First Annual Lecture
The Dialogue of Cultures, Religions and Legal Systems: an Imperative Need of Our Times
Christopher Weeramantry
Former Vice-President of the International Court of Justice (1997-2000)
Judge Christopher Weeramantry.
The Great Hall at the National Gallery of Victoria.
The Centre's inaugural annual lecture was delivered by Judge Christopher Weeramantry. Judge Weeramantry is an internationally renowned lawyer, educator, lecturer, judge and author. Judge Weeramantry's professional career, spanning five decades, has included Justice of the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka between 1967 and 1972, Judge at the International Court of Justice between 1991-2000, Vice-President of the Court from 1997 to 2000 and Judge ad hoc at the International Court of Justice between 2000 and 2002. Judge Weeramantry is the author of twenty books and over sixty book chapters, journal articles, reports and conference papers.
Judge Weeramantry's lecture highlighted the increasingly interdependent nature of world affairs, such as competition for earth's dwindling resources, instant electronic communication, burgeoning international travel and an increasing world population. Yet despite such phenomena, the world remains torn apart with divisions, splintered into groups and festering with resentments, misunderstandings and hatreds. Something, Weeramantry said, is seriously wrong.
In combating such division, Judge Weeramantry demonstrated the importance of international law to 'drive home the extent of the internationalisation of the world.' He argued that the world's religions, such as Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, and Hinduism, share basic moral codes. Such codes have historically taught humanity many principles which reflect the essence of international law, such as the avoidance of conflict, the treatment of prisoners and the environmental protection of captured territory. Unfortunately, many of these teachings are continually neglected, and religion is often misused as a divisive entity.
Weeramantry emphasised the importance of dialogue to reinforce the 'congruence of cultures' with the principles of international law. He argued that this dialogue was more important than ever before because humanity's military capabilities have reached the point where total annihilation is a realistic threat. Weeramantry called upon individuals around the world to pass on the philosophy of dialogue to other individuals. This would eventually change the culture of institutions and the mindset of the nation, which in-turn would change the thinking of the world.
An edited version of the presentation can now be purchased as a Working Paper.