Military & Security Law
Military & Security Law
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In the Media
'Strong evidence' of war crimes after civilian bodies found in Ukraine
Donald Rothwell speaks to ABC Radio
International leaders are calling Vladimir Putin a 'war criminal'. Here's why charging him might be a long way off
Donald Rothwell quoted in ABC
U.S. to probe allegations former Afghan president Ghani fled Taliban with millions in cash
Donald Rothwell quoted in The Washington Post
Should Australia recognise a Taliban government?
Donald Rothwell writes in The Conversation
Does Australia have a ‘one China’, ‘two Chinas’ or ‘one China, one Taiwan’ policy—or all three?
writes in The Strategist
Calls for the Senate to address sexual assault allegations against US marines in the Northern Territory
Donald Rothwell quoted in SBS News
Second Chinese spy ship approaches Australia to monitor military exercises after being 'on our radar for some time'
Donald Rothwell quoted in
Learning from the Black Summer
Michael Eburn interviewed by Policy Forum Pod
Upcoming events
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Past events
The South China Sea maritime dispute: The ruling of the Annex VII tribunal
- Mr Bill Campbell QC
- Ms Katrina Cooper
- Associate Professor David Letts
- Professor Donald R Rothwell
On 12 July 2016, the Annex VII Tribunal on the South China Sea maritime dispute unanimously decided that there was no legal foundation under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea for China's nine-dash line and that China had supported activities infringing the Philipines' fishing and maritime rights.
The continuing relevance of the doctrine of combat immunity?
- Dr Cameron Moore, University of New England
- A/Prof Rob McLaughlin, ANU College of Law
Going to war is the most profound exercise of public power, and killing in war is its most profound expression. As much as killing in war, or injuring, capturing and destroying in war, has been occurring since ancient times, there is very little in domestic or international law that expressly authorises it.
The laws of war today: challenges and developments
- Ian Clark, NTU Singapore
- Rob McLaughlin, ANU College of Law
The role of the laws of war remains central to issues of peace and justice in world politics. Combining legal, historical and policy expertise, the panel will consider what can be done in practical terms by governments, NGOs and individuals to build support for the laws of war and their effective implementation.
Manual on International law applicable to military uses of outer space (MILAMOS) project
- Professor Steven Freeland (Western Sydney University)
- WCDR Duncan Blake (Royal Australian Air Force)
- Michael Johnson (Attorney-General’s Department)
Launched in May 2016, the Project aims to develop a widely-accepted manual clarifying the international law rules applicable to the military use of outer space.
Cyber and space: Can the law keep up with the technology?
- Professor Steven Freeland
- Dr William Boothby
- Mr Henry Fox
Technological developments in the cyber and space arenas are progressing at a rapid rate. While there is broad agreement that international law applies to State conduct in cyberspace, there is not yet consensus on how it applies.
International law and security in the Trumpocene
- AIRCDRE Chris Hanna
- Michael Bliss
- Professor Greg Austin
Following the executive orders and twitter posts issued by President Donald Trump, we are all waiting to see what is next on the President’s agenda.
The Law of the Sea in the Asia Pacific Region
- Vice Admiral Tim Barrett AO, CSC, RAN, Chief of Navy
- Professor Wolff Heintschel Von Heinegg, European University Viadrina
Saving the sum of things for pay
- David Mason, ANU College of Law
David's thesis asks “Is the use of mercenaries in international armed conflict lawful under International Humanitarian Law?”
Leveraging power and influence on the UN Security Council: The role of elected members
- Dr Jeremy Farrall, Fellow, Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy, The Australian National University
This seminar will present early findings from a 4-year ARC Discovery Project on why and when non-permanent Security Council members have succeeded in influencing the Council’s decision-making process, despite lacking the veto power.
The Tokyo tribunal: 70th anniversary of the judgment on Japan’s war leaders
- Professor Neil Boister, University of Canterbury
- Professor Robert Cribb, Australian National University
- Dr Kirsten Sellars, author
At the post-war Tokyo Tribunal, the Allied powers charged Japanese leaders with waging aggressive war, and committing war crimes against prisoners-ofwar and civilians.
