High Praise for Inaugural Summer Academy

Northumbria University, Newcastle, has hosted a first Summer Academy event specifically exploring topical global issues in international criminal justice and their impact on peace and security.

The Summer Academy, which was co-ordinated by Doctor Mohamed Badar, Professor Sue Farran and Doctor Tanya Wyatt, included presentations by senior judges and eminent scholars from around the world. It was held as part of ongoing work by the University’s Environmental and Global Justice Research Cluster, in partnership with Northumbria Law School, the Department of Social Sciences and the Northumbria Centre for Evidence and Criminal Justice.  

Appeals Chamber Judge and former President of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon Sir David Baragwanath, highlighted some key challenges addressed by citing the words of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, describing: “A new global threat of terrorism that is impacting the whole world and that cannot be neglected by anyone anywhere”.

Judge Baragwanath added, “Academic leaders and international judges discussed with a wide range of young scholars of international criminal law how with international cooperation the law can play an informed, well-planned and vigorous part in meeting the global threat.  Among the proposals identified for realising the potential of international criminal law were public education, and adding to political and other resources of States and UN institutions, a coordinated international legal counter-terrorism regime.”

Speakers and participants were equally impressed with the quality of debate, and the organisation of the event.

Doctor Hakeem Yousef, Reader in Global Legal Studies, Birmingham Law, said: “The Summer Academy was excellent in terms of the topicality of the theme, the lectures, the breadth and diversity of the speakers and the keenness of the participants. I am particularly impressed with the fact that a considerable number of distinguished speakers attended lectures and actively contributed to the question and answer session. That is uncommon in my experience and it greatly enriched the experience of the participants. I remain greatly delighted that I participated.”

Judge Howard Morrison, President of Appeals Division, the International Criminal Court, The Hague, added: “An excellent conference with important topics and a wide range of expert input. Enjoyable and informative.’

Kelly Delaney, from Northumbria Law School, said: “The inspiration garnered by the guest speakers over the course of a week has been invaluable to me. The Summer Academy brought together academics, judges, practitioners, criminologists, environmental specialists and more to not only provide knowledge and experience but to also pose new questions and open areas of international criminal law ripe for future development. Having the opportunity to engage with such high-level peers has been exciting and insightful and has already opened opportunities for me to undertake further postgraduate study in international law. It has been a great pleasure to listen to and discuss with experienced jurists and for me, the Question and Answer sessions and coffee-break chats were a highlight of the Summer Academy.

Professor John Wilson, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Northumbria Law School said: “The sessions were of extremely high quality, generating discussion at strategic level between participants of global significance. What was particularly impressive was the collegiate nature of the event. This encouraged the postgraduate and undergraduate students who attended to take a full part in the proceedings via questions and comments, and enabled them to develop a real rapport with the distinguished judicial and academic speakers”.

For more information about the 2017 Summer Academy pls. consult www.northumbria.ac.uk/summeracademy