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Conference Announcement Theme: A Contextual View of Genocidal Intent Type: International Conference Institution: School of Historical Studies and School of Law, University of Leicester Location: Leicester (United Kingdom) Date: 21.–23.9.2011 __________________________________________________ This conference seeks to investigate one of the most important aspects of the phenomenon of genocide: intent, an element which the International Law Commission recognised as the "distinguishing characteristic" of genocide. But aspects of intent – its very concept, its significance for the disciplines which engage in genocide studies and the individual elements it comprises, are subject of considerable controversy. In historical studies, the very question whether the phenomenon of genocide requires intent, has given rise to passionate debate. To many scholars who approach genocide from the social sciences, it is not acceptable that in some cases accusations of genocide should be dismissed because the intent to target a protected group ‘as such’ cannot be established. The necessity of intent moves to the very centre of debate in case studies as diverse as ethnic cleansing in the Bosnian war, colonial wars against Native Americans and the African slave trade. Genocide scholars who examine the crime from its psychological background, have for a long time considered the intent of various groups and perpetrators which are involved in shaping the context of genocidal campaigns: instigators, followers and by-standers to the events. At the core of their investigations are often questions which go beyond the restrictions of a purely legal analysis: aspects such as motives for genocide occupy a prominent space. International criminal law proceeds on the basis of the Genocide Convention which stipulates that the perpetrator has to have the "intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a racial, religious, ethnic or national group as such". But questions about the precise standard of intent (a cognitive or a volitional basis?), about the interpretation of the words "in whole or in part" and about acceptable evidence for genocidal intent, continue to have considerable influence on the current debate and often enough receive contradictory treatment by the international criminal tribunals. This conference will take an interdisciplinary approach by bringing together scholars from various disciplines to debate genocidal intent and its significance, but also to challenge the various concepts which were developed by different schools. By so doing, it will not only promote mutual understanding of one of the most significant crimes on the international scene, but will also aid in the formulation of strategies to deal with the phenomenon of genocide itself. The conference themes are informed by the various questions which genocidal intent raises. This includes (but is not limited to) the following key points which will be subjected to discussion: - Is intent of importance to all disciplines which debate genocide? - Does intent necessarily lead to genocide in the social sense of the term? - What motives induce the formation of intent? - Is a mere knowledge standard sufficient for the assumption of intent? - Is the intent to remove a group from a territory the same as the intent to destroy it? - Is the intent of "bystanders" of importance? - What is acceptable evidence for genocidal intent? Speakers at the conference include Professor William Schabas (Director of the Irish Centre of Human Rights and author of Genocide in International Law), who will give the keynote address on 22 September; and Professors Hans Vest, Samuel Totten and Paul Bartrop. Draft Programme Wednesday, 21 September 2011 University of Leicester 17.30 – 18.30 Sixth Aubrey Newman Lecture Ken Edwards Building, Lecture Theatre 3 Professor William A Schabas (NUI Galway, Irish Centre for Human Rights) "Proving Genocidal Intent. Is it really so difficult?" 