Ola Engdahl is appointed as a delegate to the "Folkrätts- och nedrustningsdelegation"

Ola Engdahl has been appointed delegate to the newly re-established Folkrätts- och nedrustningsdelegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Margot Wallström. The delegation will  give suggestions on Swedish positions and initiatives on questions related primarily to international humanitarian law and disarmament.  Other delegates include the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the Secretary-Generals of the Swedish Red Cross and Doctors without Borders.

Further information can be found here.

/ Ola

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Forthcoming podcast on gender perspectives on international humanitarian law

On 17 February, the Advanced Training Program on Humanitarian Action at Harvard Humanitarian Initiative's Humanitarian Academy at Harvard will hold a podcast on gender perspectives on international humanitarian law. Captain Anna Björsson, Gender Advisor in the Swedish Armed Forces, and Cecilia Tengroth, Legal Adviser for the Swedish Red Cross, are among the expert commentators.

Further information on the event can be found here. You can register for the event here.

/ Sally

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Event - transitional justice and the conflict in Syria - 11 February 1600-1730 at FHS

The International Law Centre, together with the International Legal Assistance Consortium and the Swedish Network for Transition Justice, has the pleasure of inviting you to take part in a panel discussion on transitional justice and the conflict in Syria on 11 February:

Transitional justice and the conflict in Syria – progress, opportunities and lessons learned

The armed conflict in Syria, ongoing for over five years now, has devastated the lives of people living in the country and profoundly highlighted the impact of armed conflict on international peace and security. The international community has taken some measures to address the conflict, including the passing of Security Council Resolution 2178 (2014) obliging Member States to criminalise the act of nationals and other persons travelling from their territories for the purpose of terrorism, and documenting violations of human rights and the law of armed conflict by the International Independent Commission of Inquiry in the Syrian Arab Republic.

With prospects of peace under discussion, many questions face the Syrian people assisted by the international community. For example, how should the work done in documenting violations of international legal standards and ensuring accountability be taken forward? What lessons can be learned in investigating, finding and documenting missing persons from other conflicts, and what are the hopes for the situation in Syria?

Against this background, this event will discuss the progress, opportunities and lessons learned in addressing violations committed in the conflict in Syria.

Date and time: Thursday 11 February 2016, 16:00-17:30

Location: Sverigesalen

Address: Försvarshögskolan, Drottning Kristnas Väg 37

Language: English

Programme:

16:00                 Sally Longworth, Försvarshögskolan - Introduction and welcome

16:05                 Sareta Ashraph, Senior Analyst, International Independent Commission of Inquiry in the Syrian Arab Republic

16:25                 Dr. Ola Engdahl, Associate Professor of International Law, Försvarshögskolan and member of the Swedish inquiry into the implementation of Security Council Resolution 2178 (2014) and its relation to international humanitarian law

16:45                 Kathryne Bomberger, Head of the International Commission for Missing Persons

17:05                 Questions from the audience

17:30                 End - Drinks available in the officers mess

Please register your interest in attending the event with Sally.Longworth@fhs.se and feel free to forward the information to others who may be interested in the event.

Background on the Swedish Transitional Justice Network:

The network is comprised of Swedish civil society organisations and academic researchers active in international development, peace and conflict, human rights and rule of law issues. The network was initiated by the Swedish Foundation for Human Rights with the support of International Legal Assistance Consortium.

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Discussion on the legal interoperability in joint military operations – NATO and non-NATO countries - 4 February

The International Law Centre is holding an event on the legal interoperability in joint military operations between NATO and non-NATO countries with NATO Legal advisor Lewis Bumgardner to be held at Försvarshögskolan on Thursday 4 February 15:30-17:00.

Lewis Bumgardner served for 24 years as a Judge Advocate in US Marine Corps, retiring as a Colonel. He then worked as a legal advisor for the UN Mission in Liberia before being hired in 2005 as the legal advisor for the NATO Allied Command Transformation Staff Element Europe in Belgium. In addition, he is an Adjunct Professor of Law at the St. John’s University School of Law in New York and  Chairman of the LOAC Task Group at the NATO Training Group, as well as lecturer at SWEDINT.

The term “legal interoperability” addresses the process of making legal rules to enable cooperation between States across jurisdictions. It is an area of growing importance in joint military operations between NATO and non-NATO countries, such as Sweden.  

The event will be held in English at Försvarshögskolan, Drottning Kristnas Väg 37 in room N203A+B. If you are interested in attending, email martin.hamilton@fhs.se.

/ Sally

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UK Government’s policy on the use of drones for targeted killing - transcript of evidence given by Minister of Defence

On 16 December 2015, the UK's Secretary of State for Defence, Michael Fallon, gave evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights on its inquiry into the UK Government's policy on the use of drones for targeted killing. The transcript of the meeting is available online here.

Background on the Joint Committee's inquiry is available here.


/ Sally

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Report published on the sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeeping forces in the Central African Republic

On 17 December 2015, the independent panel established to review the UN's response to allegations in spring 2014 that international troops serving in a peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic had sexually abused a number of young children in exchange for food or money presented their findings to the UN Secretary-General.

The Report finds that the manner in which the UN agencies responded to the allegations was seriously flawed and that three UN official abused their authority. The Report included recommendations on improving the UN's response to sexual exploitation and abuse by peacekeepers.

The Report is available online here.

/ Sally

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New publication on IHL and gender

At the ICRC's International Conference in Geneva last week, the Swedish Red Cross launched a book entitled "IHL and Gender - Swedish Experiences". This is a compilation of work produced as part of a working group on international humanitarian law and gender lead by the Swedish Red Cross.

Sally Longworth and Ola Engdahl contributed a chapter to the publication on the impact of incorporating a gender perspective in military operations on the implementation of IHL. Sally Longworth also wrote a chapter on the law of occupation and gender.

The book is available online here.

/ Sally

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