Activities of the SAARCLAW Centre, NALSAR

Past Activities

South Asian Teaching Sessions

NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad has organized three teaching sessions as of now on International Humanitarian Law, successfully, under the auspices of M. K. Nambyar SAARCLAW Centre and jointly with ICRC.

Tenth South Asian Teaching Session For the first time, Tenth South Asian Teaching Session on International Humanitarian Law took place on 11–18 April, 2007 in NALSAR. During the eight days session 42 delegates from 9 countries, including, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Iran, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka participated. The participants were bureaucrats, members of police force of their respective governments, serving military officials, academicians, human rights organizations and students. A wide range of topics were covered including, ICRC mandate and activities, challenges to humanitarian action, protection of prisoners of war, use of force, command responsibility, international criminal tribunal and the ICC, national and international implementation of IHL, roots of behaviour in war, arms control and IHL and the situation of women in armed conflict and the protection of cultural property during armed conflict; which was followed by a panel discussion on “IHL and Armed Forces” at the end of the session.

	Twelfth South Asian Teaching Session The Twelfth South Asian Teaching Session on International Humanitarian Law was held on 16-23 April, 2008 in which 36 delegates from 9 countries including SAARC Member Countries and Iran participated. The Governor of Andhra Pradesh, as he then was, Mr. N. D. Tiwari inaugurated the Session on 15 April, 2008. The Session covered various topics relating to international humanitarian law. A panel discussion was organized to involve the participants on “Contemporary Issues of IHL”.

Fourteenth South Asian Teaching Session The Fourteenth South Asian Teaching Session on International Humanitarian Law was conducted from 22-29 April 2009. The eight days session was attended by 36 participants from SAARC Member Countries, Iran and Myanmar. The participates were drawn from various fields, and included civil servants, members of the police forces of their respective governments, serving military officials, academicians, think tanks and human rights organizations. Justice Ramaswamy, former Judge of the Supreme Court of India, inaugurated the teaching session on 21 April 2009.

During these teaching sessions NALSAR invited faculty and resource persons having diversified background such as academicians, government officials and ICRC staff.

Lecture by Ambassador A. N. Ram and Prof. P. V. Rao

Ambassador A. N. Ram	Ambassador Mr. Amar Nath Ram, IFS one of the founder representatives of India in SAARC, delivered a lecture on “India’s pivotal role in SAARC in the context of Globalization”, at NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad, at Jhunjhunwala Conference Hall on October 18th 2008, commemorating the fifth anniversary of MK Nambyar SAARC Law Center for Advanced Legal Studies at NALSAR University. He enlightened the audience with his multidimensional experiences during the SAARC formation in 1985 and further development in the South Asia Region. He opined, “India is playing significant role for the strengthening of the SAARC along with other member countries on economic, political and social front.”

Professor P. V. Rao, Head, Center for Indian Ocean Studies, Osmania University, also deliberated on ‘Emerging Legal Issues in the SAARC Region’. Dr. Rao said that what the problems were relating to border disputes and water disputes among the SAARC member countries particularly, India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh. He said that ‘Rules of Origin’ is another concerned area about which the SAARC countries are trying to find out the solutions. He told the roadblocks in implementation of SAFTA which was finally came in to existence in 2006.

World Bank Project Report

NALSAR University of Law was given a project on “Strengthening Environment law Capacity in the SAARC Region” in 2008 aided by World Bank. Participants from, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka took part in the programmes held at various places under the Project. The participants included lawyers, environmentalists, government officials, academicians, etc. The main object of the Project was to conduct capacity building sessions for the stakeholders in the SAARC Region for the strengthening of environment law and related issues. Followings were the programmes held at various places by the University:

Date	Event	Place
24-25 February, 2008	Brainstorming Session	NOIDA
4-6 April, 2008	Conference-I Orientation/Experience Sharing Programme	NALSAR, Hyderabad
11-13 April, 2008	Conference-II Orientation/Experience Sharing Programme	NALSAR, Hyderabad
18-20 April, 2008	Conference-III Orientation/Experience Sharing Programme	Kathmandu, Nepal
2-4 May, 2008	Conference-IV Orientation/Experience Sharing Programme	NALSAR, Hyderabad
17-19 May, 2008	Conference-V Plenary Session	Kathmandu, Nepal

Ongoing Event

One Day National Workshop

In furtherance of its mandate objective, the M.K. Nambyar SAARCLAW Centre has planned a one day national workshop on “SAARC Trade Relations: Legal Issues and Challenges”. The workshop is for healthy discussion and debate on the further strengthening of the economic cooperation within the region and SAARC’s role in the development of international trade. Themes of the Workshop are:

Rules of Origin (RoO) in the SAARC Region.
Trade Barriers in SAARC Region.
‘Most Favoured Nations’ Treatment within the SAARC Region.
Dispute Settlement Mechanism under SAPTA/SAFTA.
SAARC’s Approach Towards WTO Issues.
Informal Trade in the SAARC Region.
Principle of Reciprocity and Non-reciprocity in SAPTA/SAFTA

This Workshop will explore the legal-cum-economic aspects of the SAARC and it will provide a platform for the discussion and focus recommendations on the need to strengthen the legal cooperation and capacity building among the Member Countries.

Click Here to Download the Flyer of the Workshop.

Click Here to Download the Concept Paper of the Workshop

Forthcoming Activities

International Conference on SAARC Legal Issues

Another significant activity is to organize an International Conference in the near future by the NALSAR. The focal point of the Conference will be related legal issues pertaining to in SAARC Region.

Edited Book from Editor’s Desk

The NALSAR University of Law is looking forward to get a book published under the umbrella of M. K. Nambyar SAARCLAW Centre in the near future. The book will focus on the upcoming and burning legal issues within the South Asia Region. It will consist of the writings of experts on SAARC related issues as well as put forth the future prospects of the legal cooperation among the SAARC member countries.

M. K. Nambyar SAARCLAW Journal

M. K. Nambyar SAARCLAW Journal is another step to fulfil the primary objectives of the Centre. The first issue of Journal will be made public in year 2010. The theme of the Journal shall be focused on the legal issues pertaining in the South Asian Region among the member states. Soon, the University will issue the concept paper and the call for papers for the Journal as well.