Call for papers

The Military Law and the Law of War Review

Call for Papers

Role and Responsibilities of Legal Advisors

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Military Operations in Libya

The Military Law and the Law of War Review / Revue de Droit Militaire et de Droit de la Guerre is a journal specialised in matters of interest for both civilian and military legal advisors as well as legal scholars and academics. It is among the oldest publications at the international level in the areas of military/security law and the law of war. For decades, the Review has been an important forum of discussion for scholars and practitioners from all over the world.

The Review is produced by the Belgian Centre for Military Law and the Law of War, under the auspices of the International Society for Military Law and the Law of War, with the financial support of the Belgian Ministry of Defence. It is usually published once a year, in two-four separate issues. It features only peer-reviewed, original, and challenging articles, case notes, commentaries of the latest legal developments and book reviews. As a distinct trait, it accepts contributions in six languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Dutch.

On the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of its foundation, a dedicated issue of the Review’s 2011 Volume will deal with ‘The Role and Responsibilities of Legal Advisors in the Armed Forces: Evolution and Present Trends’.

Another issue of the 2011 Volume will mostly concern the current military operations in Libya.

The Editorial Board invites practitioners and scholars to submit articles dealing with these topics by e-mail to: soc-mil-law@scarlet.be.

The Role and Responsibilities of Legal Advisors in the Armed Forces: Evolution and Present Trends

Articles related to this topic should in principle be between 2500 and 6000 words long (footnotes included) and should be submitted by 15 July 2011 at the latest. The Editorial Board welcomes in particular contributions from current/former civilian/military legal advisors who have experience in this field. Contributions should focus on legal questions associated with the conduct of operations (taking jus in bello and international human rights law, as applicable, duly into account) and may embrace one or more of the strategic, operational, or tactical level perspectives.

The Editorial Board will select papers for publication in The Military Law and the Law of War Review by 31 August 2011.

Selected papers may also be circulated as background readings at the International Conference on Military Justice, to be held in Rhodes (Greece) from 28 September 2011 to 2 October 2011, organized by the International Society for Military Law and the Law of War.  This conference will see the organization of separate special panel on ‘The Role and Responsibilities of Legal Advisors in the Armed Forces’.  Selected authors will receive an invitation to attend this conference, including the special panel, and may be approached to present their paper to the participants.

This initiative is intended to be the starting point for a continuing global dialogue on the same topic, under the auspices of the International Society for Military Law and the Law of War, with a view to promoting the rule of law worldwide.  It is understood that this dialogue will also benefit from contributions addressing legal aspects of cooperation between armed forces and civilian government agencies as well as with private sector entities (such as contractors and non-governmental organizations).

Military Operations in Libya

Articles discussing legal questions associated with the current military operations in Libya should be submitted by 15 September 2011.  The Editorial Board welcomes brief contributions (about 3000 words – footnotes excluded) as well as larger contributions (about 6500 words – footnotes excluded) from practitioners and scholars.  Focus areas may include – but are not limited to – questions regarding the interpretation and application of Chapter VII of the UN Charter (e.g. the measures carried in the framework of the ‘No-Fly Zone Plus’ and the embargo operations), including in relation to the Responsibility to Protect (in the context of which recent UNSC Resolutions regarding Cote d’Ivoire may also be considered relevant); the manner in which Balkans/Rwanda Lessons Learned have been taken into account in the decision-making process concerning UNSCRs 1970 and 1973; the conduct of operations; and the legal ramifications of the recognition of and cooperation with the Libyan insurgency.

The Editorial Board will select papers for publication in The Military Law and the Law of War Review by 1 November 2011.

The Editorial Board may be contacted at: soc-mil-law@scarlet.be