The symposium Law, Rights and Resistance in Occupied Palestine is organised by postgraduate students, with support from a group of academic staff members at the UNSW. This event will examine and discuss the extent to which contemporary public international legal frameworks including international humanitarian law, international human rights law and international criminal law, allow or disallow forms of resistance to occupied rule in Palestine. As well as a legal focus, it will feature theoretical, post-colonial, historical, political and anthropological perspectives on the notion of ‘resistance’. We believe an interdisciplinary approach is necessary in order to accentuate and engage with the diverse forms of resistance that take place in Palestine as a consequence of the nature and character of the occupation.
Some of the specific concerns that will be addressed include:
- Whether there is a legal right, as opposed to a mere moral right to resist occupied rule under international law and, if so, under what conditions it can be exercised.
- What characterises the right to resist? What forms can it take? What are the boundaries of resistance.
- What are some manifestations of daily forms of resistance and civil disobedience from occupied Palestine?
- How has Palestinian resistance to occupation evolved over time?
- What is the role of academia, particularly scholars in international law, in perpetuating or resisting the occupation?
The speakers include Amira Hass, Lisa Hajjar, Ben Saul, Michelle Burgis-Kasthala, Samah Sabawi, Peter Slezak, Ibrahim Qaadaan, Michaela Sahar and Say Zananiri. (View Speaker Biographies)
The symposium will be held on Friday 24th April 2015 from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm at the UNSW Old Main Building (Building K15) G31, UNSW, Sydney, Australia. We warmly welcome scholars, students and members of the public to attend this important event.
Entry is free however we kindly request an RVSP email to: palestinesymposium@unsw.edu.au with the subject line ‘Symposium Palestine’ and include a short statement expressing your interest in the event, no later than 15/4/2015. Early booking is encouraged as seats are limited.
