PhD confirmation seminar - Accountability in extraterritoriality: principles, means, and ends

Topic: PhD confirmation seminar - Accountability in extraterritoriality: principles, means, and ends

Presenter: Ms Danielle Ireland-Piper - PhD Candidate, TC Beirne School of Law

States are increasingly asserting jurisdiction over criminal offences that occur extraterritorially. Such assertions are controversial. Assertions of extraterritorial criminal jurisdiction can be highly politicised, and used to promote unilateral foreign policy objectives. Further, the theoretical legitimacy of some types of assertions is the subject of debate. While extraterritorial jurisdiction has traditionally been regulated by reference to the principles of'comity' and 'non-interference in a sovereign state', these principles are inadequate because they are concerned only with the rights of States, and not of individuals. This undermines the rule of law, and raises fundamental questions as to the relationship between the State and the individual. This thesis seeks to articulate the circumstances in which a State has the right to assert extraterritorial criminal jurisdiction, and the obligations owed by States to an individual accused of an extraterritorial criminal offence.

All welcome, please register by emailing Beth Williams.

Contact: Beth Williams, ph: 334 69350, email: events@law.uq.edu.au