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Exeter Centre for International Law
Welcome to the Exeter Centre for International Law
The Exeter Centre for International Law is home to a vibrant community of resident scholars, affiliated members and external visitors working in the field of international law. Our research interests and activities span a wide range of subjects and branches of law. We have particular expertise in the field of international human rights law, the law of armed conflict, international criminal law and international refugee law. We are an inclusive community and encourage students and fellow scholars at all levels to attend and participate in our events. Do get in touch!
Our mission
The Exeter Centre for International Law was established in 2014 to provide a focal point for the study of international law at the University of Exeter. The Centre builds on a long and distinguished tradition of international legal scholarship at Exeter Law School, stretching back to the 1960s. The purpose of the Centre is to provide an intellectual environment to
- promote the study and development of international law;
- stimulate debate and collaboration in response to the most pressing challenges facing the international legal order; and
- support teaching and training in the field of international law.
Our work
Our work reflects the idea that international law is not merely an academic subject, but also an area of legal practice. Many of our members have first-hand experience in the application of international law. We maintain strong links with practitioners outside academia, from senior legal advisors to international judges, from government representatives to the staff of non-governmental organisations. We also benefit from close links with colleagues working in related disciplines, including members of Exeter University’s Strategy and Security Institute.
Members of the Centre conduct research at the forefront of international legal scholarship. We pride ourselves on our contribution to the wider legal and policy community. We publish leading pieces in peer-reviewed journals and contribute to key academic blogs. We participate in the work of international professional societies and regularly contribute to international events in the UK and abroad. We convene workshops on emerging topics and lead research projects addressing contemporary legal challenges.
Our research informs our teaching. Drawing on their specific expertise and interests, members of the Centre deliver a variety of courses in international law at the undergraduate and the postgraduate level, including in the field of conflict and security law, international criminal law and justice, counter-terrorism and international human rights law.
News
ECIL is looking forward to welcoming you to our forthcoming events:
Lola’s War: Sexual Violence, Impunity and Reintegration of War Criminals
27 November, 3.45 - 5pm, Streatham Court, Lecture Theatre B
In this seminar, Dr. Simić will talk about her recently published book, Lola’s War: Rape without Punishment (Springer, 2023). The book offers a subtle understanding of the Bosnian war by listening to the voice of Lola, a rural Bosnian woman.
Justice for All: Innovations and Aspirations in International Criminal Law
Friday 15 November, 3.30pm, Streatham Court, Lecture Theatre B
A talk by Michelle Jarvis organised by: Law and Human Rights Society in collaboration with Exeter Centre for International Law(ECIL)
Full details on this Fixr page
NEWS
Dr Chris O’Meara examines how the jus ad bellum applies to ASAT weapons and to the right of states to use them in space.
Professor Ana Beduschi’s latest study has been published in the Handbook on Warfare and Artificial Intelligence
AI can help humanitarians gain crucial insights to better monitor and anticipate risks, such as a conflict outbreak or escalation. But deploying systems in this context is not without risks for those affected.
Dr Annika Jones presents new data on the demographics of victim participation at the International Criminal Court (ICC)
Dr Jones presented the outcomes of her AHRC IAA funded research into the demographics of victim participation at the ICC. The data provides new insights into the inclusivity of the ICC’s victim participation scheme and barriers that must be addressed to enhance the Court’s ability to represent, support and provide agency to the communities that are most deeply affected by international crime.
Professor Mačák joins discussion on the protection of civilian persons in time of war
Between 30 April and 2 May 2024, Professor Kubo Mačák participated in a semi-annual meeting of the Editorial Committee for the International Committee of the Red Cross’s Updated Commentary on the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War. The project is a multi-year endeavour led by the ICRC that aims to contribute to a better understanding of, and respect for, international humanitarian law.
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Exeter Law school professor speaks at IHL event in Geneva
On 25 April 2024, Professor Kubo Mačák spoke at an event for UN Member States, organized in Geneva by Switzerland and the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights. Kubo presented his research on the international law aspects of the involvement of civilians in armed conflict through digital military technologies and its consequent impact on the protection of civilians.
