MILS CONFERENCE RESOURCES

Speaker Series: International Law - Demystified, 25 October 2006

The purpose of this event was to provide a general understanding of the different areas of international law, in addition to providing the opportunity for students to ask some questions. Professor Akhavan discussed public international law, Professor Mégret discussed international criminal law, and Professor Saumier discussed private international law. Below is an executive summary of the event.

Professor Payam Akhavan spoke of the nature of the international legal system as both different from, and similar to other areas of law. The main source and subject of international law is the sovereign state. There is a tension between power and normativity in the structure of international law. While, in a practical sense, international law is easily encountered, to pursue a career in international law requires interest and passion.

Professor Frédéric Mégret spoke of international criminal law, a branch of public international law. The history of international criminal law can be traced to extradition as a rule mediating the tension of prosecuting an individual, yet bringing them in your territory in order to do so. International criminal law further developed with the transnationalization of crimes such as organized crimes and trafficking. Today, the latest development includes ad hoc international criminal tribunals and the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

La professeure Geneviève Saumier nous a parlé du droit international privé. Le droit international privé à McGill s'occupe des questions de litiges transfrontalier entre parties privées. Le droit des contrats comportent un aspect international avec une clause qui insère le droit applicable au contrat. Il y a aussi une question de la reconnaissance des jugements étrangers.

Rapporteur Notes [summary + full text in pdf]

Speaker Series: "The Saddam Trial: Was Justice Served?", 29 January 2007

Prof. Nehal Bhuta spoke on the topic of "The Saddam Trial: Was Justice Served?". Prof. Bhuta authored the Human Rights Watch Report, Judging Dujail: The First Trial Before the Iraqi High Tribunal and was introduced by Prof. Payam Akhavan of McGill's Faculty of Law. Prof. Bhuta has been studying justice issues in Iraq since 2003, and has spent 4 weeks in Iraq observing trials and researching the Iraqi Special Tribunal.

Prof. Bhuta is currently Assistant Professor of Law, teaching courses in international human rights law at the University of Toronto. Previously, he was the Arthur Helton Fellow in the International Justice Program at Human Rights Watch, and was a consultant with the International Center for Transitional Justice in New York.

Rapporteur Notes [full text in pdf]

International Law Practitioners' Panel, 05 Mar 2007

Three distinguished lawyers in various areas of international law told their stories about their particular practice. Our panelists included Douglas C. Robertson (Heenan Blaikie LLP) speaking on international business transactions, problems and pitfalls; Alex Konigsberg (Lapointe Rosenstein LLP) speaking on international trade and the international community; and Martin J. Valasek (Ogilvy Renault LLP) speaking on international arbitration.

Rapporteur Notes [full text in pdf]

Human Trafficking in Canada, 20 Mar 2006

Sergeant Dan Ste-Marie started the Conference by offering a definition of human trafficking: the movement of individuals for the purposes of exploitation. His comments addressed the global nature of human trafficking and the problems that Canadian authorities have encountered in trying to combat the phenomenon and help the victims. Following are some excerpts from his talk:

Next, Suzie Raymond from the RCMP in Montréal discussed the centrality of education and raising awareness in order to effectively combat this problem, both in terms of law enforcement officials as well as the general public.

Finally, Benjamin Perrin, Executive Director of the Future Group addressed a report issued recently by the Future Group that gave Canada a failing grade on its response to the issue of Human Trafficking. The failing grade was traced primarily to the lack of status granted to possible victims of trafficking, and the lack of federal funding dedicated to this group. Benjamin highlighted two issues that must be considered in any legal regime to help the victims: restoration of victims and support of victims. He drew from the special laws pertaining to human trafficking victims which exist in the United States and Australia to demonstrate ways in which Canada could improve its approach.

Rapporteur Notes [full text in pdf]

Related Volunteer Opportunities:
- The Future Group
- The Salvation Army
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Impressions of the World Social Forum Venezuela, 22 Mar 2006:

Marc-André Séguin presented us with a student's perspective on the World Social Forum [WSF] Venezuela 2006. Marc-André attended the WSF as a journalist for Le Délit, McGill's on-campus francophone newspaper, and as a freelancer for Le Soleil, La Presse, and a radio station from Nicaragua. He highlighted some of the biggest challenges his delegation of journalists and photographers faced, namely, the impossibility of adequately covering the overwhelming number of conferences and meetings of the WSF, not to mention those of the sub-groups, such as the "Campement de la Jeunesse." His focus at the WSF was primarily as an observer on the growing collaboration between Quebec-based non-governmental organizations and Latin American left-wing movements. Marc-André also shared his view of Chavez' "appropriation" of the WSF, and presented the vast differences in local newspaper coverage of the WSF.

Rapporteur Notes [full text in pdf]
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The Death of Slobodan Milosevic: What Next for the Hague Tribunal? 24 Mar 2006

Press Release [pdf]
Op-Ed,"Milosevic Trial set revolutionary precedent," Montreal Gazette [pdf]
Announcement, Montreal Mirror [html] [pdf]
"Le procès Milosevic," Le Délit [html] [pdf]
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GENERAL INTERNATIONAL LAW RESOURCES

Law Library of Congress - Guide to Law Online
Doddel Server
Electronic Information System for International Law
Foreign and International Law Web
The International Law Page
International Legal Materials
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INTERNATIONAL LAW COUNCILS

Canadian Council on International Law
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INTERNATIONAL LAW JOURNALS

Comprehensive list at FindLaw
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INTERNATIONAL LAW SOCIETIES

European Society of International Law
American Society of International Law
International Law Students Society
International Commission of Jurists
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INTERNATIONAL COURTS AND TRIBUNALS

International Court of Justice
European Court of Human Rights
European Court of Justice
International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR)
International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY)
North American Free Trade Organization (NAFTA)
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
World Trade Organization (WTO)
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INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND GOVERNMENT BODIES

Comprehensive list at ASIL
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