Speaker: Otto Spijkers (Professor of Wuhan University China Institute of Boundary and Ocean Studies)
Host: Liao Xuexia (Assistant Professor of Peking University Law School)
Discussant:
Qin Xuezheng (Vice Dean of School of Economics, Peking University)
Chen Yifeng (Associate Professor of Peking University Law School)
Time: 19:00-20:30, September 27 (Monday)
Venue: Leo KoGuan Building, Room 303
Abstract
On 8 May 2020, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said that “COVID-19 does not care who we are, where we live, what we believe, or about any other distinction” and thus “we need every ounce of solidarity to tackle it together”. This was an immense challenge, he continued, because “the pandemic continues to unleash a tsunami of hate and xenophobia, scapegoating and scare-mongering”. This fear of a divided world and call for global solidarity was echoed by many scholars, commentators, international judges and politicians.
This talk will analyze the actual and potential role of value-based purposes, norms and principles, proclaimed by the United Nations, as basis for the promotion of global solidarity in our response to the Coronavirus outbreak. The documents analyzed include the UN Charter and its travaux préparatoires, the most relevant declarations of principles adopted by the UN General Assembly in its 75 year history and at World Conferences organized under the auspices of the UN, with a focus on those declarations relating to the global value of health. At the same time, influential debates and resolutions of the UN Human Rights Council and – to a lesser extent – the UN Security Council will also be analyzed. Particular attention will be paid to the declarations and statements of more recent years.
BIbiography
Otto Spijkers is Professor of International Law at Wuhan University’s China Institute of Boundary and Ocean Studies (CIBOS) as well as its Research Institute of Environmental Law (RIEL) and a Founding Staff Member of its International Water Law Academy (IWLA). Prior to joining the IWLA of CIBOS, Professor Spijkers was a guest lecturer with CIBOS for several years, teaching a course on international water law annually. He also taught a course on international water law at Xiamen University’s China International Water Law Programme and Utrecht University Law School. As a member of the IWLA, Otto is involved in teaching and research in the field of international water law, law of the sea, and general issues of public international law.
Written by: Jia Ruimin, Bai Qingwen
Edited by: Estella Zhang Qiming
Source: PKU World WeChat Account (Chinese)
