Law and Politics: Options and Strategies of #International_Law for the #Palestinian People An International Law Conference organized by the Birzeit University Institute of Law, the Civic Coalition for Palestinian Rights in Jerusalem and the Decolonizing Palestine Project and convened at the University of Birzeit on 8 – 9 May 2013 Conference Proceedings The conference was implemented as a two-day event hosted by the Birzeit University Institute of Law on 8 – 9 May 2013. The first day was open to the public; the second day was conducted in two closed roundtable discussions with specially invited participants. It was agreed that participants in the roundtables on day-2 would not be cited and that sessions would not be recorded. On day-1 (public conference, 8 May), expert inputs in form of substantial presentations were provided by the speakers who are international scholars and Palestinian lawyers renowned for their work on issues relevant for the conference agenda. Two speakers (Richard Falk, Anis Kassim) who could not obtain entry permits to occupied Palestine from the Israeli authorities gave their presentations via Skype. Presentations were followed by discussion with the audience. Closing thoughts about day-1 were presented by Diana Buttu, who also served as rapporteur of the public conference. (For the program of the public conference, see: lawcenter.birzeit.edu/iol/en/index.php?action_id=106&id_legal=616) Speakers also provided input and served as resource persons in the two closed roundtable sessions on day-2 (9 May). Participants in the roundtables were asked to examine the international law frameworks of colonialism and apartheid, as well as strategies and mechanisms (ICJ, ICC, and others) which were presented as possible options on day-1, and to assess their merits and risks in challenging Israel’s oppressive regime over the Palestinian people and advancing the right to self-determination, including the right of return of the refugees. Participants were also asked to propose practical steps which should be taken after the conference. A group of 10 persons from the Gaza Strip, including academics and human rights activists, participated in the first roundtable discussion through a videoconference hosted by PNGO. The roundtable discussions were documented by Ziyaad Lunat in his role as rapporteur of day-2. (Copies of the program of day-2 are available upon request.) The issues debated in the conference, in particular in the roundtables on day-2, constitute the main immediate outcomes of the conference. They include differences of opinion and points of agreement, as well as questions and practical steps identified for the follow-up process (see below, section III). These outcomes will guide the planning of the follow-up process. For more details see the attached summary of the conference proceedings and outcomes: lawcenter.birzeit.edu/iol/ar/conEdu/legal_encounters/2013/621_3.pdf
Posted on: Sat, 13 Jul 2013 09:49:22 +0000
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