The lecture series celebrates and recognises Senator Mitchell’s contribution to the Northern Ireland peace process and to conflict resolution in the Middle East. His aim of transforming conflict and promoting social justice in Northern Ireland and across the world is shared by the Mitchell Institute at Queen’s. 

The topic of the 2024 Peace Lecture was ‘The Fate of Civilians in War: The Effects and Effectiveness of International Conventions’.  

Following numerous episodes of mass atrocities during the twentieth century, the international community established new legal conventions designed to prevent intentional harm to civilians and other non-combatants in both international and civil conflicts. 

These include the Genocide Convention (1948); the four Geneva Conventions (1949); the Additional Protocols to the Geneva Convention (1977) and the Responsibility to Protect (2005). 

During the lecture, Professor Crawford examined the effectiveness of conventions in preventing civilian harm, reasons behind ongoing casualties in war, and the moral responsibility for both immediate deaths and long-term civilian suffering due to infrastructure destruction. 

Speaking about the lecture, Professor Richard English, Director of the Mitchell Institute at Queen’s said: “It was excellent to welcome Neta Crawford to Queen's to deliver this important Annual Lecture. Professor Crawford's thoughtful and powerful talk prompted a valuable discussion of this major subject. The event reflects the Mitchell Institute's commitment to the highest quality of academic debate.”  

The lecture series was inaugurated in 2018 by President Mary Robinson and previous speakers include Dr Mamphela Ramphele (2019), Professor Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela (2020) and Mr Nader Nadery (2022). 

 For more information on the lecture series, please click here. 

Media

Media enquiries to Zara McBrearty at Queen's Communications Office on email: z.mcbrearty@qub.ac.uk