The College of Law at the University of Baghdad held a defence for a dissertation titled “The Role of the Interpretation Process in the Development of International Legal Norms”, submitted by the PhD candidate Doaa Jalil Hatim, from the International Law. The defence took place on Monday, May 19, 2025, in the college’s conference hall.
The examination committee consisted of the following members:
- Prof. Dr. Hadi Naim Al-Maliki (Chairman)
- Prof. Dr. Hussam Abdul Amir Khalaf (Member)
- Prof. Dr. Hussam Hamid Shihab (Member)
- Asst. Prof. Dr. Lama Abdul Baqi Mahmoud (Member)
- Prof. Dr. Mahmoud Khalil Jaafar (Member and Supervisor)
The dissertation aimed to shed light on the importance of interpretation as a legal process intended to clarify international legal texts and address any ambiguity or deficiencies they may contain. This contributes to the development of international legal norms and aligns them with the rapidly evolving dynamics of international relations.
The dissertation was divided into two chapters:
- The first chapter dealt with the conceptual framework of interpreting international legal norms.
- The second chapter addressed the principles governing the interpretation of such norms.
The dissertation concluded with several key recommendations, the most important of which include:
- Encouraging judicial dialogue among national courts to develop advanced rulings on issues related to international law.
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Calling on international courts to apply newly established interpretative rules, including the principle of contradiction in the interpretation of international treaties, to help protect the rights of the weaker party and uphold the principles of justice and equity.
