Robert H. Jackson Center

International Humanitarian Law Dialogs

First International Humanitarian Law Dialogs

First International Humanitarian Law Dialogues

The International Humanitarian Law Dialogs convene annually gathering academics, human rights activists, and those involved in both previous and ongoing international tribunals and trials at the International Criminal Court at the historic Chautauqua Institute near Jamestown New York. The dialogs discuss key issues within this field, their purpose echoing the sentiments of Justice Robert H. Jackson recognizing that international law "is one of the most significant tributes that power has ever paid to reason."

The first dialogs took place on August 29, 2007, and each year the event has grown in attendance and length. At the first dialogs everyone in attendance signed the Chautauqua Declaration calling on all nations to pursue justice as a matter of law. The declaration says that "the challenge for States and for the international community is to fulfill the promise of the law they created; to enforce judicial decisions; [and] to ensure the arrest and surrender of sought individuals...." The Dialogs take place honoring these ideals, and helping to advance the field of international humanitarian law.

The fifth annual dialogs will take place this year on August 28-30, 2011, with the theme of Widespread and Systematic Crimes Against Humanity in the Shadow of Modern International Criminal Law. CLICK HERE for more information!