International Law Section Faculty



    Profile

    Professor Gowlland has been a member of the Institute faculty since 1994. She is an Honorary Professor at University College, London, since 2003, Visiting Fellow at All Souls College (Oxford) (2002), Visiting Professor at the Institut des Hautes Etudes Internationales, Paris II (2000), and University of California, Berkeley (1995). Her research interests centre on United Nations law, in particular Security Council sanctions; international responsibility; the role of the International Court of Justice; and international refugee law. She is the author of Collective Responses to Illegal Acts in International Law (ASIL 'Certificate of Merit'); recent edited works include: National Implementation of United Nations Sanctions: A Comparative Study and United Nations Sanctions and International Law.


    Research Interests

    Professor Gowlland's research interests centre on United Nations law, in particular Security Council sanctions; international responsibility; the role of the International Court of Justice; and international refugee law.


    Curriculum Vitae

    Download a copy of Professor Gowlland's CV.


    Publications

    Books

    • Collective Responses to Illegal Acts in International Law: United Nations Action in the Question of Southern Rhodesia, Martinus Nijhoff, 1990; 750p. (1991 American Society of International Law Certificate of Merit).

    Edited books

    • National Implementation of United Nations Sanctions: A Comparative Study, Martinus Nihjhoff, Leiden, 2004, p.671.
    • Co-Editor with Vincent Chetail, Switzerland and the International Protection of Refugees/La Suisse et la protection internationale des réfugiés, Kluwer, 2002; 283p.
    • Co-Editor with Laurence Boisson de Chazournes, The International Legal System in Quest of Equity and Universality/L'Ordre juridique international, un système en quête d'équité et d'universalité, Liber Amicorum Georges Abi-Saab, Martinus Nijhoff, 2001; 844p.
    • United Nations Sanctions and International Law, Kluwer Law International, 2001; 401p.
    • Multilateral Treaty-Making: The Current Status of Challenges to and Reforms Needed in the International Legislative Process, Papers presented at the Forum Geneva, May 16 1998, Martinus Nijhoff, 2000; 142p.
    • The Problem of Refugees in the Light of Contemporary International Law Issues, Martinus Nijhoff, 1995; 179p.
    • Co-Editor with Klaus Samson, Problems and Prospects of Refugee Law, Graduate Institute of International Studies, Geneva, l992; 145p.

