Dr Hannah Tonkin

Year of Call: 2013

Dr Hannah Tonkin is an experienced international lawyer specialising in international humanitarian law and policy, international human rights law and international criminal law.

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Hannah is dual qualified in Australia and in England & Wales. She currently practises as a barrister at Hanson Chambers in Adelaide, Australia. 

International Human Rights

Overview

Dr Hannah Tonkin has worked for many years as a lawyer for the United Nations and other international organisations, as well as teaching international law and human rights at different universities around the world. 

Most recently, Hannah was the Acting Director of Legal Affairs for one of the largest Agencies of the UN (UNRWA), where she led a large team of in-house counsel providing legal advice on all aspects of the Agency’s operations across its five fields of operation (Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, West Bank and Gaza).

From 2019 to 2020 Hannah was the Director of Disability Rights at the Australian Human Rights Commission in Sydney. In that role, she worked collaboratively with the disability sector and the Australian Government to remove discrimination and promote the rights of people with disability in Australia and around the world.

Previously, Hannah held a number of different positions at the UN and other international organisations around the world. For example, she was the Head of UNRWA's Legal Office in Gaza from 2017 to 2019, where she managed a large team responsible for ensuring the provision of politically sensitive legal advice on a wide range of matters relating to the UN’s humanitarian operations in Gaza.

From 2014 to 2017 Hannah worked at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in New York, advising on international law and humanitarian policy with a view to ensuring the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance by UN agencies and NGOs working in crisis zones.

Hannah also worked for several years as a lawyer at various international courts and tribunals, including the International Criminal Court, the Special Court for Sierra Leone, and the International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia.

In 2011, Hannah worked as a legal adviser to the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, based in Manama, Bahrain. The Commission was tasked with determining whether the events that took place in Bahrain in 2011 violated international human rights law and norms, and making recommendations aimed at preventing future such violations.

Notable Cases

Hannah has worked on a number of high-profile cases, including:

Prosecutor v Charles Taylor (Special Court for Sierra Leone) [2011-2013]
Hannah advised the Judges of the Appeals Chamber in the appellate proceedings arising from the conviction of Charles Taylor, former President of Liberia, for being an accessory to crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Sierra Leone.

Prosecutor v Augustin Ndindiliyimana et al. (International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda) [2010-2011]
Hannah advised the Judges of the Trial Chamber in the case against Augustin Ndindiliyimana, Augustin Bizimungu, François-Xavier Nzuwonemeye and Innocent Sagahutu for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Rwanda.

Prosecutor v Édouard Karemera et al (International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda) [2011]
Hannah advised the Judges of the Trial Chamber in the case against Édouard Karemera and Matthieu Ngirumpatse for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Rwanda.

Prosecutor v Vojislav Šešelj (International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia) [2010]
Hannah worked as a lawyer for the prosecution in the case against Vojislav Šešelj, leader of the Serbian Radical Party, for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia.

Prosecutor v Jean Pierre Bemba (International Criminal Court) [2008-2009]
Hannah advised the Judges of the Appeals Chamber in interlocutory appellate proceedings in the case against Jean Pierre Bemba, former Congolese Vice-President, for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the Central African Republic.

Prosecutor v Slobodan Milošević (International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia), 2004
Hannah worked as a lawyer for the Prosecution in the case against Slobodan Milošević, former President of Serbia, for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia.

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International Crime and Conflict Law

Overview

Dr Hannah Tonkin has worked for many years as a lawyer for the United Nations and other international organisations, as well as teaching international law and human rights at different universities around the world. 

Most recently, Hannah was the Acting Director of Legal Affairs for one of the largest Agencies of the UN (UNRWA), where she led a large team of in-house counsel providing legal advice on all aspects of the Agency’s operations across its five fields of operation (Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, West Bank and Gaza).

From 2019 to 2020 Hannah was the Director of Disability Rights at the Australian Human Rights Commission in Sydney. In that role, she worked collaboratively with the disability sector and the Australian Government to remove discrimination and promote the rights of people with disability in Australia and around the world.

