October 10, 2003

International Terrorism Expert
at Peace & Justice Institute

Justice Goldstone Inaugurates This Year's Distinguished Lecture Series

Justice Richard J. Goldstone, an expert in the use of international law for the prevention of and response to terrorism, will speak at the Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice at the University of San Diego Wednesday, Oct. 15 at 7 p.m.

Goldstone co-chairs the International Bar Association's Task Force on International Terrorism. Prior to coming to the Institute, he will present the Task Force's report on International Terrorism at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. The report looks at the impact of recent terrorist events on international law and suggests avenues for international cooperation to deter terrorism and to bring its perpetrators to justice.

Goldstone, who was the first Chief Prosecutor of the United Nations International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and Rwanda and a strong proponent of a permanent international criminal court, launches this year's Joan B. Kroc Distinguished Lecture series at the Institute with a talk on "Preventing Deadly Conflict: The Role of International Law."

In the lecture, he will discuss the dangers of the unilateral use of military force and the effect on world peace of violations of international treaties. In particular, he will address the United States' role in upholding the international rule of law and the repercussions of American unilateralism as an example to other countries.

"Justice Goldstone is one of the world's leading voices on the importance of cooperation among nations and respect for international law in promoting peace with justice around the world," said Joyce Neu, executive director of the Institute. "His lecture is especially timely as the international community struggles with changing standards of national sovereignty and international intervention."

In addition to his work as Chief Prosecutor for the UN Tribunals, Goldstone chaired South Africa's "Goldstone Commission" of Inquiry Regarding Public Violence and Intimidation as well as the International Independent Inquiry on Kosovo. He has authored several books including For Humanity: Reflections of a War Crimes Investigator.

From 1994 to 2003, Goldstone sat on the Constitutional Court of South Africa. A trustee of the Human Rights Institute of South Africa (HURISA), Goldstone has received many awards, including the International Human Rights Award of the American Bar Association (1994) and honorary doctorates of law from universities worldwide.

The Oct. 15 event is free and open to the public but reservations are requested by Oct. 13.

The Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace & Justice seeks to foster peace, cultivate justice, and create a safer world through education, research and peacemaking activities. The Institute offers programs that advance scholarship and practice in conflict resolution and human rights. Drawing upon Catholic social teaching that sees peace as inseparable from justice, the Institute acts to prevent and resolve conflicts that threaten local, national and international peace.