The current crisis engulfing Palestine and Israel raises significant issues of international law, especially Israel’s violent assault on the Gaza strip. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has found it plausible that Israel’s acts could amount to genocide and ordered Israel to take all measures to prevent genocidal acts and to ensure aid reaches Palestinians under siege in Gaza. This event will discuss the ICJ case and some of the relevant questions concerning international law, including genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, the use of force and human rights protection. Join us for a discussion about how political leaders and social movements can mobilise around international law to bring cessation and accountability to the current wave of violence.
Speaker: Professor Kevin Chang (National Chengchi University), International law expert and consultant at the United Nations
Kevin Chang is an Associate Professor in International Law at National Chengchi University in Taipei. He has more than 20 years’ professional experience serving the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Australian Government. This includes field experience with UNDP, UNHCR and UN peacekeeping operations as an advisor in rule of law and justice reform in Myanmar, Ethiopia, South Sudan, Nepal. Timor-Leste and Pakistan, and at UN Headquarters. Professor Chang is an Australian lawyer and holds degrees (JD, LLM, MA, GradDipIntLaw, GradDipLegPrac, BSc) from the University of Sydney, the Australian National University and Monash University. He is a certified investigator for human rights and international core crimes, and also teaches at the University of Sydney and Geneva’s Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies.
Moderator: Laura Moye, Amnesty International Taiwan Ceasefire Action Coordinator