WELCOME to our 31st edition of ANZSIL Perspective with an excellent perspective by Simon Levett on The Shifting Protections of War Correspondents under International Law, a spotlight on H.E. Judge Antonio Augusto Cançado Trindade and two book reviews
Since Edition 30, we’ve seen an array of judicial and non-judicial developments in the international human rights arena. The Commonwealth Games’ opening ceremony included a statement of solidarity with LGBTQIA+ athletes as timely reminder of equity and inclusion challenges faced by transgender, non-binary and gender diverse sportspersons. Australia’s forty-seventh Parliament achieved a historic moment in accessibility, with Senator David Pocock and Senator Shoebridge delivering their first speeches with an Auslan interpreter. In this first sitting, the Upper House called upon Government to consider Julian Assange’s health and welfare, referring to former UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Nils Melzer’s human rights representation to British authorities. In other news New Zealand was invited by the International Labour Organisation to supply information to the 110th formal session in Geneva next week on New Zealand’s proposed Fair Pay Agreements policy.
Finally, the 15th of August marked one year since Kabul fell to the Taliban. As many Afghans continue to face insecure futures as refugees in their own homeland, as well as abroad, we are reminded that international assistance is just one mechanism by which economic security and political and human rights might be furthered.
As always, I extend a warm invitation to ANZSIL members and non-members to submit your perspectives for publication. We accept submissions on public and private law international law issues and where international law may be a topic for domestic decision making particularly international law issues related to the multicultural nature of Australia’s and New Zealand’s societies. My team and I welcome analyses of this and other similar issues in both jurisdictions.
As ever, I look forward to receiving submissions from a diverse range of scholars who have previously contributed to ANZSIL Perspective, and welcome new and emerging authors at every level of postgraduate scholarship and legal practice.
Felicity Gerry QC (Editor)
Felicity Gerry KC
Dr Felicity Gerry KC is on the lists of counsel for the ICC and KSC, recently on the defence team for Mr Al Hassan at the ICC and leading the defence for Mr Bahtijari at the KSC. She is admitted in England and Wales and Victoria, Australia and specialises in homicide, terrorism and war crimes trials and appeals. She has a particular interest in complicity law. She led amicus briefs in the Radovan Karadžić appeal on the lack of foundation for JCEIII and in the Dominic Ongwen appeal on the non-punishment principle. She is a Professorial Fellow at RJ4All, an Hon Prof at the University of Salford and formerly Professor of Legal Practice at Deakin University. She has a long history of teaching topics around contemporary international legal challenges such as terrorism, modern slavery law, climate change law and war crimes. She is widely published in areas including women & law, technology & law and reforming justice systems.
