Human Rights and the Doomsday Clock: Using international human rights law to address existential threats posed by nuclear weapons and climate change, a roundtable discussion on Wednesday January 25. 1:15 – 2:45pm at Sidley Austin Law Firm, Rue du Pré-de-la-Bichette 1 Geneva 1202. Light refreshments from 1pm.
The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists will this week re-set the ‘Doomsday Clock’ indicating the severe dangers to humanity and the planet from nuclear weapons, climate change and other existential threats. Last year the Clock was set at 100 Seconds to Midnight. If anything, the threats of nuclear war and climate collapse have only gotten worse. In 2018, the UN Human Rights Committee affirmed in General Comment 36 that nuclear weapons and climate change threaten the Right to Life (Article 6 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights).
This event will discuss ways to implement General Comment 36 with respect to nuclear weapons and climate change. This will include national obligations reviewed through the Universal Periodic Review. (In this cycle, the co-sponsoring organizations have submitted questions and recommendations on the policies and practices of Japan and South Korea). The event will also include discussion of opportunities for multilateral action through the proposed International Court of Justice climate case and the UN Summit of the Future.
The event will be conducted under Chatham House Rules. Registration is required. Please RSVP to alyn@pnnd.org or phone/sms to +41 788 912 156.
Moderator:
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Joshua Cooper (USA)
Director, Hawai’i Institute for Human Rights
Speakers
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Alyn Ware (New Zealand/Czech Republic).
International Representative, Aotearoa Lawyers for Peace. Director, Basel Peace Office -
Anselmo LEE (South Korea)
Regional Coordinator, Asia Civil Society Partnership for Sustainable Development -
Tadashi INUZUKA (Japan)
Executive Director, Coalition 3+3 for a North-East Asia Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone. Former Nagasaki Senator
For further information including list of cosponsors, please see the event flyer.