Africa, the Ukraine Crisis, and International Law Series – 2022

The CILPA, together with ASIL and the Nuremberg Academy, are pleased to convene an interactive dialogue to reflect on the situation in Ukraine and to explore the main international legal and policy questions from an African perspective. The roundtable dialogues, which will take place over the course of three separate events constituting the 2022 ICC Colloquium Series, will be an opportunity for both speakers and participants to engage on a range of critical issues, including the use of force in Article 2(4) of the UN Charter and the exception of self-defense contained in Article 51, as well as questions of state responsibility, the crime of aggression, the right of self-determination and uti possidetis juris. The panelists at the various events will be invited to ponder the present and future role of the UN Security Council, the ICC, the ICJ, including the law governing the use of the veto in the face of atrocity crimes, recent ICJ advisory opinions, and the International Law Commission’s timely work on jus cogens and their legal consequences and the duty of states and international organizations to take steps not to aid or abet serious breaches of international law. 

The first roundtable took place online on 1 June 2022 and considered the implications of the use of force by Russia in Ukraine for general international law and the UN Charter’s collective security system, including veto and UNSC reform. Click here for more information and to watch the recording of the online roundtable.

The second roundtable, to be convened in July 2022, will turn to the question of state responsibility for international wrongful acts, countermeasures, and neutrality. More information to be posted in due course.

Last but not least, the third discussion will consider  possible avenues for criminal responsibility – not only through the ICC and any potential ad hoc tribunals, but also using Universality. This event will take place towards the end of 2022. More information to be posted in due course.

Further information on these upcoming series will be posted on the CILPA website in the near future. In the meantime, should you have an interest in learning more or participating in any of the workshops, we invite you to email us at [email protected].