium, entitled ‘The Changing Nature of Peacekeeping: Challenges for Jus ad Bellum, Jus in Bello and Human Rights’, is organised against the background of an ongoing evolution in UN peacekeeping operations, especially in relation with the increasing number of missions for the protection of civilians, the robust use of force mandate given by the UN Security Council to some peacekeeping missions, and the recent creation of ‘offensive’ combat forces in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (Intervention Brigade) and Mali (MINUSMA). The more expansive mandates of peacekeeping forces raise critical questions pertaining to the law applicable to such forces, and the allocation of responsibility in situations where members of peacekeeping forces act in contravention of their international obligations.
The symposium will discuss whether there indeed is a major shift in UN peacekeeping practice and will explore important questions of international law raised by these new practices.
In particular, it will examine the applicability of jus ad bellum, jus in bello and human rights that impact on the UN, troop contributing states, the host state, and non-state armed actors. It also will explore whether the rules of international responsibility are sufficiently developed to assign responsibility to the Security Council and/or member states for actions taken where peacekeepers are engaged in the robust use of force or armed conflict. In this context it will also seek to address issues of shared responsibility that may arise from the interplay among these actors and to consider how the new practices may pose new challenges in determining and apportioning responsibility among states, international organisations and non-state actors.
Abstracts and other information is to be submitted via email by 4 May 2014 (see official call for papers). Successful applicants will be informed by 15 May. An extended outline of the paper is required by 25 August.
The intention of the ESIL IGPS and the SHARES Project is to publish the best papers in a book, special issue of a law journal and/or the ESIL IGPS/SHARES Project webpages.
Please note that, unfortunately, the ESIL IGPS and the SHARES Project are not in a position to cover expenses for travelling and accommodation, or to waive the ESIL conference fee.
See here for the programme.