You are very warmly invited to two International Law Discussion Group seminars taking place next week.
The first one is on Tuesday 10th of March, 1.30pm-3pm (Kenyon Mason Suite, Old College). Dr Lalanath de Silva (Director of the Environmental Democracy Practice of the World Resources Institute, Washington DC) will present his paper on:
“Effectiveness of the Asian Development Bank’s Accountability Mechanism: Addressing the Concerns of Project Affected People”
Here is the abstract:
“The number of accountability mechanisms at multilateral banks and financial institutions have doubled over the last decade. Many of them give direct access to people affected by bank funded projects to complain about harm resulting from safeguard policy violations by the bank. These safeguard policies often address issues concerning involuntary resettlement, indigenous people and the environment. One of the oldest mechanisms is that of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). It consists of a Special Project Facilitator (SPF) mandated to solve problems at an early stage; and a Compliance Review Panel (CRP) mandated to review project decisions and recommend remedial action to the Bank’s Board of Directors. Lalanath de Silva, one of the three members of the CRP, will review recent cases handled by the CRP and assess the effectiveness of the mechanism from the point of view of the Bank’s accountability to affected people. He will also draw parallels with similar mechanism in other institutions.”
The second one is on Wednesday 11th of March, 4.30pm-6pm, Appleton Tower: Room M1 (George Square).
Dr, Mark Klamberg, LL D and lecturer at the Faculty of Law at Uppsala, who wishes to discuss
with you his book project on the sociology of international law.
Here is his new book”s webpage:
http://www.tandf.net/books/details/9781138804609/
More about Dr Klamberg: http://katalog.uu.se/empInfo/?languageId=1&id=N13-1369_1
He will present his topic on:
“The Sociology of International Law – an Expanded Research Agenda”
Abstract:
When examining international law there is a risk to focus on the content of international rules (i.e. regimes) but ignore why these exist and to what extent the rules affect state behaviour. Concurrently, when studying international relations there is a risk to focus on theories based on the distribution of power among states, and to overlook the existence and relevance of international law. These risks both hold their dangers. The overlooking of international relations risk assuming that states follow international law, and a discounting of international law makes it difficult for readers to understand international regimes and their rules in more than a superficial manner. This book works to unify international law and international relations by exploring how international law and its institutions may be relevant and influence the course of international relations in international trade, environmental protection, human rights, criminal justice and the use of force.
There will be moment for discussion and refreshments after the presentation, as usual.