    Articles and Essays

    • 'The Responsibility of the Political Organs of the UN for Palestine in Light of the ICJ’s Wall Opinion”, in Marcelo G. Kohen (ed.), Promoting Justice, Human Rights and Conflict Resolution through International Law. Liber Amicorum Lucius Caflisch, Leiden, Martinus Nijhoff, 2006, pp. 1095-1119.
    • Commentaries on 'Art.7, UN Charter” and 'Art.1, ICJ Statute', in Commentary on the Statute of the International Court of Justice, Andreas Zimmermann, Christian Tomuschat and Karin Oellers-Frahm (eds.), Oxford University Press, 2006, pp.79-105 and 195-204, respectively.
    • 'Unity and Diversity in the Formation and Relevance of Customary International Law. Comment”, in Unity and Diversity of International Law. Proceedings of an International Symposium of the Kiel Walther Schücking Institute of International Law, November 4-7, 2004, Andreas Zimmermann and Rainer Hofmann (eds), Duncker & Humblot, 2006, pp.285-294.
    • Commentary on 'Article 1, paragraphe 1” (with Manfred Lachs) mis à jour et augmenté pour la 3ème édition, in La Charte des Nations Unies. Commentaire article par article, sous la direction de Jean-Pierre Cot and Alain Pellet (eds.), Economica, 3ème éd., 2005, pp.327-336.
    • 'Sanctions Regimes under Article 41 of the Charter” and 'Implementing Sanctions Resolutions in Domestic Law”, in National Implementation of United Nations Sanctions: A Comparative Study, Martinus Nihjhoff, 2004, pp.3-32 and 33-78, respectively.
    • 'Human Rights and Humanitarian Law: Are there some Individuals Bereft of all Legal Protection? The Relevance of Paragraph 25 of the ICJ’s Advisory Opinion on Nuclear Weapons”, in Mapping New Boundaries, Proceedings of the American Society of International Law, 98th Annual Meeting, Washington D.C.,2004, pp. 358-363.
    • 'Challenge of International Terrorism to the International Security System”, in From Government to Governance, 2003 Hague Joint Conference on Contemporary Issues of International Law, American Society of International Law, Netherlands Society of International Law, T.M.C. Asser Press, The Hague, 2004, pp.273-288.
    • 'The Domestic Implementation of UN Sanctions”, in Review of the Security Council by Member States, Erika de Wet and André Nollkaemper (eds.), Intersentia, Antwerp, 2003.
    • 'The Relationship between Political and Judicial Organs of International Organisations: The Role of the Security Council in the New International Criminal Court', International Organisations and International Dispute Settlement: Trends and Prospects, in Laurence Boisson de Chazournes, Cesare Romano and Ruth Mackenzie (eds.), Transnational Publishers, 2002, pp.195-218.
    • 'Concluding Reflections on the International Protection of Refugees', in Switzerland and the International Protection of Refugees/La Suisse et la protection internationale des réfugiés, Vincent Chetail et Vera Gowlland-Debbas (eds.), Kluwer, 2002, pp.269-283.
    • 'The International Legal Protection of Refugees', (translated into Spanish), in Promocion y Proteccion Internacional de la Persona, Ministry of Foreign Relations, Instituto de Altos Estudios Diplomaticos 'Pedro Gual', Caracas, 2002.
    • 'La Charte des Nations Unies et la Convention de Genève du 28 juillet 1951 relative au statut des réfugiés', in Vincent Chetail (ed.), La Convention de Genève du 28 juillet 1951 relative au statut des réfugiés 50 ans après: bilan et perspectives, Haut Commissariat des Nations Unies pour les réfugiés, Institut international des Droits de l'homme, sous la direction de Vincent Chetail, Bruylant, 2001, pp.193-218.
    • 'UN Sanctions and International Law: An Overview', in United Nations Sanctions and International Law, Vera Gowlland-Debbas (ed.), Kluwer Law International, 2001, pp.1-28.
    • 'The Role of the Security Council in the New International Criminal Court', in The International Legal System in Quest of Equity and Universality, Liber Amicorum Georges Abi-Saab, Vera Gowlland-Debbas and Laurence Boisson de Chazournes (eds.), Martinus Nijhoff, 2001.
    • 'European Asylum Policies and the Search for a European Identity', in Constructing Europe's Identity. The External Dimension, Lars-Erik Cederman (Ed.), Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2001, pp. 213-229.
