Workshop Report: Exploring a legal framework for Toxic Remnants of War.

In June 2012 the TRW project held a legal workshop at the Free University of Berlin, Germany. This post introduces a summary report on the workshop and provides links to some of the presentations made.

The congregation of experts in international, humanitarian and environmental law aimed to examine the current legal protection for the environment from the chronic effects of war and conflict and to explore the phrasing of a legal approach on TRW. Such an approach seeks to consider the use, health impact and environmental behaviour of a range of substances, including heavy metals, chemical obscurants, explosives and propellants, fuels and other conflict residues.

The full workshop report can be found here. Presentations from the workshop and some accompanying complementary texts can be found below within the relevant sessions. A full list of workshop attendees and their affiliation is provided below the timetable.

Session I – Introduction
Prof. Manfred Mohr TRW Legal Project, Berlin – Welcome and opening.
Prof. Michael Bothe Emeritus, Goethe University, Frankfurt a. Main – Protection of the environment in and after armed conflict: overview and trends.
Doug Weir TRW Project, Manchester -  Introducing the TRW Project.
Chair: Robin Borrmann International Association of Lawyers Against Nuclear Arms (IALANA)

Session II – Framework and general standards
Mohamed Ghalaieny TRW Project, Manchester – Defining toxic remnants of war: sources, properties and examples.
Dr. Robert Heinsch University of Leiden – Toxic remnants of war and the prohibition to cause excessive collateral damage to the environment.
Dr. Karen Hulme Essex University – IHL standards for toxic remnants of war? (click here for complementary text)
Chair:  Dr. Gerhard Ahlbrecht, European Organisation of Military Associations (EUROMIL)

Session III – Scenarios and perspectives
Dr. Wybe Douma T.M.C. Asser Institute, The Hague – The Precautionary Principle’s relevance to toxic remnants of war.
Lisa Goldman Environmental Law Institute, Washington, DC – Natural resources, toxic remnants of war and post-conflict peace building.
Prof. Manfred Mohr TRW Legal Project – A legal definition and the regulation of toxic remnants of war.
Chair: Dr. Heike Spieker German Red Cross (Berlin)

Session IV – Concluding Panel: TRW as a legal and political concept
Prof. Michael Bothe
Dr. Karen Hulme
Lisa Goldman
Prof. Manfred Mohr
Chair: Arjen Vermeer Netherlands Red Cross, (The Hague)

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