Previously, Hannah held a number of different positions at the UN and other international organisations around the world. For example, she was the Head of UNRWA's Legal Office in Gaza from 2017 to 2019, where she managed a large team responsible for ensuring the provision of politically sensitive legal advice on a wide range of matters relating to the UN’s humanitarian operations in Gaza.

From 2014 to 2017 Hannah worked at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in New York, advising on international law and humanitarian policy with a view to ensuring the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance by UN agencies and NGOs working in crisis zones.

Hannah also worked for several years as a lawyer at various international courts and tribunals, including the International Criminal Court, the Special Court for Sierra Leone, and the International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia.

In 2011, Hannah worked as a legal adviser to the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, based in Manama, Bahrain. The Commission was tasked with determining whether the events that took place in Bahrain in 2011 violated international human rights law and norms, and making recommendations aimed at preventing future such violations.

Notable Cases

Hannah has worked on a number of high-profile cases, including:

Prosecutor v Charles Taylor (Special Court for Sierra Leone) [2011-2013]
Hannah advised the Judges of the Appeals Chamber in the appellate proceedings arising from the conviction of Charles Taylor, former President of Liberia, for being an accessory to crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Sierra Leone.

Prosecutor v Augustin Ndindiliyimana et al. (International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda) [2010-2011]
Hannah advised the Judges of the Trial Chamber in the case against Augustin Ndindiliyimana, Augustin Bizimungu, François-Xavier Nzuwonemeye and Innocent Sagahutu for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Rwanda.

Prosecutor v Édouard Karemera et al (International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda) [2011]
Hannah advised the Judges of the Trial Chamber in the case against Édouard Karemera and Matthieu Ngirumpatse for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Rwanda.

Prosecutor v Vojislav Šešelj (International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia) [2010]
Hannah worked as a lawyer for the prosecution in the case against Vojislav Šešelj, leader of the Serbian Radical Party, for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia.

Prosecutor v Jean Pierre Bemba (International Criminal Court) [2008-2009]
Hannah advised the Judges of the Appeals Chamber in interlocutory appellate proceedings in the case against Jean Pierre Bemba, former Congolese Vice-President, for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the Central African Republic.

Prosecutor v Slobodan Milošević (International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia), 2004
Hannah worked as a lawyer for the Prosecution in the case against Slobodan Milošević, former President of Serbia, for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia.

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Public International Law

Overview

Dr Hannah Tonkin has worked for many years as a lawyer for the United Nations and other international organisations, as well as teaching international law and human rights at different universities around the world. 

Most recently, Hannah was the Acting Director of Legal Affairs for one of the largest Agencies of the UN (UNRWA), where she led a large team of in-house counsel providing legal advice on all aspects of the Agency’s operations across its five fields of operation (Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, West Bank and Gaza).

From 2019 to 2020 Hannah was the Director of Disability Rights at the Australian Human Rights Commission in Sydney. In that role, she worked collaboratively with the disability sector and the Australian Government to remove discrimination and promote the rights of people with disability in Australia and around the world.

Previously, Hannah held a number of different positions at the UN and other international organisations around the world. For example, she was the Head of UNRWA's Legal Office in Gaza from 2017 to 2019, where she managed a large team responsible for ensuring the provision of politically sensitive legal advice on a wide range of matters relating to the UN’s humanitarian operations in Gaza.

From 2014 to 2017 Hannah worked at the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in New York, advising on international law and humanitarian policy with a view to ensuring the effective delivery of humanitarian assistance by UN agencies and NGOs working in crisis zones.

Hannah also worked for several years as a lawyer at various international courts and tribunals, including the International Criminal Court, the Special Court for Sierra Leone, and the International Criminal Tribunals for Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia.

