International law expert Dr. Myint Zan will appear as the second speaker in the West Virginia University College of Law McDougall Lecture Series “Global Perspectives” on Tuesday, Sept. 15 from 2-3 p.m. in the Marlyn E. Lugar Courtroom.

The McDougall Lecture Series evidences the continuing commitment by the College of Law to its programs in international law which explore diverse points of view on issues that are critical to the global legal community. The lecture series will be webcast live and can be accessed for viewing at http://law.wvu.edu/global09.

Zan’s presentation and discussion will detail the adoption of U.N. Security Council resolutions, presidential statements and draft resolutions that were not adopted in relation to three countries during times of governing crises in Haiti, Burma, and Zimbabwe.

“In the aftermath of the Cold War, the U.N. Security Council has in a very few cases taken cognizance of internal domestic situations – including the military coups that took place among member states, and the conduct of elections as well as the violent suppression of peaceful demonstrations or uprising in member states,” Zan said. “The council has either adopted resolutions or presidential statements which can be argued as censuring certain member states or ‘urging’ certain member states to meet some of the minimum criteria pertaining to ‘democratic’ or just governance. In the days of the Cold War, such resolutions could not have been adopted or even considered by the U.N. Security Council.”

Valorie K. Vojdik, associate dean of faculty development and research at the WVU College of Law said, “We are extremely fortunate to share not only Professor Zan’s knowledge of human rights issues and international law, but also his unique perspective as a person who has taught and researched in the region where some of these internal domestic disputes are taking place.”

Zan is an associate professor at the School of Law of Multimedia University. He has a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws degrees from Rangoon University in Burma, a Master of Laws degree from the University of Michigan, a Master of International Law degree from the Australian National University and a Doctor of Philosophy from Griffith University in Australia.

Since 1990, Zan has taught the subjects of international law, administrative law, human rights law, international trade and commercial law, law and society, legal studies (for MBA students), business law, introduction to South Pacific law, Malaysian foreign policy, strategy and national defense, contract law and jurisprudence.

-WVU-

bc/9/10/09

CONTACT: Brian Caudill, College of Law
304-293-3479, Brian.Caudill@mail.wvu.edu