International Law Ass'n: (Australian Branch) annual general meeting.

AuthorWard, Christopher

The past year has been a good one for the Association, which continues to be true to its constitutional objectives by promoting discussion and scholarship in international law. The Australian Branch is, of course, simply part of the wider International Law Association. The Association has, as the focus of its academic work, many committees that conduct important and significant research on current topics of international law. The International Committees operate under the guidance of the Director of Studies, Professor Christine Chinkin. Their work is generally conducted on two-year cycles, with reports to coincide with the biennial conferences of the Association.

The next such conference is to be held in August 2010 in The Hague. I encourage all who have an interest in international law to attend. The biennial conferences are invariably well attended by the world's leading practitioners and scholars. For those who cannot attend, the written conference reports provide a valuable record.

In the past year, I am pleased to say that our membership of the International Committees has been revitalised and refreshed. Our local members play a leading role in many of the Committees, acting as Chair or Rapporteur, and their contributions help to advance the state of knowledge of international law. I am grateful to Professor Andrew Byrnes, our retiring Co-Director of Studies, for his very significant work in this regard. Professor Byrnes is retiring from the role this year as a result of competing commitments, and I acknowledge with thanks his long contribution to the Association and hope that it will continue in some form.

Our National Committee structure has languished somewhat in the past year and it is my hope that the next 12 months will enable the new Directors of Studies to devote some attention to refreshing and renewing that very valuable part of this Association.

Nevertheless, the Association conducted many seminars of interest throughout the year, on topics including international arbitration, the ASEAN Treaty, water resources, and racial discrimination to name a few.

We are in the process of developing a young members' section and have re-established valuable partnerships--with NSW Young Lawyers and the Australian Institute of International Affairs--that will assist us to develop the Association.

The Branch continues to support the Jessup Moot with the Harold Snelling Award, which is a substantial cash prize to the members of the winning...

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