ICRC-Cardozo workshop on "International Law and National Security" No 3

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Photo Credit: Cardozo Law
June 2018 -- Many thanks to the Washington Delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the Floersheimer Center for Constitutional Democracy, and the Cardozo Law Institute in Holocaust and Human Rights for all their efforts, and their warmth and generosity, in hosting the third annual papers workshop on “Revisiting the Role of International Law in National Security” at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in Manhattan, New York. Delighted to contribute invited remarks on the use of digital evidence, including open source information from social media, in the investigation and prosecution of international crimes. I look forward to seeing all the papers in print in the near future.

Chatham House Roundtable on Emerging Issues in International Law

June 2018 -- It was my pleasure to return to Beijing to participate in a two-day roundtable on emerging issues in international law, including the role for China in Arctic affairs. I also presented on the recent adoption of a resolution on mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of human rights at the UN Human Rights Council (A/HRC/37/L.36). Organized by the international think tank Chatham House (The Royal Institute of International Affairs) in collaboration with the China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL), the roundtables bring together academics from several institutions in China with academics from Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. 

ELLA and the Charter

May 2018 -- Many thanks to the members of the Edmonton Lifelong Learners Association (ELLA) for the very warm reception for my talk on "Interpreting the Charter". Delighted to support the efforts of this not-for-profit, volunteer-run organization offering non-credit courses for those over 50. What a great idea!

Women in International Security-Canada Annual Workshop

May 2018 -- Delighted to serve as a discussant and mentor at the 11th Annual Workshop of Women in International Security - Canada, organized around the timely theme of "Gender & Security, from the Bottom-Up".

For the first time, this annual workshop showcasing the work of graduate students from across the country was held in Western Canada. Many congratulations to lead organizer, Leigh Spanner, a PhD candidate in political science at the University of Alberta, for a superb job in putting together a great workshop.

Osgoode Constitutional Cases Conference

April 2018 -- Many thanks to the organizers of the annual “Osgoode Constitutional Cases Conference”, for putting together a conference agenda comprised of several very interesting panel discussions on current topics of constitutional law, as well as a keynote address by the former Chief Justice of Canada, the Rt Hon Beverley McLachlin.

​Pleased to be a part of the proceedings, presenting an analysis of the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in India v Badesha, 2017 SCC 44, that welcomed judicial confirmation that there is a role for human rights inquiry in matters of extradition, while also warning about the counter-balancing effect of a deferential approach to judicial review.

Treaties, Brexit and the Constitution

​March 2018 -- Delighted to present on “The Practicalities of Parliamentary Engagement in Treaty-making” at the “Treaties, Brexit and the Constitution” conference at Jesus College, Oxford, co-organized with the UK’s House of Commons Library. Appreciated the questions from a number of parliamentary law clerks in attendance, as well as from academics, practitioners, and past and present legal advisers to government.

​Recognizing the democratic imperative for some role for Parliament in the making of legal obligations by international treaty, my presentation provided a comparative Commonwealth perspective on the range of ways to achieve some involvement, with the British decision to withdraw from the European Union raising renewed interest in the role for parliamentarians to express their views on international arrangements. For a recent UK House of Commons Library briefing paper on Parliament’s role in ratifying treaties, see here.

​2018 Edmonton International Humanitarian Law Conference

March 2018 -- Thanks to the efforts of the Canadian Red Cross, a second successful Friday afternoon conference on current challenges for international humanitarian law was held at the University of Alberta, attracting attendance from students, professors and the public. ​Organized around the theme of urban warfare and its consequences for victims, the event featured presentations from legal advisers with the Canadian Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross, alongside experts bridging the academic-practice divide from the Norman Paterson School of International Affairs and the University of Alberta’s Department of Political Science and Faculty of Law. Issues of protection, prevention and accountability for breach dominated discussions, as well as concerns about access for humanitarian aid and the future for post-conflict peacebuilding and reconstruction of communities.

Academic Life: Honolulu and International Humanitarian Law

February 2018 -- Many thanks to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and United States Pacific Command (USPACOM) for the invitation to participate in "The Transpacific Workshop on International Law and Armed Conflict" at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Honolulu, Hawaii.

​With partnerships part of today's reality, the workshop offered a unique opportunity to hear views and updates from around the Indo-Pacific region, and to discuss the current challenges for international humanitarian law in the naval warfare context. It was also interesting to hear about the engagement with other bodies of law, including the law of the sea and search and rescue, but no workshop can beat an itinerary that starts with a cocktail on Waikiki Beach and ends with a tour of a US Navy guided-missile destroyer. Many thanks again to the organizers and hosts, and the crew of the USS Hopper.

