The Convention on Cluster Munitions which entered into force on 1 August 2010 is one of the most significant disarmament and humanitarian treaties in more than a decade. This panel of experts, including Ambassador Alexander Marschik who has played a central role in weapons treaties negotiations over the past decade, will examine the historical development and contemporary implementation of the treaty from Austrian, European and Australian perspectives. The seminar also provides an opportunity to discuss outcomes of the first meeting of States Parties held in Vientiane, as well as to consider the recently tabled Australian legislation implementing the convention.

 

Opening remarks, Austrian Ambassador H.E. Dr Hannes Porias
Closing remarks, EU Ambassador H.E. Mr David Daly

Panel Members: Rebecca Dodd, National Manager, International Humanitarian Law, Australian Red Cross; GPCAPT Alan Hemmingway, CSC, Director Reserves (Legal), Department of Defence, Canberra; Netta Goussac, Office of International Law, Attorney-General’s Department

 

Ambassador Alexander Marschik has been the Head of the Austrian Delegation to several disarmament conferences, as well as chairing high level meetings under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and in discussions around an Arms Trade Treaty. From 2003-2007 he was Deputy Permanent Representative of Austria to the United Nations. He has published on international criminal and humanitarian law, terrorism, and European law, and until 1996 was Professor at the Institute of International Law and International Relations of the University of Vienna, Austria.

 

Rebecca Dodd has worked with UNHCR, Victorian Legal Aid and the International Committee of the Red Cross in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sri Lanka. As National Manager of International Humanitarian Law, she represented Australian Red Cross on the Australian Delegation to the International Diplomatic Conference for the Convention on Cluster Munitions in May 2008.

 

GPCAPT Alan Hemmingway, CSC, Director Reserves (Legal), Department of Defence, will speak about Australia’s role in the international negotiations.

 

Netta Goussac, Office of International Law, Attorney-General’s Department, will discuss the recently tabled Criminal Code Amendment (Cluster Munitions Prohibition) Bill 2010.

To view the flyer for this event please see: Banning Cluster Munitions