Honouring the legacy of Professor Yoram Dinstein: Kubo Mačák writes in the Lieber Institute’s blog Articles of War
The piece explores the legal justification for the separation between the jus in bello (international humanitarian law, IHL) and the jus ad bellum (law on the use of force), as well as some of its legal consequences.
University of Exeter to lead groundbreaking international cyber law project
Professor Kubo Mačák will be leading a team to put together “The Handbook on Developing a National Position on International Law in Cyberspace: A Practical Guide for States”. The project will be formally launched on Tuesday 28 May 2024 at the 16th International Conference on Cyber Conflict (CyCon) in Tallinn, Estonia.
Harriet Moynihan Speaks on Corporate Responsibility and Civic Freedoms at Exeter
On 30 November 2023, Exeter Law School hosted a talk by Harriet Moynihan (International Law Programme, Chatham House) titled “Upholding civic freedoms as part of geopolitical corporate responsibility”, part of the ongoing Axis of Protection Seminar Series.
Estonian Expert Provides Insight into Cyber Diplomacy’s Future
Dr Anna-Maria Osula, an official of the Department of Cyber and Digital Diplomacy at the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, spoke at the University of Exeter on Thursday 16 November 2023.
Dr Osula’s talk, set against the backdrop of the escalating use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) for malicious purposes, was centred around the past and present discussions at the United Nations Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG).
Exeter Professor Speaks on Civilian Protection at US Military Academy
In early November 2023, Professor Kubo Mačák participated in the 2023 Lieber Workshop on Civilian Protection in Armed Conflict, organized by the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.
Dr Aurel Sari's writings about Israel and Gaza
Dr Aurel Sari has commented on the ongoing situation in Israel and Gaza, discussing the applicable rules of the law of war with The Economist and The Times of Israel .
He has also published a post about the explosion at the Al-Ahli Hospital, explaining why we should not rush to premature conclusions without knowing the facts.
'Hackers in the Hague? The Prospects of Prosecuting International Cyber Crimes Before the ICC'
In this new article the authors, Professor Kubo Mačák and Maxime Nijs, argue that despite recent signals of policy changes from the prosecutor, the likelihood of prosecuting cyber misconduct before the International Criminal Court in the near future remains uncertain due to the formidable challenges of gravity and attribution.
Special edition of Science and Justice published
Prof. Caroline Fournet from the University of Exeter has co-edited with Dr Helen Tidy (School of Health & Life Sciences, Teesside University) a special issue of Science & Justice, entitled 'The Future of Teaching, Training and Learning in Forensic and Crime Sciences'. It was published online in November 2022.
Reflection on the International conference 'The Sights, Sounds and Sensibilities of Atrocity Prosecutions'.
The conference was co-organised by Prof. Caroline Fournet and Prof. Mark Drumbl (Washington & Lee University, USA) in Exeter on 20-21 October 2022.
Latest edition of influential Cyber Law Toolkit tracks online warfare around the globe
Experts behind an influential research project charting global cyber law are tracking major online attacks across the world.
The Cyber Law Toolkit, an established go-to resource for professionals and scholars working on international law and cyber operations, has been updated again for 2022.
Urgent need for the UK and its allies to clarify how they will respond militarily to imminent armed attacks, study says
There is an urgent need for the UK and allies to give clearer information about how they would respond in self-defence to ‘imminent’ armed attacks, a new study says.
Cyber Law Toolkit Presents Annual Update Including an Overview of National Positions, Invites New Submissions
On 22 September 2021, Dr Kubo Mačák, the General Editor of the Cyber Law Toolkit, introduced its annual update at the CyberCon conference in Brno, Czech Republic.
Professor Nasu appointed as a Senior Fellow at the US Naval War College
Exeter Law School’s Professor Hitoshi Nasu has recently been appointed as a Non-Resident Senior Fellow at the Stockton Centre for International Law at the United States Naval War College.
Axis of Protection Seminar Series in Geneva
The first seminar of the Axis of Protection Seminar Series took place at the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland.
