“Serious International Crimes, Human Rights, and Forced Migration”
A Symposium, Co-Sponsored by the Jack & Mae Nathanson Centre on Transnational Human Rights, Crime, and Security and
McLaughlin College, York University
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
May 30th and 31st, 2019
The “Serious International Crimes, Human Rights, and Forced Migration” Symposium seeks to explore the relationship and interconnectedness between and among extreme organized violence in the forms of protracted armed conflict, terrorism, state oppression under authoritarian or totalitarian regimes, and breaches to fundamental human rights, and their respective impact on forced displacement. It also seeks to examine and to analyze whether and how 21st century warfare has exacerbated human rights violations and the denial of human dignity that has resulted in serious international crimes and severe violations to the most fundamental human rights. This raises important questions about the prosecution of those who are involved in serious international crimes or who are responsible for severe human rights violations and/or their exclusion from asylum for their “significant contribution” to the so-called “atrocity crimes,” to serious non-political crimes prior to their arrival in their countries of asylum, or for being guilty of acts that are contrary to the purposes and principles of the United Nations.
With about 50 armed conflicts in the world today and at least 30 deeply authoritarian states, that provide the conditions and fertile ground for serious international crimes such as genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes to take place, and with the overwhelming number of terrorist incidents occurring in those regions of the world that are either engulfed in protract armed conflict or characterized by oppressive authoritarian rule, and with over two-thirds of the world’s refugees, 68 percent, coming from just five countries: Syrian Arab Republic; Afghanistan; South Sudan; Myanmar; and Somalia, it is patently obvious that the “root cause” of the overwhelming majority of the world’s forcibly displaced persons is, undoubtedly, extreme organized violence in the form of protracted armed conflict, terrorism, and state oppression. Evidently, tackling the “root causes” of mass forced displacement is absolutely essential to addressing the “refugee crisis.”
Paper abstracts are invited, for this two-day symposium, from researchers, practitioners and policymakers at all stages of their career. Relevant legal, social and policy themes, issues, and concerns include, but, are not limited to the following:
- The prevalence of protracted non-international armed conflict, terrorism, and state oppression in the world today, and overwhelmingly in the same geographic regions, raises serious questions for the application and enforcement of international humanitarian and criminal law and the protection of those who are caught in conflict zones. How can and should the efficacy of international human rights, humanitarian, and criminal law be strengthened in zones of protracted armed conflict to protect civilian non-combatants and those who are fleeing extreme organized violence?
- Do international humanitarian and criminal laws need to be amended, in light of the well-documented practice, of the use of forced displacement as a weapon of contemporary 21st century warfare, and, if so, how?
- The doctrinal relationship between refugee law and international humanitarian and criminal law has serious implications for the proper application and interpretation of the exclusion provisions for refugee protection at the state level for all those who have been implicated in serious international crimes.
- The prevention of “atrocity crimes” is contingent on the vigorous and scrupulous enforcement of international criminal law at the state, regional, and international levels, otherwise, impunity for serious international crimes will continue to prevail. Consequently, what obstacles or impediments need to be addressed to make the international criminal justice system more effective?
Paper abstracts on these or any other pertinent and relevant symposium themes, issues, and concerns should not exceed 600 words, including the title, author name, and institutional affiliation. Please also include a brief biography of no more than 100 words. Please send your abstract submission for consideration before Thursday, 28th February 2019 to jcsimeon@yorku.ca
Selection decisions will be returned by Friday, 8th March 2019. Participants are responsible for making their own visa, travel and accommodation arrangements and will be required to pay the small registration fee to cover the cost of refreshments and lunches.
