As part of its efforts to raise awareness of international legal issues affecting the rights of individuals, corporations and governments, on 11 July 2013, HCLA, in association with the Doshisha University Graduate School of Global Studies,(Japan) organized the following event: Symposium on Unilateral Sanctions and International Law: Views on Legitimacy and Consequences.
To maintain international peace, prosperity and human dignity there is no alternative to international cooperation. The proposition that economic sanctions are a legitimate means of achieving international peace and prosperity is controversial. While major developments in international trade and investment have gained momentum in fostering peaceful international interaction, the world is facing unprecedented conflicts characterized by unilateralism. Although international law may yet lack an effective enforcement authority, this does not justify claims that national policies are of no concern for the international community.
The objective of the symposium is to raise awareness of the impact of unilateralism on issues such as human rights and international trade and investment in the context of international law.