Dr Beduschi presented research findings at the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights
Dr Beduschi discussed how new technologies, including artificial intelligence, impact humanitarian action in the context of international migration.
Cyber Law Toolkit Expands: ICRC and Wuhan University Join the Project Consortium
In October 2019, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and Wuhan University, China, joined the Cyber Law Toolkit project led by Dr Kubo Mačák.
Professor Schmitt recognized internationally
Exeter Law School’s Professor Mike Schmitt has recently received a number of prestigious appointments.
Exeter legal academics discuss military space operations at expert meeting in The Hague
Between 5 and 9 August 2019, Professor Hitoshi Nasu and Dr Kubo Mačák attended the third meeting of the Woomera Manual on the International Law of Military Space Operations in The Hague, The Netherlands.
Exeter Centre for International Law donates books to Zambian armed forces
In a fitting close to the academic year, the textbooks on the law of armed conflict were donated to the Defence and Command Staff College of the Defence Force of Zambia.
Cyber law in time of war: Exeter academic presents at a cyber diplomacy event in Tallinn
On 24 July 2019, Dr Kubo Mačák spoke at the Tallinn Summer School of Cyber Diplomacy on the topic “Cyber Operations and International Humanitarian Law”.
Exeter academics participate in military operations course at West Point
Three members of the Exeter Centre for International Law travelled to West Point in June 2019 to attend the second US Military Operations Course at the United States Military Academy.
New toolkit to provide guidance on international cyber law
International lawyers and cyber experts have worked together to give new guidance on how countries may respond to malicious cyber operations such as computer hacking aimed at interfering with foreign elections.
Global Cyber Law Capacity Building Effort Supported by Exeter Law School
Mike Schmitt, Professor of Public International Law, has been busy training government officials around the world on international cyber law.
Launch of report on hybrid threats
On 11 April, Dr Aurel Sari contributed to the launch of a report on hybrid threats at NATO Headquarters in Brussels.
Exeter hosts conference on legal resilience and hybrid threats
In April 2019, the Exeter Centre for International Law hosted a conference on “Legal Resilience in an Era of Hybrid Threats”.
Exeter academic to undertake a visiting fellowship at Leiden University
Dr Kubo Mačák will spend a month exploring the role of non-state led initiatives in the development of international cyber law at Leiden University’s Hague Program for Cyber Norms.
Our members and research interests
| Name | Research interests |
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International Human Rights Law, Refugee Law, Asian Studies, International Relations, Ethnic Conflicts, Racism and Extremism, Genocide, Nationality law. |
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Human Rights Law, European Court of Human Rights, Inter-American Court of Human Rights, Migration, Migrant Children, Refugee Law, Immigration Law, Common Migration Poliy, Common European Asylum System, Big Data, AI, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Digital Identity, Privacy, Data Protection. |
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Public international law; the law of armed conflict; feminist theory; feminist methodologies; the UN Security Council; women, peace and security. |
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International and European human rights law. |
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Sustainability in international economic law; gender and trade; EU external economic relations law and policy. |
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International Criminal Law and Procedure; Human Rights Law; European Convention on Human Rights; Right to a Fair Trial; Post-conflict Investigations; Investigations of International Crimes and of Gross Human Rights Violations; Forensic Evidence. |
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| International law, International human rights law, Internal displacement, Refugee law, The European Convention and Court of Human Rights, Vulnerability, Access to higher education, Academic leadership. | |
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Factors shaping the making and development of international law; Judicial dialogue and interaction between courts; International criminal law and procedure; International human rights, particularly in the context of international criminal trials; Public international law. |
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General international law; international humanitarian law; human rights law. |
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| International criminal law; European Court of Human Rights. | |
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General International Law; use of force; self-defence; humanitarian intervention; international humanitarian law. |
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Business & human rights law, International economic law, rights of nature, corporate law, corporate governance, law and economic theory, law and development, legal history of the corporation, legal theory and methodology, human rights and documentary cinema, law and film, law and philosophy. |
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Public international law; the law of armed conflict; operational law; status of forces agreements; use of force; peacekeeping; collective security; NATO; hybrid warfare. |
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Khurram Usman |
Phd Student |
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Mohammed Al Muqaimi |
Phd Student |
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Jade Brailsford |
Phd Student |
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Nicholas Fryer |
Phd Student |
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Chris Gardiner |
Phd Student |
Projects
Handbook on Developing a National Position on International Law and Cyber Activities: A Practical Guide for States
Kubo Mačák
ESRC IAA | 2024 – 2025
Events
For our next event we are collaborating with the Law and Human Rights student society:
Justice for All: Innovations and Aspirations in International Criminal Law
Fri 15 November, 3.30pm, Streatham Court, Lecture Theatre B
A talk by Michelle Jarvis
Michelle Jarvis has worked in the international criminal justice field for 24 years and took up the role of Deputy Head of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (Syria) (IIIM) in December 2017. Prior to that she was the Deputy to the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) and the Mechanism for International Criminal Tribunals (MICT).