North Korea’s Ballistic Missile Program
- Professor Clive Williams MG
The presentation will review North Korea’s non-ballistic missiles and rockets, examine its ballistic missile program in detail, look at the six “nuclear tests”, consider post-Summit prospects for “denuclearization”, and assess the North Korean ballistic missile threat over the next five years.
Small scale use of force: the threshold between “force” under the jus ad bellum and “other forcible measures”
- Andrew Garwood-Gowers
Engaging armed non-State actors across the Indo-Pacific Region on humanitarian norms: Geneva Call’s approach and experience
- Alain Délétroz
- Taylor Landis
Australia’s National Security Laws: 2018 in Review
- Dr Dominique Dalla-Pozza
Dr Dalla-Pozza will review Australia's national security laws implemented in 2018 and discuss lessons learned
Counter-terrorism review in the United Kingdom
- Professor Fiona de Londras
Book launch: Law of the Sea in South East Asia
The book Law of the Sea in South East Asia will be launched by Vice Admiral Michael Noonan, AO, RAN, Chief of Navy on 19 November 2019.
Workshop on the Resort to Force by Australia and the United States
On November 4, 2019, the Harvard Law School Program on International Law (HLS PILAC) and the Centre for Military and Security Law at the Australian National University College of Law (ANU CMSL) will jointly convene a workshop at Harvard Law School.
Hypothetical: A tale of terrorism
A hypothetical domestic terrorist attack - the possible ramifications, anticipated reactions and the effects on the future of our society.
The Commonwealth’s power to use the ADF to provide civil aid during disasters and pandemics
- Professor Anne Twomey
During the January bushfires, the Prime Minister observed that using the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to provide aid was ‘testing the limits of constitutionally defined roles and responsibilities’. The ‘Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements’ was established to inquire into these limits.
Book Launch: War and Peace in Outer Space
- Dr Cassandra Steer
- Dr Matthew Hersch
- Victoria Samson
- Air Commodore Philip Gordon
Book launch: War and Peace in Outer Space: Law, Policy, Ethics (Oxford University Press (2021)), edited by Cassandra Steer and Matthew Hersch.
Banning new lethal autonomous weapons: Possibilities and pitfalls
- Dr Stephanie Koorey
Join Dr Stephanie Koorey as she discusses autonomous weapons, what autonomy means and whether creating pre-emptive law is viable.
Australian and New Zealand perspectives on the negotiations at UNCLOS III
- Mr Henry Burmester AO QC
- Mr Bill Mansfield
- Dr Penny Ridings MNZM, University of Auckland
- Mr Richard Rowe PSM, ANU College of Law
- Dr Camille Goodman
The first webinar of the series Looking Back to the Future in the Law of the Sea: UNCLOS III and the LOSC at 40, presented by the Centre for International and Public Law (CIPL, ANU) and the Australian and New Zealand Society of International Law (ANZSIL).
Book launch: 'The Laws of Yesterday’s Wars'
- Air Commodore Patrick Keane AM CSC
- Professor Tim McCormack FAAL
- Samuel White
Launch of 'The Laws of Yesterday's Wars', hosted by ANU's Centre for Military and Security Law.
Pacific perspectives on the negotiations at UNCLOS III
- Dr Transform Aqorau
- Judge Neroni Slade
- Dr Manumatavai Tupou-Roosen
The second webinar of the series Looking Back to the Future in the Law of the Sea: UNCLOS III and the LOSC at 40, presented by the Centre for International and Public Law (CIPL, ANU) and the Australian and New Zealand Society of International Law (ANZSIL).
- International Security Law
- International Humanitarian Law
- Military Law
- Naval Warfare Law
- Maritime Security Law
- Maritime Law Enforcement
- New Technologies and the Law of Armed Conflict
- Peacekeeping and Civilian Protection in Armed Conflict
- Asia-Pacific Security
- International Law and Security Institutions
