Searching for Our Shared Humanity: Reflections from the Field - 07.03.24
Event details
'Searching for Our Shared Humanity: Reflections from the Field'
Presented by Dr Helen Durham AO
CEO of RedR Australia.
In this lecture, Dr. Helen Durham will share insights gained from 30 years of working as an international humanitarian lawyer, an area of law dedicated to alleviating suffering during times of armed conflict.
With faster visibility of the reality on the battlefield and more intense exposures to the brutal consequences of war, there is an amplification of a simple narrative involving ‘good’ and ‘bad’ without space for wider reflections. Concurrently, we are witnessing stronger questioning of the relevance and impact of international law. Using her direct experiences in the field, from Mogadishu to Gaza, and her engagements with military and authorities globally, Dr. Durham will explore the importance of reminding ourselves of the need for a common humanity.
Dr Helen Durham AO
Dr Helen Durham joins the team with 30 years of experience in the humanitarian sector and high-level expertise in international humanitarian law, policy and diplomacy. Helen was the first woman and first Australian to be the Director of International Law and Policy for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Switzerland, a role that saw her actively involved in field missions in the Middle East, Africa, Europe and Asia as well as diplomatic negotiations in New York, Brussels, Geneva and London.
Helen has regularly addressed the Security Council on topics such as cyber warfare, counterterrorism and women and armed conflict, and has been the Director of International Law and Strategy at the Australian Red Cross, Head of Office Australia ICRC, Legal Adviser to the ICRC Pacific delegation and Director of Research at the Asia Pacific Centre of Military Law at Melbourne Law School. With a Law/Arts degree, an SJD in international law (Melbourne Law School and New York University), as well as being admitted as a Barrister and Solicitor, she is highly sought for her advice and opinion.
In addition, Helen is a Senior Fellow at Lieber Institute at Westpoint, an Honorary Professorial Fellow at Melbourne Law School, and a Board member of Geneva Call. She is widely published in areas of international humanitarian and criminal law and has significant experience with the media as well as awarded an Officer of the Order AO.
This event was co-hosted by the Melbourne Journal of International Law and the MLS Human Rights Program.