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03 January 2021

Judge Navi Pillay Speak To AQB Students

Al-Quds Bard College for Arts and Sciences
Al-Quds University

Al-Quds Bard College Human Rights and International Law Program was thrilled to host Dr. Navi Pillay, a distinguished judge and an expert on international criminal law and human rights. AQB Human Rights program frequently welcomes legal experts to address and feature essential topics in the field. During this talk on December 15th, 2020, Judge Pillay shared, over Zoom, her judicial experience as the first and then only woman, to be appointed by the UN General Assembly as a judge on the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda. Besides, how she and her colleague judges legally addressed the crimes of sexual violence when they brought before the court. Within her jurisdiction, Judge Pillay communicated to AQB students how Rowana's Tribunal discussed the crime of rape from a novel perceptive. She extends the definition of the crime of rape under international criminal law to include more victim- categories, such as men and children if they met the statutory legal threshold. Before that, the crime of rape was only limited to describe sexual violence against women.

AQB students and the Judge enjoyed exchanging ideas, comments, and questions on being an international judge. Students share comments and questions on the status of Palestine under international law and what should be done to tackle the legal status quo. Judge Pillay was so generous in sharing her experience and scholarly sources with the students.

Al-Quds Bard College.