Programme Update

Denise Naicker’s presentation that was previously scheduled to take place tomorrow has been postponed to Monday 5th May at 4pm. The LRS programme is now as follows:


Friday 02 May, 3pm, Old Senate Room
Hon FDJ Brand, 'South African Contract Law and the Constitution'

Judge Brand of the Supreme Court of Appeal of South Africa will visit the University of Aberdeen on Friday 02 May. Judge Brand holds a BA, an LL.B and an LL.M. from the University of Stellenbosch, and a Drs Juris from Leiden University. He was a practising advocate for fourteen years, before being appointed a Judge in 1992 and a Judge of appeal in 2001. We are thankful to Prof David Carey Miller who made this event possible.


Monday 05 May, 4pm, Taylor C28
Denise Naicker, 'The Attempts of the UN General Assembly’s Non-Proliferation Treaty to construct a rational Nuclear Order'

Abstract: The United Nations General Assembly (the “GA”) may consider general principles of co-operation in the maintenance of international peace and security, including the principles governing disarmament and the regulation of armaments. In response to this mandate, the GA produced the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (the “NPT”) which sought to construct a rational nuclear order in the post-World War II era.

There are conflicting views as to what extent the NPT should be regarded as authoritative by the states to which it is addressed. The current nuclear order centred on the NPT has inherent limitations, including its discriminatory character, lack of agreement on appropriate sanctions for violations and in its foundations in the hypocrisy which prevailed almost without exception among nuclear powers.

There is very little disagreement that the non-proliferation regime is in crisis. The failure of the NPT review conference in 2005 is a clear indication of this along with the perennial debate on North Korea’s nuclear ambitions and the ongoing controversy over Iran’s nuclear programme.

This discussion will consider the NPT’s negotiating history, the bargain that was struck, the considerable structural flaws therein, and the implications of this (and subsequently the role of the GA) in what is termed the “third nuclear age”.



Thursday 22 May, 5pm, Taylor A19
Jernej Letnar Cernic, 'Fundamental Human Rights Obligations of Corporations'

Abstract: This paper argues that fundamental human right obligations of corporations derive primarily from national legal orders and only secondarily from international level, whereas both draw their foundations from international value system. The tenets of every normative system are principles and rules that create rights and obligations of the subjects/participants of that system. Validity of any positive norm derives its legal authority from the membership in a legal order, which gives it a binding force. Legal authority means a source of law where a positive law norm is derived from. Legal scholarship has so far predominantly focused on international legal obligations of corporations. In contrast, the present paper argues that fundamental human rights obligations of corporations derive its legal authority from national normative orders and only secondary from international level. This argument is backed by an empirical study of fifty national legal orders in relation to corporate fundamental human rights obligations. Finally, this paper argues that FHRs obligations of corporations have arguably acquired the status of customary international law.

Comments

Unknown said…
Is anyone else planning on going to the discussion on this Friday?

Anyone up for a pint at the Machar after?

-Derek

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