Lowy Lecture Series: Lessons Learned from the Inquiry into North Korea - The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG, former Justice of the High Court of Australia

In May 2013, Michael Kirby, a past Justice of the High Court of Australia, was appointed to chair a Commission of Inquiry established by the UN Human Rights Council to investigate alleged human rights abuses in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea). The investigation began in July 2013 and the report was presented to the Human Rights Council on time in March 2014. It contained shocking findings on a wide range of human rights abuses. It suggested strong action by the international community to respond. But will the international community be able to respond  in the face of possible vetoes by permanent members of the Security Council? In this talk for the Lowy Institute, Michael Kirby will outline some of the lessons he has learned in the course of his work in this Inquiry.

The Hon Michael Kirby AC CMG is a former Justice of the High Court of Australia and one of the country’s most eminent lawyers. His public commitments are wide, including service with many different organisations including university governing bodies; the World Health Organisation’s Global Commission on AIDS, and the UNESCO International Bioethics Committee.

When he retired from the High Court of Australia on 2 February 2009, Michael Kirby was Australia’s longest-serving judge.

Michael Kirby has been awarded eighteen honorary doctorates at home and abroad and in 2010 he was awarded the Gruber Justice Prize.