Counter-terrorism, Human Rights and International Legality Inter-disciplinary Research Seminar
The unsatisfactory results of the global fight against the growing phenomenon of terrorism have demonstrated the inadequacy of international legal tools to address this challenge efficiently. Ad hoc solutions have been developed by major key players such as the United Nations and the European Union, but the legitimacy under international law of actions undertaken by such organizations remains largely debatable, and so does the expansion of prerogatives of their executive organs. Nor are the measures adopted in the war on terror perceived as fully compatible with international human rights law guarantees. The CHRC held a seminar on 10th June on this matter with the aim to provide an interdisciplinary approach to these issues, gathering perspectives from scholars, practitioners, human rights activists. It sought to promote discussion of practicable solutions for ensuring the efficacy of the struggle against terrorism, while safeguarding the credibility of international action, and making counter-terrorism coherent with international law principles and human rights standards. The participants in this seminar where: Dr. Pete Fussey (Senior Lecturer in Criminology, School of Law, University of East London); Dr. Matthew Happold (Barrister, Reader, Law School, University of Hull); Prof. Bill Bowring (Barrister, Professor of Law, Birkbeck College, University of London); Dr. Fernando Val-Garijo (Assistant Professor, Department of Public International Law, UNED, School of Law, Madrid, Spain); John Strawson (Reader in Law, School of Law, University of East London); David Marrani (Lecturer in Public and Comparative Law, Department of Law, University of Essex); and Saleh Mamon (CAMPACC).
Presentations and papers
Extraordinary Rendition: Illegal Limbos, Legal Safeguards and International Responsibility by Dr. Fernando Val-Garijo.
Islam and the Politics of Terrorism: Aspects of the British Experience by John Strawson.A report of this event can be found here.