Michelle’s work has focused on bringing accountability to victims/survivors of crimes in the Balkans, Rwanda and Syria, as well as building capacity for accountability processes in many other conflict and post conflict areas. Michelle has worked extensively to promote innovative and agile approaches to accountability for core international crimes, including bringing visibility to the experiences of marginalized groups during accountability processes and strengthening legal responses. She has co-authored two books and numerous articles on the subject of gender and armed conflict and is a member of the Expert Group on the Establishment of an International Gender Justice Practitioner Hub.
Staff and students can get tickets on this Fixr link.
Lola’s War: Sexual Violence, Impunity and Reintegration of War Criminals
27 November, 3.45 - 5pm, Streatham Court, Lecture Theatre B
In this seminar, Dr. Simić will talk about her recently published book, Lola’s War: Rape without Punishment (Springer, 2023). The book offers a subtle understanding of the Bosnian war by listening to the voice of Lola, a rural Bosnian woman.
PREVIOUS EVENTS
April 2024:
"The Demographics of Victim Participation at the International Criminal Court"
With Dr Annika Jones
Full details of the event are on our events page here.
Watch this previous event:
Axis of Protection: Human Rights in International Law Seminar Series event
2 November 2022
This event was a collaboration between the Science, Culture and Law at Exeter (SCuLE) and the Exeter Centre for International Law (ECIL) research centres.
"Data protection and cybersecurity: the not-so-impossible task of reconciliation" by Professor Eleni Kosta, Professor of Technology Law and Human Rights, Tilburg Institute for Law, Technology, and Society (TILT), Tilburg University.
ECIL Working Paper Series
General Editor: Dr Aurel Sari
Editor-in-Chief: Dr Kubo Mačák
The Working Paper Series was established by the Exeter Centre for International Law (ECIL) in 2017/18 in order to promote research outputs in the area of international law authored by members of the academic community at Exeter Law School. Enquiries about the series and requests for submission guidelines should be addressed to the editor-in-chief.
Papers published thus far are available at the links below.
