AIIA

Current Genocide Convention Cases in the International Court of Justice

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has been in the media frequently recently because of the four Genocide Convention cases before it. The cases have been brought against a variety of countries, Myanmar, Russia, Israel and Germany, and for a variety of reasons. This talk from two Australian international law experts will give an overview of the current Genocide Convention cases before the ICJ. After introducing the ICJ and its role, the talk will provide a clear outline of the current ICJ cases brought under the Genocide Convention, breaking down the complex legal process and arguments into a straightforward explanation for the lawyer and non-lawyer alike. This event is organised in collaboration with the Centre for Muslims States and Societies of the University of Western Australia.

Reunifying Ireland

Since Ireland was partitioned in 1920 its reunification has seemed impossible. Many still feel that way, partly because of the bloody legacy of past conflict. In the North, however, the demographic majority of Ulster Protestants is lost, and Ulster unionists are no longer the largest voting bloc: in the 2023 local government elections their combined support fell below 40 per cent, compared to the combined Northern nationalist vote of 44 per cent. Referendums on reunification may be on the horizon but even those who want reunification are not prepared. Distinguished political scientist Brendan O'Leary—profoundly engaged with the Irish question for nearly four decades—addresses what needs to be done to ensure adequate preparation, drawing on his books and research he has led on public opinion conducted under the auspices of ARINS, a joint initiative of the University of Notre Dame and the Royal Irish Academy.

Australia's Regional Security: Keeping our Balance

Please join us at this special event at which our distinguished guest speaker Professor the Hon Gareth Evans AC KC FASSA FAIIA will provide his insights on the evolution of Australia's regional security environment. He served as Australia's long term Foreign Minister during a period when much of the then existing regional security architecture was revamped, including the creation of APEC and the ASEAN Regional Forum. In his post political career he has continued to have close engagement with decision makers in the region, including as the President and CEO of the International Crisis Group (ICG) from 2000-2009. This makes Gareth Evans uniquely well placed to understand how the dynamics of the region have developed and its potential future trajectories. His close working relationships with leaders from Australia's immediate neighbours in Southeast Asia have also provided him with an appreciation of the views from these key countries, which are often not heard as much as they should in Australia and in major capitals. He will share his thinking on how best Australia should respond to the new and significant challenges in the region.

Future Smart Foods and Global Food Security

At this event Professor Kadambot H.M. Siddique talked about Future Smart Foods and Global Food Security.  Professor Siddique's PowerPoint presentation can be downloaded here [https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Be4utdbnxhSJ9p6xiSrqzbib2AJBGkAQ/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=106264912832978850442&rtpof=true&sd=true] Asia and the Pacific continue to suffer from a high prevalence of malnutrition. An estimated 479 million undernourished people, 58 % of the worldwide total, live in this region. Chronic undernutrition is due to the persistent inability to meet minimum micronutrient and macronutrient requirements, or the frequent recurrence of acute malnutrition episodes, or a combination of both. Food-based approaches that address malnutrition, especially micronutrient deficiencies, are embedded in evidence-based healthy diet patterns. But they are disconnected from the current agricultural production system. Neglected and underutilized species (NUS) are fundamental to improving dietary and production diversity. These species are nutrient-dense, climate-resilient, profitable, adaptable, and locally available. The Future Smart Food Initiative, led by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations Regional Initiative on Zero Hunger, aims to harness the enormous benefits that NUS offer in the fight against hunger and malnutrition. Recognizing that NUS covers crop, livestock, fisheries and aquaculture and forest, FAO sets crop as an entry point among NUS to address hunger and malnutrition. Many NUS can tolerate various stresses, which would make production systems not only more diverse but more sustainable and climate resilient. Their resistance to climate change implies that NUS can provide food when other crops fail. Future Smart Food - Rediscovering hidden treasures of neglected and underutilized species for Zero Hunger in Asia [https://www.fao.org/documents/card/en/c/I9136EN], edited by Xuan Li and Kadambot H.M. Siddique, was published by the FAO in 2018.

A Critical Juncture in the History of Pakistan

At our March Event, Professor Samina Yasmeen (AM) talked about how Pakistan is passing through a critical juncture in its history as an independent state. Since the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government led by Imran Khan was removed by a coalition led by the Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) in April 2022, the country has been sliding into a dysfunctional state. Economic decline with prospects of debt default, growing inequality, and the threat of renewed militancy, require serious thinking by Pakistan's political leaders. But politicians have engaged in a war of counter narratives to either regain or retain power.  And this takes place against the backdrop of the Pakistan military's ever-present role in politics. The nature of these narratives suggests either an inability or unwillingness of Pakistan's leaders to focus on addressing the issues that could determine Pakistan's future. The presentation will look at these dimensions and explore what could be done to bring Pakistan back from the brink of self-induced implosion.