The Future of International Humanitarian Law: Adapting to New Realities

Event Description

We invite you to come celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions and the 160th anniversary of the First Geneva Convention.

Doors open at 5:00 pm; 7-8 pm post-event reception.
You can take the opportunity to explore the photo exhibit at these times.

About the event: The Geneva Conventions, universally ratified, represent the collective political will of all states to protect victims of war and limit the impact of armed conflict. This commemoration reminds us of the ongoing importance of aligning our actions with these obligations, especially in a world where conflicts continue to take a heavy toll on civilians.

In conjunction with a powerful photo exhibit, “Dialogues for Humanity” (details below), this event explores contemporary challenges to International Humanitarian Law, including the impact of cyber warfare, autonomous weapons, and technological advancements on conflict zones and civilian protection. The discussion will also address how International Humanitarian Law must evolve to remain relevant and effective in light of these new threats, while still upholding core humanitarian principles.

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Speakers:

• Lakmini Seneviratne, Head of the Legal Department at the ICRC Regional Delegation for the United States & Canada.
• Benjamin Perrin, Professor, UBC Peter A. Allard School of Law
• Alain Dondainaz, Head of Mission to Canada, International Committee of the Red Cross (Welcome remarks)
• Sophie Rondeau, Director and Legal Adviser, IHL education, Canadian Red Cross (Moderator)

This event is co-organized by The Consulate General of Switzerland in Vancouver, the UBC School of Public Policy and Global Affairs, and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

About the photo exhibit – “Dialogues On Humanity” Art Exhibition at the Liu Institute Lobby Gallery
In conjunction with the panel, we are presenting the “Dialogues on Humanity” contemporary art exhibition. Developed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Photo Elysée Museum in Lausanne, and the ICRC, this exhibition offers a reflective space for contemplating humanity’s changing values in the face of global crises. Through a unique combination of photography and a Swiss digital platform powered by AI, the exhibition encourages visitors to engage in discussions about humanitarian principles and the future of humanity. Rather than focusing solely on images of despair from crises and conflicts, “Dialogues on Humanity” provides a space for thought, empathy, and conversation.

Speaker Bios

Lakmini Seneviratne. As an Operational Legal Adviser in her work with the ICRC, Lakmini engages with states, non-state actors, and their influencers to implement and operationalize International Humanitarian Law. Having joined the ICRC in 2008 as a Legal Adviser in Sri Lanka, she subsequently took up the positions of Legal Adviser to Operations in Afghanistan, Operational Legal Coordinator in Iraq, and Operational Legal Coordinator in Syria before taking up the current post in Washington D.C in August 2021. Prior to joining the ICRC, Lakmini taught International Humanitarian Law and International Human Rights Law in several undergraduate and graduate programmes, as well as in national institutions related to diplomacy, defense studies, and social sciences in Sri Lanka. Lakmini is a registered Attorney at Law of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Law with Honours from the Faculty of Law, University of Colombo and a Master’s degree from the Harvard Law School, USA.

Benjamin Perrin is a law professor at the University of British Columbia. His research and teaching interests include criminal law, constitutional law, international law, and artificial intelligence. A member of the UBC Centre for Artificial Intelligence Decision-Making and Action, he also leads the UBC AI & Criminal Justice Initiative. Professor Perrin has served in the Prime Minister’s Office as in-house legal counsel and lead criminal justice and public safety policy advisor. He was also a law clerk at the Supreme Court of Canada, and advised judges at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia and Special Court for Sierra Leone on international humanitarian law and international criminal law.

Alain Dondainaz is an accomplished international humanitarian leader with over 25 years of diverse experience in crisis management, financial systems, and development cooperation. Currently serving as the Head of Mission for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Ottawa, Canada, since August 2018, he has overseen critical humanitarian initiatives and operational strategies. Previously, he held several key roles including ICS Coordinator & Risiko-Coach at the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (2014-2018) and Country Coordinator for Sri Lanka and the Maldives at the Canadian Red Cross (2010-2013). His extensive international experience also spans administrative coordination in conflict zones such as Montenegro, Kosovo, and Liberia during their tenure with ICRC from 1999 to 2005.

Sophie Rondeau is currently a Director and Legal Advisor, IHL education, at the Canadian Red Cross. She graduated from Université de Montreal’s Law Faculty, holds a Masters’​ degree in International Law from Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), a Doctorate in Law (summa cum laude) from Université de Genève and Université Laval, and is a member of the Quebec Bar. She worked in the field of international justice, human rights and international humanitarian law in institutions such as the International Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia, the International Centre for the human rights and democratic development (Rights and Democracy), the Canadian Red Cross and the Jean-Pictet Competition in IHL. Her doctoral thesis, for which she was granted the SSHRC’s (Social Science and Humanities Research Council) (SSHRC) and the FRQSC’s (Fonds de recherche du Québec – Société et culture) doctoral scholarships, addresses the specificities of International Humanitarian Law in terms of sources.