Geoffrey Robertson and global integrity

Geoffrey Robertson QC.

International human rights barrister Geoffrey Robertson QC will present the 2014 Griffith Lecture on Monday, September 8 at the Queensland Conservatorium.

In his address, ‘What Global Integrity?’, Mr Robertson will consider the failure of international institutions and NGOs to develop legal or ethical guidelines in relation to spying and secret surveillance for commercial or economic gain. He will also outline the misuse of international aid for intelligence-gathering purposes.

Mr Robertson is the founder of the UK’s largest human rights practice and has appeared as counsel in many leading cases in constitutional, criminal and international law.

He served as first President of the UN War Crimes Court in Sierra Leone, where he authored landmark decisions on the limits of amnesties, the illegality of recruiting child soldiers and other critical issues in the development of international criminal law.

Mr Robertson will also present the opening address at the Global Integrity Summit on Tuesday, September 8.

Global Integrity Summit

Representatives from around the world will gather at South Bank on September 8 and 9to explore the integrity and ethics dimensions on the G20 agenda when it meets in Brisbane in November.

More than 30 leading international and domestic integrity and ethics experts will discuss issues includingcorruption, infrastructure, secrecy and transparency, financial regulation, tax erosion and profit shifting, and strengthening development at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University.

“Integrity experts from G20 nations will gather to understand those integrity challenges and suggest ways the G20 can address them,’’ said Professor Paul Mazerolle, Chair of the GIS steering committee.

The summit will also explore the under-recognised role of professions in promoting better governance standards and the search for global values to address global problems.

It will examine integrity in development, recognising the importance of empowering women and ensuring integrity and institutional frameworks that foster economic development in developing nations.

Speakers include:

    • Anthony Toft (US) Deputy General Counsel Operations in the Legal Vice Presidency, World Bank
    • Rajita Kulkarni (India), President of the World Forum for Ethics in Business
    • Robert Hill AC (Australia) Adjunct Professor, United States Studies Centre, University of Sydney

For more information and a full list of speakers visit:integrity20.org