Existing Legal Limits to Security Council Veto Power in the Face of Atrocity Crimes

Chair: Dr Maria Varaki, Lecturer in International Law, Department of War Studies

Speaker:Jennifer Trahan, Clinical Professor at NYU's Center for Global Affairs

 

This event is part of the War Crimes Research Group event series

 

Join Professor Jennifer Trahan, NYU Center for Global Affairs, in discussion with Dr. Maria Varaki, King's College London, Lecturer in International Law, War Studies Department. They will be considering Professor Trahan's new book, "Existing Legal Limits to Security Council Veto Power in the Face of Atrocity Crimes." The book examines the existing international law that strongly suggests there are existing legal limits with a veto (or threat thereof), while there are ongoing atrocity crimes (genocide, war crimes, and/or crimes against humanity), or the serious risk of these crimes occurring.

Through an in-depth exploration of various situations where the veto has been used in such circumstances, Professor Trahan persuasively illustrates the disastrous results of such veto practice in blocking measures that otherwise would have had the required number of Council members’ support, and which could have helped prevent or stop the commission of atrocity crimes. Professor Trahan examines such vetoes in light of three stand-alone arguments, detailing legal obligations related to jus cogens; the UN Charter, and treaties such as the Genocide Convention and Geneva Conventions.

 

Bio

Jennifer Trahan is Clinical Professor at NYU's Center for Global Affairs where she directs their Concentration in International Law and Human Rights. She has published scores of law review articles and book chapters on topics of international criminal law and international justice, including on the International Criminal Court’s crime of aggression.

Her book, “Legal Limits to Security Council Veto Power in the Face of Atrocity Crimes” (Cambridge University Press 2020) was awarded the “2020 ABILA Book of the Year Award” by the American Branch of the International Law Association. She serves as one of the US representatives to the Use of Force Committee of the International Law Association and holds various positions with the American Branch of the International Law Association.

She additionally served as an amicus curiae to the International Criminal Court on the appeal of the situation regarding Afghanistan and serves on the Council of Advisers on the Application of the Rome Statute to Cyberwarfare.

 

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