    • 'The Limits of Unilateral Enforcement of Community Objectives in the Framework of UN Peace Maintenance', European Journal of International Law, vol. 11, no.2, 2000, pp.361-383.
    • 'The Functions of the United Nations Security Council in the International Legal System', The Role of Law in International Politics, Michael Byers (ed.), Oxford University Press, 2000, pp.305-341.
    • 'Accountability of International Organisations: Remarks', in International Law in Ferment, American Society of International Law, Proceedings of the 94th Annual Meeting, Washington, 2000, pp.206-207.
    • 'The Right to Life and Genocide: the Court and an International Public Policy', in International Law, the International Court of Justice and Nuclear Weapons, Philippe Sands and Laurence Boisson de Chazournes (eds.), Cambridge University Press, 1999, pp.315-337.
    • 'The Relationship between the Security Council and the International Criminal Court', in Journal of Armed Conflict Law, Vol.3, 1998, pp.97-119.
    • 'The ICJ Advisory Opinion on the Legality of Nuclear Weapons: the Right to Life and Genocide', in Contemporary International Law Issues: New Forms New Applications, Proceedings of the 1997 Hague Joint Conference, The American Society of International Law and Nederlandse Vereniging voor Internationaal Recht, T.M.C. Asser Instituut, 1998, pp.79-83.
    • 'Strengthening the Role of the Court as the Principal Judicial Organ of the UN. Commentary', in Increasing the Effectiveness of the International Court of Justice, Connie Peck and Roy S. Lee (eds.), Proceedings of the ICJ/UNITAR Colloquium to Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the Court, Martinus Nijhoff, 1997, pp. 254-266.
    • 'La résponsabilité internationale de l'Etat d'origine pour des flux de réfugiés', in Droit d'asile et des réfugiés, Société française pour le droit international, Colloque de Caen, Pedone, 1997, pp.93-131.
    • 'L'Union européenne et l'action des Nations Unies dans le domaine humanitaire', in L'Union Européenne et les organisations internationales, Daniel Dormoy (ed.), Editions Bruylant, 1997, pp.320-326.
    • 'Judicial Insights into the Fundamental Values and Interests of the International Community', in The International Court of Justice: Its Future Role After 50 Years, A.S. Muller, D.Raic and J.M. Thuranszky (eds.), Martinus Nijhoff, 1997, pp.327-366.
    • 'The Scope of 'International Peace and Security' Under the UN' in Les multiples aspects des relations internationales - Multiple Aspects of International Relations. Etudes à la mémoire du Professeur Jean Siotis - Essays in Memory of Professor Jean Siotis, Victor-Yves Ghebali and Dietrich Kappeler (eds.), Bruylant, 1995, pp.109-126.
    • 'The Relationship between the International Court of Justice and the Security Council in the Light of the Lockerbie Case', American Journal of International Law, vol.88, 1994, pp.643-677.
    • 'Security Council Enforcement Action and Issues of State Responsibility', International and Comparative Law Quarterly, vol.43, l994, pp.55-98.
    • 'The Use of Economic Sanctions by the UN Security Council: An International Law Perspective - Comments', in International Economic Law and Armed Conflict, Harry H.G. Post (ed.), Martinus Nijhoff, l994, pp.l63-l73.
    • 'Systemic Costs of Non-Compliance with International Law: Collective Responses to Non-Compliance with Fundamental Norms', in Contemporary International Law Issues - Sharing Pan-European and American Perspectives, Proceedings of the 1991 Hague Joint Conference of the American Society of International Law and Nederlandse Vereniging voor Internationaal Recht, Martinus Nijhoff, l992, pp.65-71.
    • 'Legal Significance of the Legitimizing Function of the United Nations: the Cases of Southern Rhodesia and Palestine', in Le droit international au service de la paix, de la justice et du développement. Mélanges Michel Virally, Editions A. Pedone, l99l, pp.323-332.
    • 'Collective Responses to the Unilateral Declarations of Independence of Southern Rhodesia and Palestine. An Application of the Legitimizing Function of the United Nations', The British Yearbook of International Law, l990, pp.l35-l53.

