On May 21, the 14th Wuhan University International Law Forum 2018 was successfully held in Room 323 of Law School. The speaker was Doctor Tan Yudan from Grotius International Law Research Center, Leiden University the Netherlands. She gave a speech with the theme of The Rome Statute as Evidence of Customary International Law while the host is Prof. Luo Guoqiang.

Dr. Tan is now the PhD candidate of the Grotius International Law Research Center, Leiden University. She got her bachelor’s degree in Southwest University of Political Science and Law and one of her Master’s degree in Comparative Law from China University of Political Science and Law while the other in European and International Law from University of Hamburg.

In this lecture, Dr. Tan n mainly focused on the Roman Statute as an evidence of customary international law. From the five aspects of the question, the reasons for the study, the scope of the specific study, how to explore the answers to the research questions, and the usefulness of this answer. Dr. Tan first began with the introduction of customary international law, and then cited the Ntaganda case and Bashir's issue of personal immunity to explain the role of customary international law in the framework of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Secondly, Dr. Tan conducted a brief analysis of the crimes against humanity, war crimes against non-armed conflicts, indirect joint crimes and personal immunity clauses from the substantive provisions of the Rome Statute. Finally, Dr. Tan discussed in detail how to identify the "four-step method" formed by customary international law.

In the questioning session, the teachers and students who participated in the lectures asked questions and asked questions about the criteria for the formation of the elements of customary international law, the relationship between state practice and legal conviction, and Dr. Tan Yidan made a specific response. Finally, all the guests and students expressed their sincere gratitude to Dr. Tan’s wonderful lecture.

(Written by: Liang Yong)