Introduction

I'm honoured to speak to you today* about international human rights law ("IHRL") and international investment law ("IIL"). It's a topic that is close to my heart, as a liberal internationalist lawyer and academic, because I believe international norms can be a valid and effective means of mitigating the individual's relationship with the State.

It seems to me that a sharp divide exists between these two areas of legal practice - international human rights law and international investment law - which should not exist. For example, I've seen too many academic articles where human rights have been juxtaposed against investment rights, on the false premise that they are somehow incompatible with each other. Far from being incompatible, I regard them as public international law siblings.

* Speaking Notes. San Jose, Costa Rica. 13 March 2018