In 2011, Hannah worked as a legal adviser to the Bahrain Independent Commission of Inquiry, based in Manama, Bahrain. The Commission was tasked with determining whether the events that took place in Bahrain in 2011 violated international human rights law and norms, and making recommendations aimed at preventing future such violations.

Notable Cases

Hannah has worked on a number of high-profile cases, including:

Prosecutor v Charles Taylor (Special Court for Sierra Leone) [2011-2013]
Hannah advised the Judges of the Appeals Chamber in the appellate proceedings arising from the conviction of Charles Taylor, former President of Liberia, for being an accessory to crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Sierra Leone.

Prosecutor v Augustin Ndindiliyimana et al. (International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda) [2010-2011]
Hannah advised the Judges of the Trial Chamber in the case against Augustin Ndindiliyimana, Augustin Bizimungu, François-Xavier Nzuwonemeye and Innocent Sagahutu for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Rwanda.

Prosecutor v Édouard Karemera et al (International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda) [2011]
Hannah advised the Judges of the Trial Chamber in the case against Édouard Karemera and Matthieu Ngirumpatse for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Rwanda.

Prosecutor v Vojislav Šešelj (International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia) [2010]
Hannah worked as a lawyer for the prosecution in the case against Vojislav Šešelj, leader of the Serbian Radical Party, for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia.

Prosecutor v Jean Pierre Bemba (International Criminal Court) [2008-2009]
Hannah advised the Judges of the Appeals Chamber in interlocutory appellate proceedings in the case against Jean Pierre Bemba, former Congolese Vice-President, for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the Central African Republic.

Prosecutor v Slobodan Milošević (International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia), 2004
Hannah worked as a lawyer for the Prosecution in the case against Slobodan Milošević, former President of Serbia, for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in the former Yugoslavia.

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Dr Hannah Tonkin

Notable Cases & News

Publications

Hannah has written widely on different topics of public international law.

Books

State Control over Private Military and Security Companies in Armed Conflict (2011, re-issued in paperback in 2013) Cambridge University Press.

Book chapters

  • "Crimes Against Humanity" in Blackstone's International Criminal Practice, Oxford University Press (forthcoming)
  • "The Power and Accountability of Private Military and Security Companies" in Brennan (ed.) Making Global Institutions Work (2014), Routledge.

Articles

  • "Common Article 1: A Minimum Yardstick for Regulating Private Military and Security Companies" (2009) 22(4) Leiden Journal of International Law 779
  • "Defensive Force under the Rome Statute" (2005) 6 Melbourne Journal of International Law 86
  • "Rape in the International Arena: The Evolution of Autonomy and Consent" (2004) 23(2) University of Tasmania Law Review 243

Shorter articles

  • Dapo Akande and Hannah Tonkin, "International Commissions of Inquiry: A New Form of Adjudication?" EJIL:Talk! (6 April 2012)
  • "Minimising the regulatory gap – a flexible interpretation of Article 5 of the ILC Articles [on State Responsibility]" EJIL:Talk! (19 January 2009)

Awards

Rhodes Scholarship, University of Oxford (2005-2009)

Wingate Scholarship, University of Oxford (2009)

David Murray Prize in Law, University of Adelaide (2004): awarded for obtaining the highest honours mark in Law.

Adelaide Undergraduate Scholarship, University of Adelaide (1999-2004): awarded for obtaining the highest mark in South Australia in the final year of high school.

Training and seminars

Hannah has extensive teaching experience in different areas of public international law. She has taught international criminal law in the BCL/MJur programme (Master of Laws) at the University of Oxford, as well as teaching undergraduate public international law and international human rights law.

She also taught an annual course in international criminal law to lawyers in the British Royal Navy at the University of Oxford, and an annual intensive course in international criminal law to master’s students at the American University of Paris. She is currently an adjunct lecturer at the University of Adelaide, Australia.

Education

  • BCL, MPhil, DPhil (Oxon), Rhodes Scholar
  • BSc, Hons LLB (University of Adelaide), First Class Honours

Languages

  • French: full professional proficiency

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