To celebrate Law Week 2005, Australian Red Cross NSW (ARC NSW) will be hosting a Hypotheticals Forum - entitled Ethical Nation-Building: The Roles And Responsibilities of Occupying Powers - at the Eastern Avenue Auditorium, University of Sydney, on 16 May 2005.

Craig Reucassel, co-host of Triple J's Today Today, and part of the Chaser team which brought us ABC TV's Election Chaser and the Logie-winning CNNNN, will moderate the evening. Experts in law, ethics, humanitarian work and the military will discuss the complex issues that are raised when military forces occupy another country and undertake a nation-building project. They will debate questions such as how can civilians be detained and interrogated. Where is the line between interrogation and torture? What role does the Red Cross play in monitoring detention conditions? How should security concerns be balanced with the humanitarian and human rights needs of the local population? How appropriate is law-making in an occupied nation?

"From Kosovo to East Timor to Iraq, public debate about the obligations owed to inhabitants of occupied states has turned as much on points of international law as on morality," said Laurie Berg, Coordinator of the International Humanitarian Law Program, at ARC NSW and producer of the event. "This event will crystallise the moral and legal dilemmas faced by all who are living or working in a occupied state."

The expert panel includes Louise Williams, leader writer, SMH; Michael Bliss, Senior Legal Adviser, DFAT; Assoc Prof Andrea Durbach, Director, Australian Centre for Human Rights; Prof Martin Krygier, UNSW; Dr Ben Saul, UNSW; Prof Don Rothwell, University of Sydney; Susan Harris-Rimmer, international lawyer; Neil James, Executive Director, Australia Defence Association; and Greg Heesom, National International Humanitarian Law Manager, Australian Red Cross.

"Every day in conflict situations around the world, Red Cross personnel work with detention authorities, military personnel, civilians in need, militias and aid workers. It is therefore fitting that Australian Red Cross is bringing experts in these fields together to debate these important issues," said Ms. Berg.

The Forum was held at the Eastern Avenue Auditorium, University of Sydney.

Law Week aims to promote community understanding of the law and the legal system, and to improve the public's access to legal services. Law Week is proudly sponsored by the Motor Accidents Authority.

For general inquiries, please contact:
Laurie Berg, International Humanitarian Law Program Coordinator.
Australian Red Cross NSW
Phone: 02 9229 4294
Email: lberg@redcross.org.au

For media inquiries, please contact:
Samantha Newman, Australian Red Cross NSW
Ph: (02) 9229 4137 or 0403 567 071
Email: snewman@redcross.org.au