Guidelines for Interest Groups

1. The ANZSIL Interest Group program is intended to provide a forum for affiliation, in-depth discussion and the exchange of ideas amongst ANZSIL members with a common interest in specific areas of international law.

2. The Interest Groups aim to participate fully in all ANZSIL activities, and to convene events in relation to their specific areas of work.

Establishment of Interest Groups

3. Interest Groups may be established in any area of international law, subject to the agreement of the ANZSIL Council.

4. Proposals to establish a new Interest Group may be made in writing to the ANZSIL Council, setting out the proposed name and subject matter of the new Interest Group and confirming the support and involvement of at least five current ANZSIL members.

Membership and governance

5. Membership of each Interest Group is open to all current members of ANZSIL. Members can join an Interest Group by logging in to the ANZSIL website and updating their membership details (there is no additional fee).

6. Each Interest Group should elect either a Chair or two Co-Chairs from amongst its membership to oversee its activities.

7. Interest Group Chair or Co-Chairs should be elected for two-year periods. In the case of Co-Chairs, their terms should be staggered so that (except in the first year of any Interest Group) only one Co-Chair is elected each year.

8. A call for nomination for Interest Group Chair or Co-Chair positions should be issued together with the call for nominations for ANZSIL Council each year. If more than one nomination is received for a Chair position, an election may be held by electronic ballot of all members of the relevant Interest Group.

9. Fourteen days before the ANZSIL AGM, each Interest Group should provide a report to the ANZSIL President, for circulation to all ANZSIL members.

10. Interest Groups may convene meetings at any time they deem convenient, either electronically or in person. In particular, Interest Groups may choose to convene a meeting in-person in the margins of the annual ANZSIL Conference.

Events and activities

11. Each Interest Group should convene at least one event or activity per year, either independently or, where appropriate, in conjunction with another organisation.

12. To the maximum extent possible, Interest Groups should vary the location of their events and activities to ensure they are accessible to members in both Australia and New Zealand, and in a variety of cities.

13. Interest Groups are encouraged to use technology (such as Skype) to make events and activities available to members remotely where possible and appropriate.

14. Interest Groups are responsible for the cost of any events or activities. However, Interest Groups may seek financial support from ANZSIL for convening events and activities, in accordance with the ANZSIL Guidelines for Financial Support.

15. Following each Interest Group event or activity, a Report of Proceedings should be provided to the Secretariat, to be shared with all ANZSIL members electronically.