The US incursion into Venezuela and abduction of President Maduro followed by President Trump’s renewed push to take control of Greenland, and now a new threat to bomb Iran have undermined the UN Charter and the rules of international behaviour.  These actions have replaced the “international rules-based order” with “might is right”, international law with lawlessness.

President Trump has boasted that he doesn’t ‘need international law’ as a constraint, only his ‘own morality’.  In the face of such attack, what can International Law offer? Can it help us out of this mess?

A most timely discussion with two international respected legal experts.

Dr Juliette McIntyre, Adelaide University

Dr McIntyre is a Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of South Australia and a recognised specialist in international courts and tribunals. Dr McIntyre’s academic work has been published in leading journals, appears several times in the annual International Court of Justice Bibliography, and has been cited in multiple written and oral submissions before the Court. She also has significant litigation experience, including as counsel in cases before international courts and tribunals.

Dr Tamer Morris, University of Sydney.

Tamer Morris is a senior lecturer at the University of Sydney, where he teaches and researches in international law, United Nations peacekeeping, and international humanitarian law. Tamer also teaches in private international law and the conflict of laws. Tamer was awarded his PhD from the University of Sydney on the legal obligation to protect in UN peacekeeping. Tamer’s current research focus is on the laws of the protection of civilians, and the legal responsibility of the State to protect.

Moderator

Melanie Morrison is a human rights, peace and climate justice advocate with extensive leadership experience in partnerships, strategy, communications and program development.  She is currently Executive Director of the Sydney Peace Foundation.