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Honorary Doctorate
For DSTO Chemical Weapons Expert
October 2003
The work of Dr Robert
Mathews, a scientist at the Defence Science and Technology Organisation
(DSTO), has been recognised by the La Trobe University with the
award of an honorary doctorate. Dr Mathews made a major contribution
in forging the United Nations' 1992 Chemical Weapons Convention
- the first comprehensively verifiable multilateral arms control
treaty to lead to the complete banning of an entire class of weapons
- whilst continuing to provide scientific and technical support
to the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons based
in the Hague. He also works closely with officials in countries
in South East Asia. In 1999 he became an inaugural member of Foreign
Minister Downer's National Consultative Group on the Biological
Weapons Convention, and in 2001 he became a member of the Advisory
Board of the Asia Pacific Centre for Military Law.
Publication of
the Papers from the Challenges Project Conference
August 2003
The APCML hosted in the
period 11-13 November 2002 at Melbourne University the first conference
of the second series of the 'Challenges of Peace Operations' Project.
The Conference was entitled 'The Rule of Law on Peace Operations'.
Further details concerning this Conference are provided below.
A collection of papers
from the Conference has now been published. The excellent work of
the editors, Jessica Howard and Bruce Oswald, deserves special recognition.
For a copy of Jessica and Bruce's publication
Select to view images of the Challenges Project Conference
Post-Conflict
Peace Operations Review Conference - Geneva
16-18 June 2003
APCML Associate Director,
Bruce ('Ossie') Oswald attended a review conference in Geneva in
the period 16-18 June 2003. The review conference assembled approximately
80 experts in the field of post-conflict peace operations. The conference,
amongst other things, reviewed draft transitional criminal code,
a transitional code for criminal procedure and a draft transitional
detention act. Ossie had been invited by the conference hosts to
attend the review conference. He was appointed rapporteur for the
working group discussing police powers. The review conference had
been hosted by the United States Institute for Peace (USIP), the
Irish Centre for Human Rights (ICHR), National University of Galway
and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR).
For a full report by Ossie regarding the conference
UNTAET Legal Lessons Learned Conference
25-26 February 2003
A Legal Lessons Learned Conference on the UNTAET experience
was conducted at HMAS Penguin in Sydney in the period 25-26 February
2003. The Conference drew together a select group of personnel who
filled key appointments during the UNTAET operation with the aim
of distilling the critical lessons that have some generic value
for the conduct of future operations.
The conference focussed mainly on the military aspects of the mission
except where useful observations could be made that related to the
civil/military interface and the impact of the civilian aspects
of the mission on the Peacekeeping Force. Topics covered included
operations, logistics, personnel and civil military affairs. It
is intended that a reference document will be produced as a result
of this Conference.
East Timor Round Table International Crimes:
Review of Past Efforts and Future Possibilities
16-17 January 2003
The Asia Pacific Centre for Military Law, in conjunction with the
Institute for Comparative and International Law and the Asian Law
Centre of the Law Faculty of the University of Melbourne together
with the Judicial System Monitoring Program, hosted a roundtable
on East Timor and Accountability for International Crimes: Review
of Past Efforts and Future Possibilities.
The aim of the symposium, which took place at the Law School of
the University of Melbourne on 16 and 17 January 2003, was to facilitate
an informed exchange of views on the recent efforts and experience
of East Timor in seeking accountability for international crimes
committed on its territory, and consider strategies to learn from
this experience and move forward with accountability and reconciliation
efforts. Participants focused in particular on the activities of
the East Timorese Serious Crimes process and truth commission, and
on the Indonesian ad hoc tribunals and Human Rights Commission.
East Timorese jurists and NGOs have been heavily involved in the
design and organisation of this event.
The symposium drew together representatives of the President and
Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor Leste, East Timorese
civil society, Indonesian civil society, United Nations staff members
and international experts on international law and international
relations, to discuss these issues.
For the Final Report of
the symposium in English
For the Final Report of the symposium in Portuguese
For the Final Report of the symposium in Bahasa
Challenges Project
Conference
11-13 November 2003
From 11-13 November the
APCML hosted the first conference of the second series of the 'Challenges
of Peace Operations' Project.
The Conference, entitled 'The Rule of Law on Peace Operations' was
held at the academic node of the APCML at the Melbourne Law School.
Approximately 130 delegates from 20 different countries took part.
The Challenges Project consists of a series of international seminars
which examine and discuss aspects of peace operations. The Project
originated from and is coordinated by the Swedish National Defence
College in Stockholm. The Project comprises ten Partner Organisations
from different countries, bound together by their common concern
over the challenges and consequences of conducting peace operations.
The project has two aims. Firstly, it aims to explore and convey
more effective and legitimate ways of dealing with regional conflict.
Secondly, the process fosters and encourages a culture of cross-professional
cooperation and partnership between organisations and individuals
from a wide variety of nations and cultures.
The Challenges Project combines discussions on the theory and practice
of peace operations with issues of training and education. Each conference
has produced a report with practical recommendations for future peace
operations.
The first seminar series ended on 25 April 2002 with the presentation
of the series' Concluding Report to the United Nations and its member
states in New York. The initial conference of the second series aimed
to build upon the results of the first series by generating practical
recommendations which will inform the upcoming debate of the United
Nations Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations. These practical
outcomes will be published by the APCML in the near future.
Contact details:
| University
Node
Cathy Hutton
Administrator
Asia-Pacific Centre for Military Law
Law School
The University of Melbourne
VIC 3010 AUSTRALIA
Tel: + 61 3 8344 4775
Fax: + 61 3 8344 0054
Email: law-apcml@unimelb.edu.au
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Military
Node
Ian Martin
Administrator
Asia-Pacific Centre for Military Law
Building 100
Randwick Barracks
Avoca Street
RANDWICK NSW 2031 AUSTRALIA
Tel: + 61 2 9349 0628
Fax: +61 2 9349 0757
Email: mlc.admin@defence.gov.au
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