Events

Past Event

Webinar: Civil Society Submissions in Investor-State Arbitration

February 6, 2018
7:00 AM - 8:30 AM
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Webinar

Presented by: International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and the Columbia Center on Sustainable Investment (CCSI)

CCSI and IIED hosted a webinar on February 6, 2018, to discuss how civil society groups can bring forward community perspectives, human rights, and environmental issues in investor-state arbitration. This online seminar was designed for civil society organizations in low- and middle-income countries that want to support communities whose livelihoods are affected by natural resource projects.

Speakers:

  • Lorenzo Cotula, Principal Researcher, IIED
  • Carlos Lopez, International Commission of Jurists (ICJ)
  • Lise Johnson, CCSI
  • Derechos Humanos y Medio Ambiente Puno (DHUMA) [TBC]
  • IIED associate Thierry Berger will moderate a facilitated discussion with webinar participants.

Questions for discussion:

  • Why make amicus curiae submissions in investor-state proceedings?
  • How was the submission by Carlos Lopez and DHUMA in Bear Creek v. Peru developed, who participated and in what ways?
  • What were the challenges and how were they addressed? What difference did the submission make, if any?
  • What insights can the experience provide for civil society working to scrutinize investment treaties and arbitration – which approaches can maximize the effectiveness of these submissions, and what alternative or complementary pathways should be explored?
  • What learnings, if any, can be applied to ongoing discussions on reforming investor-state dispute settlement?