Date and Time: 15 October 2015, 09.00 - 17.15 hrs, followed by a reception
Venue: T.M.C. Asser Instituut, R.J. Schimmelpennincklaan 20-22, The Hague
Registration: Please register for this free event on the website of the Asser Institute

Countering maritime piracy by repressive means evokes important international legal questions: what is the responsibility and still evolving role of states and other actors like Private Military and Security Companies (PMSCs)?

Is the use of repressive means by states already exhausted or eroding in the face of the emergence of PMSCs?

Which legal frameworks apply when countering piracy and how do they correlate?

What is the role of soft law? And which human rights challenges can be identified when arresting, detaining, transferring and prosecuting piracy suspects?

These are only a few pertinent questions that will be addressed during an international conference, organised by the public international law cluster of the Asser Institute (The Hague) and the Antonio Cassese Initiative (Geneva).

This international conference will also provide an opportunity to celebrate the 50 year anniversary of the T.M.C. Asser Instituut and this year’s establishment of the Antonio Cassese Initiative Foundation in the Netherlands, thereby underscoring the increasing collaboration between these two organisations and between The Hague and Geneva, two of the most important legal cities in the world. Continue reading →