    Select unpublished papers

    • “Le rôle du droit international dans le conflit Israélo-Palestinien”, Forum Suisse de politique internationale, Genève, 6 avril 2007.
    • 'Legal Aspects of the Israeli Military Operation in Lebanon”, IUED, Colloquium on Le Moyen-Orient, de conflits en conflits, Geneva, 27 November 2006.
    • 'Legal Aspects of the Lebanese-Israeli Conflict”, Swiss Association for Euro-Arab-Muslim Dialogue, Colloquium on Le conflit libano-israelién: un défi à l’ordre international, Geneva, 3 October 2006.
    • 'The Challenge of Fighting Crimes against Humanity. The Role of the Security Council”, and 'Dialogue between Civilizations. The Role of International Law and the Elimination of Racial Discrimination”, 17th Crans Montana Forum, Monaco, 22-25 June 2006.
    • 'The ICJ Advisory Opinion on the Wall and State and International Community Obligations”, University of Exeter and the Faculty of Law at the University of Western Ontario, Colloquium on A Rights-Based Approach to Resolving the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, Exeter, 8-11 June, 2006.
    • 'The significance of the International Court of Justice as the Principle Judicial Organ of the United Nations”, American Society of International Law, Annual Meeting, Washington, April 1, 2006.
    • 'The Interplay Between Different Areas of International Law: Critical Issues”, Opening Speech, International Law Association (British Branch) Spring Conference, Tower of Babel. International Law in the 21st Century – coherent or compartmentalised?, London, 3-4 March 2006.
    • 'The Link between Security and International Protection of Migrants and Refugees”, HEI Colloquium on Mondialisation, migrations et droits de l’homme, Geneva, 16-17 January 2006.
    • 'The Use of Targeted Sanctions”, UNITAR Summer Institute on Global Issues Facing the United Nations : Strengthening Respect for the Rule of Law, New York, 6-10 June 2005.
    • 'The Responsibility of the Political Organs of the United Nations for Palestine”, Europaeum, Israel’s Security Barrier: a panel discussion on the Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice, Oxford, 28 April 2005.
    • 'The Responsibility of the Political Organs of the United Nations in the Light of the ICJ’s Opinion”, The Centre for the Study of International Law in Africa (CSILA), University of Johannesburg, Symposium on the ICJ Opinion of 9 July 2004 concerning the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Johannesburg, 25 January 2005
    • 'The EU, Global Threats and International Law 'The Responsibility of the General Assembly for Palestine and the Question of Palestinian Refugees”, University of Damascus, International Symposium on 'A Just Solution for Palestinian Refugees?”, Damascus, 6-7 September 2004.
    • 'The EU, the Threats of Globalisation and the Role of International Law”, , European Commission, The 7th ECSA World Conference, 'The European Union and Emerging World Orders: Perceptions and Strategies”, 30 November 2004, available at http://www.ecsanet.org/conferences/ecsaworld7/contributions.htm.
    • 'International Law and the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory”, Monaco World Summit, 6th Summit on Transnational Crime, 14-16 October, 2004.
    • 'Les droits de l'homme et l'action de l'OTAN', Université de Lausanne, colloquium on 'L'effectivité des droits de l'homme dans les Organisations internationales', Lausanne, 23 April 2004.
    • 'The United Nations and Unilateral Claims to Enforce Collective Decisions: issues of legality, legitimization and community interests”, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 6 September 2003.
    • 'International Legal Protection of Refugees”, Institut des droits de l’homme, Strasbourg, 22-23 July 2003.
    • 'An Introduction to Treaty Law and the Role of Non-State Actors” and 'Refugees, International Law and Non-governmental Organisations”, University of Malta, Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies, Sliema, 9-14 July 2003.
    • 'The Relationship between Law and Politics: UN Sanctions and International Law', All Souls College, Oxford, Visiting Fellow Lecture Series, 10 December 2002.
    • 'Peace vs. Justice: the Security Council and the International Criminal Court', Oxford University, International Law Association British Branch Lecture Series, Oxford, 7 November 2002, and Edinburgh University, International Law Association British Branch Lecture Series, 7 December 2002.
    • 'The Refugee Convention at 50: Contemporary Challenges to International Refugee Law', Bristol University, International Law Association British Branch Lecture Series, 22 October 2002.
    • 'Implementation of UN Sanctions: Effectiveness and Legitimacy', Göteborg University, Symposium on Implementation of UN Economic Sanctions and Individual Rights, Göteborg, 14 October 2002.
    • 'L'ONU et le droit international', Département fédéral des affaires étrangères, Séminaire d'information dans le cadre de la Campagne d'adhésion à l'ONU, Lausanne, 16 January 2002.
    • Foreword to « Double Standards : A Comparative Analysis of International Responses to the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict with other Armed Conflict Situations», A Report of the Negotiation Affairs Department, Palestinian Liberation Organisation, Ramallah, May 2002.
    • 'Implementation of UN Sanctions in Domestic Law', Center for International Studies and Research (CERI - Sciences Po) and International Peace Academy (New York), Seminar on Sanctions and the Political Economy of Crises, Paris, November 22-23, 2001.
    • 'The UN Charter, International Law and the Kosovo Intervention' and 'A Decade of Sanctions against Iraq', Argentine Council for International Relations, Institute of International Law, Seminar on Peacekeeping and Peace Restoration in the Current International Order, Buenos Aires, September 27-28, 2001.
    • 'Human Rights and Refugee Law: Convergence or Divergence?', Colloquium on Human Rights on the occasion of the visit to Venezuela of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Caracas, November 30 -December 1, 2000.
    • 'Accountability of the United Nations in 'Sub-contracting' to Member States', Millenium Meeting of the International Law Association, London, July 25-29, 2000.
    • 'La déclaration universelle des droits de l'homme et le droit des réfugiés', Journée d'études sur La Déclaration universelle des droits de l'homme: Bilan et perspectives, Institut d'Etudes Politiques de l'université Lumière (Lyon 2), Lyon, 5 décembre, 1998.