Professor Richard Gardiner gives evidence on implementing international treaties in the UK

On Tuesday 5 July, Professor Richard Gardiner (Visiting Professor at UCL Laws) appeared before the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee to give evidence on the topic ‘The Scrutiny of International Treaties and other international agreements in the 21st century’.

The session is part of the Committee’s inquiry into how treaties and other international arrangements (such as Memorandums of Understanding) could be effectively scrutinised in the UK, now that the UK has left the EU. Despite growth in the number and importance of international treaties in recent years, Parliament currently only has a limited role in their scrutiny.

Professor Gardiner described how treaties are implemented in the law of the United Kingdom and offered some suggestions for how Parliament could be involved through its committees in the development and implementation of treaties. 

Watch the recording of the session on parliamentlive.tv.    

Separately, Professor Gardiner was cited in a recent Supreme Court ruling in Basfar (Respondent) v Wong (Appellant). On 6 July, the Supreme Court ruled that diplomats cannot hide behind diplomatic immunity to exploit domestic workers – a significant judgment which marks a victory for campaigners against modern slavery. The ruling cited Treaty Interpretation, 2nd ed (2015) in its consideration of developments in international law.

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