United Nations Fact-Finding and Commissions of Inquiry: Where We Are Today

Описание: Speaker: The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG, Former Justice of the High Court of Australia, Chairman of the UN Commission of Inquiry on DPRK (North Korea)

Moderator: Professor Sarah Knuckey, Director of the Human Rights Clinic, Columbia Law School

The UN increasingly mandates fact-finding commissions to respond to serious violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. Why does the UN use such commissions? What is the role of fact-finding in advancing rights? What are the current challenges to UN inquiries? Join us for a discussion with Justice Kirby as he shares lessons learned from his work as Chairman of the UN Commission of Inquiry on DPRK (North Korea). In that role, Justice Kirby published an unprecedented report documenting crimes against humanity in North Korea.

Justice Kirby is an international jurist, educator, and former judge. He served as Justice of the High Court of Australia; was President of the International Commission of Jurists; Commissioner of the UNDP Global Commission on HIV and the Law; Chairman of the UN Commission of Inquiry on DPRK (North Korea); and Member of the UN Secretary-General’s High Level Panel on Access to Essential Healthcare. He was awarded the Australian Human Rights Medal and named Laurette of the UNESCO Prize for Human Rights Education.

This event is co-sponsored by the Human Rights Institute, the School of International and Public Affairs' International Organization and UN Studies specialization, Rightslink, and the Columbia Society of International Law. It is supported by the F. F. Randolph, Jr. Speakers Fund.