19.00 Wine Reception and Introduction to the Conference Dr Olaf Jensen and Dr Paul Behrens (University of Leicester) Thursday, 22 September 2011 University of Leicester 9.00 Registration and Coffee 9.20 Welcome 9.30 Introduction Dr Olaf Jensen: The Leicester Project on Genocide and the Holocaust Session 1: Evaluating Genocidal Intent 10.00 Keynote Speech: Prof William A Schabas (NUI Galway, Irish Centre for Human Rights) Understanding Genocidal Intent 10.30 Discussion 11.00 Dr Paul Behrens (University of Leicester) Between Stigma and Protection: The Role of Genocidal Intent in the Law 11.20 Discussion 11.40 Prof Hans Vest (University of Bern) Cognitive and volitional standard of intent 12.00 Discussion 12.20 – 13.30 Lunch Session 2: Genocidal Intent: Origins and Prevention 13.30 Prof Monique Eckmann (University of Applied Sciences of Western Switzerland, Geneva) Prof Dennis Klein (Kean University) “Intimate Killing”: Reassessing the “Intent to Destroy” 13.50 Discussion 14.10 Dr Ekkehard Strauss (formerly of the New York Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights) Intent and the Obligation to Prevent Genocide 14.30 Discussion Session 3: Discourse and Genocidal Intent 14.50 Carol Staunton (National University of Ireland, Galway) “A necessity imposed upon us”? Parliamentary Discourse and Identifying Genocidal Intent 15.10 Discussion 15.30 – 16.10 Coffee Session 4: Intent and the Concept of Destruction 16.10 Thomas Forster (University of Bern) Destroying What, Exactly? Genocidal Intent and Group Conceptions 16.30 Discussion 16.50 Clotilde Pegorier (University of Lucerne) The Spectrum of Violence: Genocide, Ethnic Cleansing and the Question of Intent 17.10 Discussion 17.30 Justine Jones (University of Groningen) Ethnic Cleansing and Genocidal Intent 17.50 Discussion 18.10 End of Day 1 19.30 – 21.00 Dinner (if booked as part of the conference package) Friday, 23 September 2011 University of Leicester 10.30 Welcome to the Second Day Session 5: Proving Genocidal Intent 10.40 Prof Samuel Totten (University of Arkansas) What is Acceptable Evidence for Genocidal Intent: The Darfur Crisis and the Debate Over Whether Genocide Was Perpetrated by Government of Sudan Troops and Janjaweed 11.00 Discussion 11.20 Prof Paul Bartrop (Bialik College, Melbourne) “Action Equals Intent:” The Equation of Criminal Actions with the Issue of Intention, An Historical Perspective 11.40 Discussion 12.00 Dr Olaf Jensen (University of Leicester) Evaluating Intent: The Inconsistent Nazi and the Dynamics of Killing 12.20 Discussion 12.40 – 13.40 Lunch Session 6: Genocidal Intent: Selected Cases 13.40 Prof Michelle Kelso (George Washington University) The Genocide of Roma During WWII: An Investigation of the Intent of the Romanian Regime Toward its Romani Populations 14.00 Discussion 14.20 Dr Gillian Wigglesworth (Barrister and Lecturer) ‘The Srebrenica massacre and its aftermath: reflections on genocidal intent in the light of the judgment(s) of the ICTY in the Popovic case’ 14.40 Discussion 15.00 – 15.40 Coffee Session 7: Genocidal Intent and the Wider Context 15.40 Freda Njugu Kabatsi (Senior State Attorney, Uganda) The Role of Motives for the Evaluation of Genocidal Intent 16.00 Discussion 16.20 Dr Caroline Fournet (University of Groningen) Diverging judicial approaches to genocidal intent: the impact of non-legal factors on judicial decision-making 16.40 Discussion 17.00 Dr Gregory Kent (Roehampton University) Actus-intention connection: how ICTY judicial methodologies confound ‘common sense’ and expert views on genocide in Bosnia 17.20 Discussion 17.40 End of Day 2 Registration Procedure Thank you very much for your interest in the 2011 Conference "A Contextual View on Genocidal Intent". To register, please use our electronic system at: https://shop.le.ac.uk/browse/module.asp?compid=1&modid=2 Registration will be open until 20 September 2011. Please note that only a limited number of places are available. Further details, including information about the conference venue, will be sent to all attendees. Contact: Dr Paul Behrens School of Law Email: [email protected] Dr Olaf Jensen, Director Stanley Burton Centre for Holocaust and Genocide Studies Phone: +44 (0)116 252-2802 Email: [email protected] Danielle Jackson, Admin School of Historical Studies Phone: +44 (0)116 252-2800 email: [email protected] Web: http://www.le.ac.uk/hi/centres/burton/ __________________________________________________ InterPhil List Administration: http://interphil.polylog.org Intercultural Philosophy Calendar: http://cal.polylog.org __________________________________________________
