The Canadian Council on International Law has issued a call for papers for its 41st Annual Conference, to take place November 8-10, 2012, in Ottawa. The theme is "SOS International Law: International Law in Times of Crisis and Emergency." Here's the call:SOS International Law:
International Law in Times of Crisis and Emergency
November 8-10, 2012
Ottawa, Ontario
The Canadian Council on International Law invites paper proposals from faculty members, doctoral level graduate students in law and related disciplines, and practitioners, on topics dealing with the theme of its 41st Annual Conference: “SOS International Law: International Law in Times of Crisis and Emergency”.
Crises and emergencies come in many forms. They may be financial, environmental or purely political, as states break apart, governments are ousted or armed conflicts occur. From the financial turmoil in the United States and Europe, to the surge for democracy in the Arab world and resulting civil conflicts, to natural disasters in Haiti and Japan, and to the predicament of nuclear proliferation in Iran and elsewhere, international relations have been preoccupied by these crises and emergencies. And behind these newspaper headlines are countless crises averted or emergencies abated, where early intervention forestalls disasters before they emerge.
International reactions to emergencies and crises are the stuff of high politics. In some instances, international law may prove a useful tool in the decision-making of states confronting such calamities. In other cases, it seems woefully inadequate and plays at best a supporting role. What part is there for international law in dealing with crises and emergencies? Is international law capable of providing useful guidance during catastrophes? Or is it instead burdened with feet of clay?
The Canadian Council for International Law will grapple with these issues from the 8-10 November 2012 in Ottawa and invites the active participation of the international legal community.
Paper proposals in English or French should be no longer than a single page in length and should include a biographical statement or curriculum vitae. Proposals are due May 5, 2012 and should be sent to cforcese@uottawa.ca.
Please note that the CCIL is unable to cover or subsidize travel to or accommodation for the Annual Conference.
