The APCML is a collaborative initiative of Defence Legal Division and the Melbourne University Law School.

CHARTER

The Charter of the APCML was drawn up in 2001 to facilitate cooperation amongst military forces of the Asia Pacific Region in the research, training and implementation of the laws governing military operations.
Please select to view the APCML Charter

AIMS

The Centre aims to promote greater understanding of and increased respect for the Rule of Law in all aspects of military affairs both within the Australian Defence Force and amongst militaries in the Asia Pacific Region. To this end we:

Prepare and deliver training programs
Please select to view the Courses page

Organise conferences, workshops, seminars and other activities
Please select to view the Conferences page

Promote academic research into key issues, including international humanitarian law, law of peace operations, international criminal law, and arms control & disarmament
Please select to view the Research page

Produce legal publications and materials
Please select to view the Publications page

Centralise the accumulation and processing of legal lessons learned

Undertake and support initiatives to promote and improve the flow of information to legal officers

Participate in military exercise design and development

Develop relevant relationships within the Asia Pacific Region
Please select to view the BWC article on the Conferences page

Develop contacts and mutual exchanges with other academic/military centres and with leading subject matter experts

Provide support for deployments, particularly for peace operations



LOCATIONS & FUNCTIONS

The APCML operates from a military and a university node, in the cities of Sydney and Melbourne respectively.

The military node is currently located at Randwick Barracks in Sydney. The military node comprises military and civilian staff of the Defence Legal Division comprising the Deputy Director Captain Dale Stephens CSM RAN and civilian administrative staff. The military node is co-located with and shares staff with the Australian Defence Force's (ADF) Military Law Centre which has the primary responsibility for the provision of legal training to ADF legal officers, and increasingly to the wider ADF organisation. The military node of the APCML provides the crucial linkage between the military forces of the Asia Pacific region and the academic and humanitarian communities. It has the responsibility for the coordination, formulation and delivery of the APCML's core suite of courses, as well as involvement in the creation of legal lessons learnt doctrine produced by post military operation conferences and seminars. Additionally, the APCML's military staff regularly provide lecturing and doctrine development support to Military and Non Government Organisations and international organisation that may be involved in contemporary military operations.

The university node is located within the Melbourne University Law School, an international standard modern building with state of the art technology, outstanding research facilities and purpose-built teaching spaces. The Law School is Australia's oldest Law School with law first taught at the University of Melbourne in 1857. The APCML supports the interests of academic staff, visiting fellows and Research Higher Degree students by organising activities such as conferences, workshops, lectures and seminars relating to international, humanitarian and military law. In addition to their teaching in undergraduate and postgraduate programs, staff of the Centre are publicly engaged with the wider community by speaking at public forums, taking part in radio and television debates and writing opinion pieces for newspapers and journals.

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

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