| Kubo Mačák and Florentina Pircher |
Protecting civilians from harm caused by cyber operations during armed conflict. ECIL Working Paper 2025/1 (forthcoming in Robert Heinsch and Jelena Plamenac (eds), Research Handbook on Victims under International Law (Edward Elgar 2026)) |
| Chris O’Meara | Self-defence in outer space: Anti-satellite weapons and the jus ad bellum. ECIL Working Paper 2024/2 (forthcoming Leiden J. Int’l L.). |
| Christine Bicknell | International Law in Human Rights Cases before the UK Courts. ECIL Working Paper 2024/1 |
| Kubo Mačák | The Role of International Human Rights Law in the Interpretation of the Fourth . ECIL Working Paper 2022/2 (forthcoming Isr. Y. B. Hum. Rts.) |
| Chris O’Meara | Reconceptualising the right of self-defence against ?imminent? armed attacks. ECIL Working Paper 2022/1 (forthcoming J. Use of Force & Int’l L.) |
| Aurel Sari and Hitoshi Nasu | NATO and Collective Defense in Space: Same Mission, New Domain. ECIL Working Paper 2021/2 (forthcoming Turkish Pol. Q.) |
| Ana Beduschi | Covid-19 health status certificates: Key considerations for data privacy and hu. ECIL Working Paper 2021/1 |
| Swati Gola | Right to Health in GATS: Can the Public Health Exception Pave the Way for Compl ECIL Working Paper 2020/4 (forthcoming Pace Int’l L. Rev.) |
| Hitoshi Nasu | The Laws of Neutrality in the Interconnected World: Mapping the Future Scenario, ECIL Working Paper 2020/3 (forthcoming in Matthew Waxman and Thomas Oakley (eds) The Future Law of Armed Conflict (OUP 2021)) |
| Kubo Mačák | Military Space Operations. ECIL Working Paper 2020/2 (forthcoming in Sergey Sayapin (ed.), An Introduction to International Conflict and Security Law (T.M.C. Asser Press 2020)) |
| Mihail Danov | Cross-Border Litigation: Evaluating the Brexit Impact – A Socio-Legal Model for Data Analysis. ECIL Working Paper 2020/1 (forthcoming Maast. J. Eur. & Comp. L.) |
| Hitoshi Nasu |
Artificial Intelligence and the Obligation to Respect and to Ensure Respect for. ECIL Working Paper 2019/3 (forthcoming E Massingham and A McConnachie (eds) Ensuring Respect for International Humanitarian Law [Working Title] (Routledge 2020)) |
| Kubo Mačák |
This is Cyber: 1 3 Challenges for the Application of International Humanitari. ECIL Working Paper 2019/2 |
| Aurel Sari | Legal Resilience in an Era of Gray Zone Conflicts and Hybrid Threats. ECIL Working Paper 2019/1 (forthcoming Camb. Rev. Int. Aff.) |
| Sephora Sultana & Hitoshi Nasu | Invisible Soldiers: The Perfidy Implications of Invisibility Technology in Batt. ECIL Working Paper 2018/7 (published in ET Jensen and RTP Alcala (eds), The Impact of Emerging Technologies on the Law of Armed Conflict (OUP 2019)) |
| Kubo Mačák & Michael N. Schmitt | ?Enemy Controlled Battlespace?: The Contemporary Meaning and Purpose of Additio. ECIL Working Paper 2018/6 (forthcoming Vand. J. Transnat’l L.) |
| Ana Beduschi | The Big Data of International Migration: Opportunities and Challenges for State. ECIL Working Paper 2018/5 (forthcoming Geo. J. Int’l L.) |
| Jennifer Maddocks | Outsourcing of Governmental Functions in Contemporary Conflict: Rethinking the . ECIL Working Paper 2018/4 (forthcoming Va. J. Int’l L.) |
| Michael N. Schmitt |
?Virtual? Disenfranchisement: Cyber Election Meddling in the Grey Zones of Inte. ECIL Working Paper 2018/3 (forthcoming Chi. J. Int'l L.) |
| Harry Aitken & Hitoshi Nasu | Human Degradation Technologies and International Law. ECIL Working Paper 2018/2 (forthcoming W Boothby (ed) New Technologies and the Law in War and Peace (CUP 2018)) |
| Kubo Mačák |
Silent War: Applicability of the Jus in Bello to Military Space Operations. ECIL Working Paper 2018/1 (forthcoming Int'l L. Stud.) |
| Mihail Danov | Cross-Border Litigation in England and Wales: Pre-Brexit Data and Post-Brexit I. ECIL Working Paper 2017/3 (forthcoming Maast. J. Eur. & Comp. L.) |
| Ana Beduschi | Vulnerability on Trial: Protection of Migrant Children?s Rights in the Jurispru. ECIL Working Paper 2017/2 (forthcoming B.U. Int’l L. J.) |
| Aurel Sari |
Hybrid Law, Complex Battlespaces: What’s the Use of a Law of War Manual? ECIL Working Paper 2017/1 |
Contact us
For non-media enquiries about the Exeter Centre for International Law and its activities, please contact us in one of the following ways.
| Email: | |
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Post: |
Exeter Centre for International Law |
For media enquires, please contact the Press Office at pressoffice@exeter.ac.uk or +44 (0)1392 722307.