After the Second World War, new international rules heralded an age of human rights and self-determination. Supported by Britain, these unprecedented changes sought to end the scourge of colonialism. But how committed was Britain?

In the 1960s, its colonial instinct ignited once more: a secret decision was taken to offer the US a base at Diego Garcia, one of the islands of the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, create a new colony (the 'British Indian Ocean Territory') and deport the entire local population. In a story wrapped around the human element of the interaction of international law and international politics, and the challenges of sovereignty, security and human rights, as well as the capacity of small states, 'The Last Colony' charts four decades of action by Mauritius, leading to rulings of international courts that Chagos was unlawfully separated — legal cases in which Prof. Sands played a pivotal role.

Chair: Dr James Gow, Professor of International Peace and Security and Co-Director of the War Crimes Research Group.

Author Biography

Professor Philippe Sands, KC is a Professor of Law at University College London and a barrister at 11 Kings Bench Walk. He is the author of 'Lawless, Torture Team, East West Street', which won the Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-fiction, and Sunday Times bestselling 'The Ratline'. He is President of English PEN and a member of the board of the Hay Festival.

This event is organised by the War Crimes Research Group Seminar and will be held in person.