SULS 2022: Ukraine-Russian Crisis Panel

On 24th February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, advancing from Ukraine’s eastern border towards cities across the country, including the capital Kyiv and Ukraine’s second largest city, Kharkiv. This serious violation of international law and the UN Charter is the latest element of a military incursion that commenced with Russia’s actions in Donbas and Crimea in 2014. As fighting continues, more than 660,000 Ukrainians have fled their country, Russia’s nuclear forces have been placed on high alert, and the death and casualty tolls on both the Ukrainian and Russian sides continue to rise. Given the widespread ramifications of the rapidly unfolding events in Ukraine, SULS invites you to join us for an evening of robust discussion at our rapid response panel, “𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗸𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲-𝗥𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘀: 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗮𝘄, 𝗦𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘁𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲”. The panel will be discussing recent military actions and the implications of what is happening in Ukraine from an academic legal perspective as well as from a political perspective. Our panel is comprised of academics and former diplomats, and we look forward to a discussion surrounding the role of international law, international organisations, and the geopolitical ramifications of the conflict in order to facilitate a space of deeper learning.

Panellists:

Professor Ben Saul, Challis Chair of International Law, Sydney Law School: Ben Saul is the Challis Chair of International Law at the University of Sydney. His research has been used in various international and national courts, and he has been involved in cases before the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, Special Tribunal for Lebanon, Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia, and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. He has been lead counsel in cases before the UN Human Rights Committee against Australia, advised or consulted the UN, UNODC, UNESCO, UNHCR, OHCHR, governments, regulators, judiciaries, and NGOs. Ben has served on various professional and international bodies, including the International Law Association’s Committee for the Compensation of Victims of War. He also coordinates the LAWS3483: War Law: Use of Force and Humanitarian Law at Sydney Law School. The Honourable Bob Carr: Bob Carr is NSW’s longest consecutively serving Premier, holding office from 1995-2005. He also served in both the Rudd and Gillard Governments as Australia’s federal Minister for Foreign Affairs. Carr aided Australia’s election to the UN Security Council, assisted in changing government policy vis-a-vis the Middle East peace process, represented Australia at the G20 conference, and was instrumental in Australia’s international relations discourse and activity among other important contributions during his tenure. He is currently appointed as Industry Professor (Business and Climate Change) at UTS, and as Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at UNSW. Kateryna Argyrou: Kateryna Argyrou is the Co-Founder of the Ukraine Crisis Appeal, and has spent many years coordinating the largest Australian fundraising effort for emergency aid to Ukraine. She is also the Co-Founder of the Australia-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce, and has been involved in the furtherance of Australian relations with Ukraine. Her work in the Ukrainian space also extends to her work as Co-Chair of the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations. Outside this space, Kateryna works as an Investment Analyst, and has previously worked in Equity Research for Credit Suisse.

This is a Sydney University Law Society event.