30 and 31 May 2013

SHARES Seminar: Distribution of Responsibilities in International Law

This SHARES Seminar will consider extra-legal perspectives on how responsibility is to be distributed among multiple wrongdoing actors.

The question of distribution is central to the SHARES Project. Actors may agree on distribution ex ante, e.g. by determining that some states should carry higher burdens in military operations. If such ex ante agreements of distribution have been made, this may influence or even determine responsibility ex post facto. If nothing has been agreed, the question arises how nonetheless responsibilities are to be distributed. Should the responsibility of all actors be based on their individual contribution to such harms? Are there grounds for differentiation, and should individual responsibilities be determined on these bases? Or should all actors be held responsible in an equal amount, or should they, if no differentiation can be made, be held responsible collectively? (more…)

6 June 2013

SHARES Lecture: ‘Allocation of human rights duties (and responsibilities) to multiple duty-bearers’, by Samantha Besson

On Thursday 6 June 2013, Professor Samantha Besson will give a lecture entitled: ‘Allocation of human rights duties (and responsibilities) to multiple duty-bearers’.

Professor Besson is Professor of public international law and European law, co-director of the European Law Institute, and head of the department of international and commercial law at the University of Fribourg (Switzerland). She is a visiting professor at the Universidade Católica Portuguesa (Lisbon) and has been a visiting professor at many universities, amongst others Duke Law School. (more…)

13 June 2013

SHARES Debate: The Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories: is there a responsibility for the Netherlands?

On Thursday 13 June 2013, the third SHARES Debate is organised in cooperation with SPUI25, an academic-cultural centre that offers a forum for among others lectures, debates and book presentations.

SHARES Debates are organised throughout the academic year to provide a platform for discussions with a broader (non-academic) audience on questions of shared responsibility. The upcoming debate is entitled: The Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories: is there a responsibility for the Netherlands?

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been going on for 60 years. Israel has been occupying the West Bank, East-Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip for 45 years. It seems that this asymmetric conflict can only be resolved by interference of third parties. It is in this respect that the role of the Netherlands deserves special attention. The Netherlands attaches great importance to the promotion of the international rule of law. Moreover, it maintains close relations with both Israel and the Palestinian Authorities. (more…)