32nd LDH Autumn University on the theme "The Rule of Law against the State of War"

Faced with the multiplication of wars, the militarization of the world, the weakening of international law, and the role of diplomacy in preventing or ending confrontations, citizens and activists often feel deprived of the means to exert political influence.
However, in an interconnected world, whether war seems distant to us or is perceived as a real threat, we are all concerned.

Many conflicts are old and seem destined to last, while others are emerging in an extremely volatile context where the international order born after World War II is being challenged by practices and initiatives that aim to bypass or even destroy it.

We are indeed witnessing the multiplication of predatory, colonial, or imperialist policies; characterized by the unrestricted use of brutal force, they flout human rights, international law, humanitarian law, as well as the right of peoples to self-determination, and most democratic principles.

These practices are often driven by far-right governments and ideologies, joined by a portion of neoliberal forces. They contribute to strengthening far-right movements that claim the law of the strongest as a natural law, theorize the war of identities, and contest the rule of law.

While recalling the debates on war, peace, and pacifism that have spanned the history of the LDH (Human Rights League), we propose to address this vast subject through several angles which, while not exhaustive, aim to understand the phenomena, to better grasp and question a certain number of notions: it is thus a matter of both illustrating our capacity for action for a just and lasting peace, strengthening our capacity to exercise our solidarity with those facing often uninhibited violence, and contributing to our battle for the defense of the rule of law against the law of the strongest.

Provisional program

Saturday, November 21

9:30 AM

Opening

Introduction: War and peace in the history of the LDH

Speaker: Emmanuel Naquet

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Round Table – War and peace today: cross-perspectives

– How to define war? What does the law say?

– What are the major factors producing wars today and challenging the primacy of law and the world order built since World War II?

– Are war and peace a matter for men?

Moderation: Gérard Aschieri

Speakers: Julie Tenenbaum, Bertrand Badie and Valérie Pouzol

1:30 PM – 3:00 PM

Round Table – Peace at any price or a demand for justice?

Does pacifism without a demand for justice make sense? What to do in the face of aggression, oppression, or colonialism? What does a just and lasting peace mean? Under what conditions can it exist? What have been the debates around pacifism in the LDH?

Moderation: Emmanuel Naquet

Speakers: Mouloud Boumghar, Julie Saada and Gilles Manceron

3:15 PM – 4:45 PM

Round Table – What does war do to civil societies and what do civil societies do with war?

Based on three examples:

– Ukraine

– Israel/Palestine

– Algeria

Moderation: Fabienne Messica

Speakers: Hamdi Shaqqura, Sylvaine Bulle and Kader Abderrahim

5:00 PM – 6:15 PM

Workshops – What international solidarities in the face of war? What solidarities for peace?

Four workshops based on the experience of LDH sections

• Ukraine
• Palestine
• Iran
• Introduction to the right of asylum

And two workshops on activist practices.

6:30 PM – 8:30 PM

Questioning politicians – Conflicts, defense policy, and social cohesion

8:30 PM

Social gathering

Sunday, November 22

9:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Round Table – What is international law? What can the law do?

International law, international humanitarian law, international criminal justice, war crimes... What concepts? What effectiveness in a world where force seems to take precedence over law and international bodies are overwhelmed?

Moderation: Sophie Giroud

Speakers: Julia Grignon, Patrick Baudouin and Chloé Maurel

11:15 AM – 12:45 PM

Round Table – War, information, and technologies: what threats to rights? What citizen control?

Faced with the opacity of decisions, authoritarian temptations, the militarization of youth, and the mobilization of ethics to justify war: how to defend rights and preserve democracy?
Under pressure, between information and propaganda, what role for the media?

Faced with the use of technology in war (drones, artificial intelligence...), what democratic controls?

Moderation: Pierre-Antoine Cazau

Speakers: Laurence De Cock, Susan Perry and speaker to be announced

2:15 PM – 3:15 PM

Youth facing war

Testimonies and discussion

Moderation: Joëlle Bordet and Catherine Choquet

Speakers: Olivier Douville, Laurent Garreau and Ekaterina Mamontova

3:15 PM – 4:45 PM

Round Table – Acting for justice and peace

What is the role of civil society? How to act for peace and against the arms race? What national and international levers? What alternatives?

Moderation: Maryse Artiguelong

Speakers: Erasmo Palazzotto, Patrice Bouveret, Marylène Cahouet and Mariana Sanchez

4:45 PM – 5:00 PM

Conclusion

Nathalie Tehio