Annual CCIL Conference: A Return to Transnational Criminal Law

November 2017 -- International criminal law may grab the headlines, but it is thanks to transnational criminal law that we can address the nuts and bolts of serious cross-border crime. Delighted to contribute to a panel to encourage "A Return to Transnational Criminal Law" at the 46th annual conference of the Canadian Council on International Law (CCIL) in Ottawa. Chaired by Dean Christopher Waters of the University of Windsor Faculty of Law, the panel also featured contributions by Professor Rob Currie of the Schulich School of Law at Dalhousie University, Jeffrey Johnston from the International Assistance Group at Justice Canada, and Assistant Professor Sara Wharton of the University of Windsor Faculty of Law.

Humanizing Warfare: Successes and Challenges for the Laws of War

October 2017 -- Continuing with a long-established tradition of publicizing the existence of rules for the conduct of war, the University of Saskatchewan College of Law hosted a conference on "Humanizing Warfare: Successes and Challenges with Implementing the Law of Armed Conflict", bringing together legal advisers with the Canadian Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and legal academics with practice experience from defence and foreign affairs perspectives. It was an honour to be asked to present on accountability for violations of the laws and customs of war.

​Open to law students, the wider university community, and the public, the event was also live-streamed to the Nunavut Arctic College in Iqaluit. Many thanks to our host and moderator, Assistant Professor Karinne Coombes of the University of Saskatchewan, and to fellow panellists, Andrew Carswell of the International Committee of the Red Cross, Associate Professor Christopher Penny of Carleton University, and Jonathan Somer of the Canadian Red Cross. 

Downtown Charter Series: Making Sense of the Charter

September 2017 -- Many thanks to the Centre for Constitutional Studies for the invitation to be a part of the "Downtown Charter Series" of talks for the public about the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. It was a pleasure to have such a large and engaged audience for a discussion on the art of interpretation. Topics covered included the need for a dynamic, purposive interpretation that takes into account our national values and the balance to be achieved between rights protection and accommodation. Many thanks to the audience for the great questions received.

List of Recent Presentations (last five years)

Conferences and workshops
  • J. Harrington, “Using Digital Evidence in the Investigation and Prosecution of International Crimes”, invited remarks at the third annual papers workshop on “Revisiting the Role of International Law in National Security” organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Cardozo School of Law, Yeshiva University, New York, USA, 18 June 2018
  • J. Harrington, “Mutually Beneficial Cooperation and the Protection of Human Rights”, an invited presentation for the "The Fifth Roundtable on International Law: Emerging Issues” organized by Chatham House (The Royal Institute of International Affairs) and the China University of Political Science and Law, Beijing, People's Republic of China, 2-3 June 2018
  • J. Harrington, “Global Mobility: Rights, Security and Belonging: Discussant’s Remarks”, an invited commentary for the 11th annual workshop of Women in International Security-Canada on “Gender & Security, from the Bottom-up Workshop” held at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, 2-4 May 2018
  • J. Harrington, “Extradition, Assurances, and Human Rights”, a panel presentation at the annual “Osgoode Constitutional Cases Conference” hosted by Osgoode Hall Law School, York University, Toronto, Canada, 6 April 2018
  • J. Harrington, “The Practicalities of Parliamentary Engagement in Treaty-making”, an invited presentation for the “Treaties, Brexit and the Constitution” conference co-organized by the House of Commons Library, the University of Bristol Law School, and Jesus College, University of Oxford, and held at Jesus College, Oxford, UK, 23 March 2018
  • J. Harrington, “Accountability for the Commission of Crimes in Syria”, a panel contribution for “Battleground Metropolis: Urban Warfare and International Humanitarian Law”, a conference open to the public organized by the Canadian Red Cross at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada, 2 March 2018
  • J. Harrington, “Common Article 1”, an invited contribution to "The Transpacific Workshop on International Law and Armed Conflict" organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the U.S. Pacific Command, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Honolulu, USA, 15-16 February 2018
  • J. Harrington, "Past Guidance for Present Challenges in Transnational Criminal Law" at the 46th annual conference of the Canadian Council on International Law on "Canada at 150: The Return of History for International Law", Ottawa, Canada, 2-3 November 2017
  • J. Harrington, "Accountability" at the "Humanizing Warfare: Successes and Challenges with Implementing the Law of Armed Conflict" conference organized by the Canadian Red Cross and the College of Law at the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada, 27 October 2017
  • J. Harrington, "A Canadian Perspective on Targeting, Detention, and Trials" for a panel discussion on "International Law and National Security: A View from Abroad on Current Trends in Targeting, Detention, and Trials" organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross and Cardozo Law School, Yeshiva University, New York, USA, 18 May 2017
  • J. Harrington, “Canada and the Corruption of Foreign Public Officials: Developments and Challenges” for the “Transnational Criminal Law in the Americas” conference at the Faculty of Law, University of Windsor, Windsor, Canada, 4-5 May 2017
  • J. Harrington, “Corruption in International Law: Challenges and Developments” at the “Roundtable on Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes and Protection of Individual Rights” organized by Chatham House (The Royal Institute of International Affairs) and the China University of Political Science and Law, Beijing, People’s Republic of China, 26-27 November 2016
  • J. Harrington, “Sexualized Violence: Accountability of Peacekeepers”, a panel presentation organized by the Military Justice division of the Office of the Judge Advocate General of the Canadian Armed Forces for the 45th annual conference of the Canadian Council on International Law, Ottawa, Canada, 3-5 November 2016
  • J. Harrington, “Applying Public Law Principles to the UN Human Rights Bodies: Supporting the Call for Change to Working Methods” at the biennial conference on “The Unity of Public Law?” hosted by the Centre for Public Law at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom, 12-14 September 2016
  • J. Harrington, “Illuminations or Further Complexities? The Role of the Human Rights Treaty-Monitoring Bodies” at the “Transatlantic Workshop on International Law and Armed Conflict” co-sponsored by the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law and Armed Conflict, the Oxford Martin Programme on Human Rights for Future Generations, the Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law, and the South Texas College of Law at Pembroke College, University of Oxford, United Kingdom, 15-16 July 2015
  • J. Harrington, “A Perspective from the Americas on Interim Measures of Protection” at the “Urgency and Human Rights” conference organized by the Department of International and European Law at Radboud University, in cooperation with the Departimento di Giurisprudenza at the Seconda Universitá di Napoli and the Ghent Human Rights Centre of Belgium at Nijmegen, Netherlands, 29-30 May 2015
  • J. Harrington, “The UN Security Council, its Working Methods, and Institutional Change” at the 22nd annual conference of the Australian and New Zealand Society of International Law at the Australian National University, Canberra, Australia, 3-5 July 2014
  • J. Harrington, “Exploring the Canadian in 50 Years of Canadian International Law Scholarship” at the 42nd annual conference of the Canadian Council on International Law, Ottawa, Canada, 14-16 November 2013
  • J. Harrington, “Accountability and Responsibility of International Organizations: The Contributions of the International Law Commission” at the “US/Canada International Humanitarian Law Workshop” organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (Washington Delegation) and the Center on Law, Ethics and National Security at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA, 3-4 October 2013
  • J. Harrington, “Rule of Law Restraints on the Use of Force: Unfinished Business for the Responsibility to Protect” at the “The United Nations Security Council, Force and the Rule of Law” workshop organized by the Australian National University’s Centre for International Governance and Justice and the Australian Civil-Military Centre in cooperation with Australia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, New York, USA, 13 June 2013
  • J. Harrington, “China, the Responsibility to Protect, and an Opportunity for Leadership?” at the 2013 ILA-ASIL Asia-Pacific Research Forum on “International Law and Dispute Resolution: Challenges in the Asia Pacific” in Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China, 15-16 May 2013

