By Dr. Christophe Paulussen, Senior Researcher at T.M.C. Asser Instituut.
Countering maritime piracy by repressive means evokes important international legal questions: what is the responsibility and still evolving role of states and other actors like Private Military and Security Companies (PMSCs)? Is the use of repressive means by states already exhausted or eroding in the face of the emergence of PMSCs? Which legal frameworks apply when countering piracy and how do they correlate? What is the role of soft law? And which human rights challenges can be identified when arresting, detaining, transferring and prosecuting piracy suspects? These are only a few pertinent questions that will be addressed during an international conference, organised by (the public international law cluster of the) Asser Institute (The Hague) and the Antonio Cassese Initiative (Geneva).
This international conference is the fourth conference organised this year on the occasion of the 50 year anniversary of the T.M.C. Asser Instituut. In addition, it celebrates this year’s establishment of the Antonio Cassese Initiative Foundation in the Netherlands, underscoring the increasing collaboration between these two organisations and between The Hague and Geneva, two of the most important legal cities in the world.
Confirmed speakers are Commodore Neil Brown (Royal Navy, United Kingdom), Peter Post (Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Gert-Jan van Hegelsom (Legal Affairs Division EEAS), Bibi van Ginkel (Netherlands Institute of International Relations ‘Clingendael’), Efthymios Papastavridis (Academy of Athens), Nelleke van Amstel (Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces), Stuart Casey-Maslen (Co-author of the Geneva Academy’s Academy Briefing ‘Counterpiracy under International Law’), Annet Kramer (Netherlands Prosecution Service), Floris Holthuis (Nolet Advocaten) and Anna Petrig (University of Basel).
Are you interested in this topic and other current issues related to countering piracy? Please subscribe for this free conference, taking place at the T.M.C. Asser Instituut in The Hague on 15 October 2015.
More background information, the provisional programme and registration possibilities can be found on our website.
