Judges to decide the fate of the world’s whales

The ruling on the case against Japan’s whaling program at the ICJ (International court of Justice) will be handed down on Monday March 31st..

“We are calling on the judges to make the right decision and bring justice for the whales” says Mick McIntyre executive director of whale conservation group Whales Alive,who attended the court case as an observer.

The case against Japan was brought on by the Australian Government who argued that Japan’s whaling program in the Southern Ocean breaches international law.

“We all know that Japan’s so called scientific whaling program is a sham and finally we have the evidence” says McIntyre

The evidence presented to the court by Australia outlined in detail how we have learnt nothing from Japan’s research.

“To kill over 7000 whales in the name of science and then learn nothing is a disgrace – and highlights how much Japan is misleading the international community” says McIntyre

“We expect the judges of the ICJ to agree with the Australian Government that Japan’s whaling contravenes international law” he said

“This case against Japan is a once in a generation opportunity to stop this barbaric whaling, which is outdated, inherently cruel and for products that nobody needs”

McIntyre attended the court case last year in The Hague as an observer and is available for interview and comment.

Mick Ph: +61 40 888 4999

BACKGROUND below

Hearings commence at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Netherlands, on 26 June 2013 and are scheduled to conclude on 16 July 2013.

Australia’s legal case is based on the fact that Japan’s JARPAII whaling program in the Southern Ocean breaches international law because:
1. Japan has failed to observe the zero catch limit in relation to the killing of whales for commercial purposes set by the 1946 International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling (the Convention)

2. Japan is undertaking commercial whaling in the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary established by the International Whaling Commission under the Convention;
3. Japan’s activities are not consistent with Article VIII of the Convention due to the scale of JARPAII (Which clearly states that?)

When did Australia commence these proceedings in the ICJ?

Australia lodged its ‘Application Instituting Proceedings’ on 31 May 2010. Australia’s Application outlines the legal claim that is being made against Japan. In 2011 Australia lodged its written submissions (pleadings) with the ICJ, and Japan lodged its pleadings in 2012. These pleadings will be released on the first day of the hearings on 26 June.

When will the ICJ deliver its judgment?

Monday March 31st at 1000 l

http://www.whalesalive.org.au/