Invited lectures
  • J. Harrington, "Interpreting the Charter", Edmonton Lifelong Learners Association, Faculty of Education, University of Alberta, Edmonton, 8 May 2018
  • J. Harrington, "Interpreting the Charter", Downtown Charter Series, Centre for Constitutional Studies, Edmonton, 14 September 2017
  • J. Harrington, “Legal Implications of Brexit”, Canadian Bar Association (Alberta Branch), International Business Law Section (South), Calgary, 20 June 2017
  • J. Harrington, “Urgent Human Rights Situations and Interim Measures of Protection: Problems of Compliance, Legitimacy and Effectiveness”, Department of Government, The University of Texas at Austin, 4 May 2016
  • J. Harrington, “Urgent Human Rights Situations and Interim Measures of Protection,” Faculty of Laws, University College London, 20 November 2015
  • J. Harrington, “Neighbourliness, National Values, and Counter-Terrorism Efforts: A Canadian Perspective,” Faculty of Law, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia, 23 February 2015
  • J. Harrington, “From Scotland to Sudan: Legal Implications of the Creation of New States,” Canadian Bar Association (Alberta Branch), International Business Law Section (South), Calgary, 27 January 2015
  • J. Harrington, "Interim Measures in International Human Rights Proceedings", an invited presentation for the 7th national conference of the Canadian Association of Refugee lawyers, held via simultaneous broadcasting in Vancouver, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal, 16 October 2014
  • J. Harrington, “Use of Force, Rule of Law Restraints, and Process: Unfinished Business for the Responsibility to Protect Concept,” Centre for International Policy Studies and Faculty of Law, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, 7 March 2014
  • J. Harrington, “The International Rule of Law: The Role for Law and Lawyers,” University of Alberta President’s Society Annual Dinner, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, 12 November 2013
  • J. Harrington, “Climate Change, Human Rights, and the Right to be Cold,” Faculty of Law, National Cheng Chung University, Chia-yi county, Republic of China, 13 May 2013​
© 2018 Joanna Harrington