Ruvi Ziegler at the Liberal Democrat Federal Conference

Ruvi Ziegler was at the Liberal Democrat Federal Conference where he hosted a well-attended ‘in conversation with Alistair Carmichael MP’, the party’s spokesperson on home affairs, to discuss asylum policy with a focus on the illegal migration bill.

Ruvi also spoke at the debate on an emergency motion calling on the government to scrap this bill, which was adopted unanimously – the speech runs for approximately 3 minutes.

 

Reading Law School Building Cyber Law Capacity Globally

For nearly three years, Reading Law School has been working with the governments of Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, and Singapore, as well as Cyber Law International, to offer training for diplomats, military officers, legal advisers, and other government officials on the international law governing cyberspace. Initially, that training was provided online due to the COVID pandemic.  In 2022, however, two Reading Law School professors have taken the program, which is certified as Executive Education by the School, on the road.

The training consists of four programs. The flagship course is the Executive Course, a broad survey of relevant law that ranges from general law subjects like sovereignty and intervention to specialized legal regimes such as diplomatic law and international humanitarian law. Directed by Professor Mike Schmitt, with Professor Marko Milanovic also serving as an instructor, the course was offered virtually for Southeast Asia in January, Africa in August, and the Middle East and Africa in September. In October, the team traveled to the Dominican Republic to conduct an in-person course for officials from members of the Organization of American States. The following month, the course was offered in Ghana for African officials. Finally, in December, the program closed with an in-person course in Singapore for members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The second course examines how international human rights law governs activities in cyberspace and is directed by Professor Marko Milanovic. It is a very deep dive into the human rights implications of cyber operations. The course was offered virtually twice, once for officials from the Americas and the second for those from Africa.

Reading Law School also certified two regional Alumni Seminars conducted by Professors Milanovic and Schmitt and a Cyber Law International instructor for previous graduates of the aforementioned courses. The first was conducted with the collaboration of the Organization of American States in the Dominican Republic, with the second in Singapore at that nation’s new Cyber Security Agency’s training facility.

Finally, the program includes bespoke events. For example, a specialized Women in Cyber seminar was offered to officials worldwide this year.

Today, the program is widely considered to be the global gold standard in cyber law capacity-building. It continues in 2023, with the first course being an Executive Course offered in collaboration with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe; to be held in North Macedonia in February, the course will be open to officials from the Balkan States.

 

David Bilchitz publishes his new book ‘Fundamental Rights and the Legal Obligations of Business’

The book asks the question how can we determine what are the obligations of corporations with respect to fundamental rights in law?

David was interviewed by the IACL Blog about the book.

The question the book deals with is relevant to a range of current issues. For instance, the nature of the obligations of Facebook and Twitter with regard to free speech and privacy; the nature of the obligations of companies like Moderna and Pfizer to make their vaccines available across the world; the nature of the obligations of mining companies with respect to the environment and climate change.

The book examines existing legal models around the world and systematizes, justifies and develops what I term a ‘multi-factoral approach’. It examines methods for balancing competing factors – it defends the use of proportionality for ascertaining corporation’s negative obligations and proposes a novel seven-step test for determining their positive obligations.  Since judgment is ineliminable when determining corporate obligations, I finally propose legal and institutional reforms – both at the national and international levels – to improve decision-making surrounding corporate obligations and embed fundamental rights within the corporate structure and the minds of key decision-makers.

Mini Pupillages for the best performing students in Banking and Company Law!

The School is pleased to share that four one-week mini pupillages have been secured for the best performing students in either the Banking Law or Company Law modules! These mini pupillages will take place at Garden Court Chambers, (GCC) located in London. There is flexibility in the start dates, between JulyAugust or September 2022.

The top 10 best students in these two modules will be invited to apply for one of the four mini pupillages at GCC. You will be required to write a cover letter addressed to Dr Folashade Adeyemo  outlining the following:

  1. Why you deserve to win this mini pupillage;
  2. The area(s) of law you are interested in;
  3. Why you are interested in a career at the Bar;
  4. How this mini pupillage will help you further your career.

You will be required to attach an up to date copy of your CV. Eligible students will be contacted after the examination results. Good luck!

Ruvi Ziegler debating “Towards a lasting peace in Israel/Palestine” at the Lib Dem conference

Ruvi Ziegler spoke at a policy debate entitled ‘towards a lasting peace in Israel/Palestine’ at Lib Dem conference highlighting the international humanitarian law ramifications of the illegality of settlements in the West Bank in respect of continued UK trade with them, and the importance of differentiating between the occupied territories and pre-1967 Israel.

Listen to Ruvi Ziegler speaking here.