Editor's Foreword

Editor’s foreword

Welcome to our second edition for 2019! We have been overwhelmed with the quantity, quality and diversity of submissions for this edition, and are excited to present the final product.

A common theme running through articles in this issue is how the law interacts with, or is failing to keep pace with, various modern developments. Bec Richards looks at the first ever ‘space crime’ (p. 5), while Lauren Skinner discusses state responsibility in cyberspace (p. 29). Daniel Kang finds that armed non-state actor groups slip through the cracks of the rules on state responsibility (p. 18), and later argues that international dispute resolution mechanisms fail to keep states accountable (p. 32). Joey Biddle finds that there is confusion around how organised armed groups may be targeted under international humanitarian law (p. 10), while James Hall considers the issue of statelessness (p. 23).

Other pieces focus on the operation of the UN, with Alexander An looking at consensus in the Security Council and what this means for human rights (p. 12), and Annika Reynolds wondering how the UN and international law can address the climate crisis (p.15).

This edition also includes articles deconstructing topical issues in international law, such as the expansion of criminal law within refugee law (Imogen McKay, p. 26), or whether boycotting Japan is an effective method to curb their whaling practices (Dominic HarveyTaylor, p. 7).

We hope you enjoy this edition of the Advocate!

Gabriela Freeman, Editor