Since 11 September 2001 the Australian government has created 44 new laws as a key component of its efforts to combat terrorism. A major international symposium, to be held at UNSW, will look at the challenges protection from the threat of terrorism presents to the rule of law.
Since 11 September 2001 the Australian government has created 44 new laws as a key component of its efforts to combat terrorism. A major international symposium, to be held at UNSW, will look at the challenges protection from the threat of terrorism presents to the rule of law.
Hosted by the Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law, Law and Liberty in the War on Terror will provide a forum for experts from Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States to analyse common trends in the legal responses to terrorism - what is working, what is not and what impact these responses have had upon our traditional notions of justice and democratic freedoms.
Discussion topics include acceptable interrogation techniques and torture; how far the law can sensibly criminalise actions which are related to terrorism, including speech; and the intersection of terror laws, race and religion.
The conference will be attended by leading practitioners, government lawyers, politicians, journalists, judges and academics, including Attorney-General Philip Ruddock, leading British criminal justice academic Professor Clive Walker and the Honourable Dr Carmen Lawrence MP.
According to Dr Andrew Lynch, Director of the Centre's Terrorism and Law Project this symposium will make an important contribution to Australian and international understandings of the legal responses to terrorism after September 11. "Improving our understanding of how law can be used to combat terrorism while still respecting fundamental principles such as the rule of law and the protection of human rights will assist in the development of a better, more coherent framework for national security," he says.
Law and Liberty in the War on Terror will be held on 4, 5 and 6 July 2007 at the UNSW Kensington campus. For more information on the symposium click here
This event has been organised by the Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public Law at the Faculty of Law, UNSW and is supported by the Australian Research Council.
Media are welcome to attend the conference. Organisers Professor George Williams and Dr Andrew Lynch, as well as speakers, are available for interview.
Media Contacts: Andrew Lynch, tel. 0402 424 233, George Williams, tel. 0414 241 593, Steve Offner, UNSW Media Office, tel. 02 9385 3263 or 0424 580 208