Sunday, 24 March 2024, 13:00–14:30IPU Assembly, Geneva International Conference Centre, Switzerland
Speakers:
- Anda Filip (Romania) Director, Member Parliaments & External Relations · Inter-Parliamentary Union
- Margareta Kiener Nellen (Switzerland)Former Swiss parliamentarian. Board Member, Peace Women Across the Globe. Former Chair of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Committee on Democracy, Human Rights and Humanitarian Questions
- Alyn Ware (New Zealand/Czech Republic). PNND Global Coordinator. Co-founder Legal Alternatives to War campaign.
- Neshan Gunasekera (Sri Lanka) Board member, International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms. Former Assistant to Judge Weeramantry, Vice-President of the International Court of Justice from 1997-2000.
- Rebecca Shoot (USA)Executive Director, Citizens for Global Policy. Chair, Washington Working Group on the International Criminal Court.
Outline:
On 27 January 2024, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists set the hands of the Doomsday Clock to 90 seconds to midnight, highlighting the serious – indeed existential – threats to humanity and the planet from armed conflict, the increasing risk of nuclear war, the climate crisis and pervasive misinformation.
At its 147th Assembly in Luanda (October 2023), the IPU adopted the Luanda Declaration, which underscores that “conflicts within and between countries continue to become alarmingly more frequent and severe, undermining development gains”. It strongly reaffirms parliamentarians’ belief “in the rule of law, at both the national and international level, as the foundation of conflict prevention and resolution, as well as in dialogue and diplomacy as the only way towards lasting peace” and it encourages "more frequent use of the International Court of Justice and other international judicial institutions as key tools to resolve disputes between countries peacefully."
Common security and the rule of law provide ways to reduce and resolve international conflicts, build peace and justice, protect the climate and better manage emerging technologies. The United Nations Summit of the Future in September 2024 and its preparatory process offer unique opportunities to advance common security and the rule of law globally to address and alleviate strategic and existential threats.
One of the principal common security mechanisms that is increasingly demonstrating its relevance and value is the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The ICJ is currently considering cases, for example, on genocide, climate change, territorial boundaries, international terrorism, international water disputes (rivers), racial/ethnic discrimination, occupied territories, torture, an aerial incident and more.
Historically, most of the Court’s decisions are accepted and implemented by all parties – demonstrating that the court is an important mechanism for advancing Legal Alternatives to War (LAW not War).
This roundtable event will include updates on peace and security proposals as well as governance mechanisms that are being discussed in preparation for the UN Summit of the Future – including the role of the International Court of Justice. Parliamentary initiatives relating to these areas will also be discussed.
Documents:
- Handbook on accepting the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, published by Switzerland in cooperation with the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Lithuania, Japan and Botswana.
- Common Security v. Nuclear Weapons: How to replace the current reliance on nuclear deterrence with sustainable security for all
- PNND intervention for the IPU General Debate on Parliamentary Diplomacy: Building Bridges for Peace and Understanding.