Western Sydney University’s (WSU) School of Law hosted a seminar on Saturday 28 May 2025, featuring a Commissioner on the United Nations Human Rights Council, Professor Chris Sidoti sharing findings of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel.

Sidoti, who previously served as Australian Human Rights Commissioner and the Australian Law Reform Commissioner, discussed the Commission’s recent report detailing the systemic use of sexual, reproductive, and other gender-based violence by the Israeli Forces since 7 October 2023.

The report, presented to the UN Human Rights Council in March 2025, discusses the sharp increase of gender-based violence by Israeli Security Forces and settlers, including rape and sexual violence.

It described the oppression of Palestinians, including the Israeli Security Forces’ deliberate attacks on sexual and reproductive health care facilities and the targeting of health care infrastructure in Gaza.

The Commission concluded that Israel had directly targeted civilian women and girls, establishing the war crime of wilful killing and the crime against humanity of murder.

Sidoti brought extensive knowledge and experience to the seminar through his current position on the Special Advisory Council for Myanmar and his time spent as independent chair of the UK Government’s Northern Ireland Bill of Rights Forum.

His contribution to human rights extends to non-governmental organisations, including his positions as director of the International Service for Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland and the Australian Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace.

Professor Chris Sidoti features at WSU School of Law’s seminar to share findings of UN Human Rights Inquiry. [Photo by Sally Tsoutas]

This seminar is part of WSU’s ongoing project titled titled ‘The Palestine Project,’ which aims to provide informational resources such as reading lists, and host events to help students gain a deeper understanding of the political, historical, and legal context of the current crisis in Palestine.

WSU has previously held events on topics such as media representation of genocide as well as the challenges of international criminal law in the context of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The event took place at the Parramatta City Campus where dozens of students, legal professionals, academics, and community members attended.

There was a Q&A panel, co-moderated by Dr Maria Bhatti, Senior Lecturer at WSU, and Professor Christopher Michaelsen, which provided attendees the opportunity to engage with the report and discuss its implications for international accountability.

Dozens of attendees gather at WSU Parramatta City Campus to tune into Professor Chris Sidoti’s presentation. [Photo by Sally Tsoutas]

The seminar’s timeliness was praised by the Muslim Legal Network NSW, who described the international community’s response to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as “largely ineffective and in most cases tokenistic despite continuous reports of human rights violations.”

With the Commission’s findings now before the international community, questions remain as to whether meaningful accountability will follow.

For now, initiatives like WSU’s The Palestine Project offer important opportunities for civic education and legal scrutiny.