Student Writing Competition: The Use of Unmanned Drones in Current Conflicts as a Legal Challenge

July 12, 2011 at 10:56 am | Posted in Aviation Law Current Event | Leave a comment

by P.J. Blount with the blog faculty

The Goettingen Journal of International Law has announced a law student writing competition. The subject is Wanted Dead or Alive? The Use of Unmanned Drones in Current Conflicts as a Legal Challenge:

Student Essay Competition

GoJIL hosts an annual student essay competition on a current topic of international law. To reach a broad majority of young academics interested in international law the topic is usually set adjacent to or within the subject of the recent Philip C. Jessup Moot Court Competition. Submission for the Student Essay Competition shall not exceed 3000 words in length and must be in accordance with our guidelines. A jury will nominate the winning paper for publication in the forthcoming issue. Examples for winning contributions in the past you can find in GoJIL Vol 1 No 1 (Evelyne Schmid: “The Right to a Fair Trial in Times of Terrorism: A Method to Identify the Non-Derogable Aspects of Article 14 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights”), in GoJIL Vol 1 No 3 (Marco Benatar: “The Use of Cyber Force: Need for Legal Justification?”) as well as in GoJIL Vol 2 No 3 (Cécile Vandewoude: “The Rise of Self-Determination versus the Rise of Democracy”). Papers are judged based on the appeal of the special topic chosen, its argumentation, structure and compliance with formalities. We strongly encourage you to participate and to take advantage of this great opportunity for young scholars.

Wanted Dead or Alive? The Use of Unmanned Drones in Current Conflicts as a Legal Challenge

Since his inauguration US President Barack Obama has ordered over 120 drone attacks on Pakistan’s territory. Targeted killings and the use of drones by the US administration raise serious questions of international law. Are the killings covered by the right to self-defense under the UN-Charter? Is the lack of a judicial trial justified under human rights law? Are states allowed to concede a right to kill to other states? These are just a few of the numerous questions you can address in your essay. We are looking forward to your ideas!

Deadline: 29 July 2011.

Max. wordcount: 3 000 words (without footnotes).

If you would like to write an article or are already working on the subject, submit your essay! The best article will be published in GoJIL Vol 3 No 3. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us!

info@gojil.eu