GJIL Symposia
2013 Symposium - The Evolution of Economic Sanctions: Increasingly Financial, Multilateral, and Robust
Georgetown University Law Center, Gewirz Student Center
Wednesday, February 13, 2013, 8:30A.M. to 5:30P.M.
In recent years, economic sanctions have evolved significantly to keep pace with new technologies and strengthened global economic links. Formerly, the use of sanctions was often focused on trade in goods; however, as new methods of evading trade sanctions have developed and as capital has become more mobile, governments have increasingly targeted international financial transactions and flows, perhaps best exemplified by recent U.S. sanctions against Iran. In addition, enhanced coordination among the United States, European Union, and United Nations has produced a thorough multilateral network of sanctions, notwithstanding occasional blind spots. Partially as a result of these developments, economic sanctions are a more robust tool for policymakers today than in the past.
To explore these issues, the Georgetown Journal of International Law (GJIL), Center for Transnational Business and the Law, and Center for National Security and the Law proudly presented the 2013 GJIL Symposium, entitled “The Evolution of Economic Sanctions: Increasingly Financial, Multilateral, and Robust.” This day-long event took place on February 13, 2013, at the Georgetown University Law Center. The Symposium featured a keynote speech by Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing Daniel Glaser from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. There were also four panels on: the legal basis and technical operation of financial sanctions; the significant legal and economic impacts of these sanctions on targeted activities; coordination as well as incongruity among U.S., EU, and UN sanctions programs; and a survey of other legal, political, and humanitarian issues raised by sanctions, especially in light of recent programs targeting Iran, Syria, North Korea, and other countries.
The agenda, including panels and speakers, may be found here. And you may watch a video of the event here.
2012 Symposium - Corporate Responsibility and the Alien Tort Statute
Alien Tort Statute (ATS) litigation has emerged as a focal point in the field of corporate responsibility over the past decade, as foreign plaintiffs alleging violations of international law argue their cases in federal court. For corporations doing business abroad, liability under this statute is controversial and has the potential for substantial effects on human rights outcomes, environmental effects, foreign investment and human development, and business practices in general. The Supreme Court has heard and will hear for a second time an Alien Tort Statute, Kiobel v. Royal Dutch Petroleum, to consider the question of corporate liability under the statute.
This symposium - sponsored by the Georgetown Journal of International Law, the Center on Transnational Business and the Law, and the American Society of International Law - critically examined the role of the Alien Tort Statute as it relates to corporate responsibility. Held on March 27, 2012, you can see the agenda of the symposium here. You can listen to an audio recording of the panel on the background and purpose of the Alien Tort Statute here; the panel on corporate liability here; the panel on investment, trade, and other implications here; and the panel on perspectives and alternatives here. Please download the files to your computer for the audio to play correctly.
2011 Symposium - International Cyberlaw
Held on March 21, 2011, the 2011 Symposium focused on the rapidly expanding international law topic of cyberlaw. You can see the agenda of the symposium here or click here to watch a video of the symposium.
2009 Symposium - Sovereign Wealth Funds
Held on March 30, 2009, the 2009 Symposium focused on the increasingly active sovereign wealth funds and the legal, economic and strategic security issues they raise. You can click here to watch a video of the symposium.
