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Register for the conference here.

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Beyond International Law

Emerging Voices Panel – Call for Abstracts

Deadline: June 15, 2023 

This October 19-21, the American Branch will present International Law Weekend (ILW) 2023 in New York City. This two-and-a-half-day conference features over 30 panels, and many of the world’s leading international lawyers and diplomats participate. Recent ILWs have attracted an audience of over 1,200 practitioners, academics, U.N. diplomats, business leaders, federal and state government officials, NGO leaders, journalists, students, and interested citizens. ILW makes particular efforts to include emerging scholars and practitioners, including through the Emerging Voices panel.

ILW 2023 Theme: Beyond International Law

International law is at a crossroads. While there have been many successes, the system’s shortcomings still remain visible, exposed by prolonged armed conflicts, a lack of accountability for atrocities, a global pandemic followed by an economic downturn, and entrenched economic and social inequalities exacerbated by the disastrous effects of climate change. The time is ripe for the international legal community to consider what lies beyond current international law. If existing legal solutions fall short, how can international lawyers and leaders effectively harness their creativity to tackle the complex challenges of today? How does international law interface with other disciplines that also seek to promote peace and equality, such as domestic law, diplomacy, trade, social change movements, and global solidarity initiatives? How can international law adapt to become more effective in responding to the world’s shifting crises? ILW 2023 encourages participants to think beyond international law.

Call for Abstracts

The ILW Organizing Committee invites the submission of abstracts relating to the theme of “Beyond International Law.”  We will select several abstracts for presentation at ILW 2023 as part of a panel of new and emerging professionals. The abstracts may be based upon ongoing work. While all submissions are welcome, preference will be given to papers not already published. Accepted applicants will be invited to present their papers at the Emerging Voices panel, which will be chaired by a scholar or practitioner. In-person participation is strongly preferred, but virtual participation may be possible under certain circumstances. 

Eligibility is restricted to applicants working in the field of international law for five years or less. Accepted applicants are required to join ABILA and register for ILW 2023 (both are free to students, and otherwise carry a total fee of $145 for new members). Panelists are encouraged to attend other panels, plenary sessions, and to take part in the Members Meeting and networking events.

Application & Funding

The submission deadline is June 15, 2023. Submissions should be sent to ilw@ila-americanbranch.org with the subject line “Emerging Voices – ILW 2023.” Applicants must submit all of the following in a single PDF document: 

(1) a 500 word abstract of their paper; 

(2) a cover letter:

– describing their professional development,

– explaining how their submission fits with the conference theme, and

– indicating whether they intend to participate in person; and,

(3) a curriculum vitae of no more than 3 pages. 

Submissions will be competitively selected in a peer review process.  Applicants will be notified by July 15, 2023. 

ABILA has secured funding to provide need-based reimbursement of Emerging Voices panelists’ travel and hotel costs, insofar as those costs are not covered by their institutions. The reimbursement limit is $1,500 for panelists traveling from within North America, and $2,500 for those traveling from elsewhere. Panelists seeking reimbursement will be asked to submit their receipts.

Questions may also be submitted to: ilw@ila-americanbranch.org.

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Drafted by Jennifer Trahan and Annegret Hartig

The American Branch of the International Law Association is sad to report the passing of one of the most impactful and inspirational practitioners of International Law in modern times. Benjamin B. Ferencz died on April 7, 2023, at the age of 103. He was a tireless advocate for international criminal justice and the last living prosecutor from the Nuremberg war crimes trials. Recently, he received the US Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of his service to the United States and the international community.

Born on March 11, 1920, in Transylvania, now modern-day Romania, Ben soon fled from anti-Semitic persecution together with his parents and emigrated to the United States. Ben grew up in New York City, and in 1940, was awarded a scholarship to Harvard Law School where he graduated with honors.

After the onset of World War II, Ben enlisted in the United States Army in 1943, and joined an anti-aircraft artillery battalion preparing for the liberation of France. He fought in most of the major campaigns in Europe.

As Nazi atrocities were being uncovered, Ben was transferred to a newly created War Crimes Branch of the U.S. Army to gather evidence of war crimes that could be used to prosecute those responsible. Ben documented the horrors perpetrated by Nazi Germany, visiting concentration camps as they were liberated.

After the war, Ben became Chief Prosecutor for the United States in The Einsatzgruppen Case, which the Associated Press called “the biggest murder trial in history.” Twenty-two defendants were charged with murdering over a million people. He was only twenty-seven years old. It was his first case.

All of the defendants were convicted. Thirteen were sentenced to death. The verdict was hailed as a great success for the prosecution. Ben’s primary objective had been to establish a legal precedent that would encourage a more humane and secure world in the future.

Since the 1970s, Ben worked tirelessly to promote the development of international mechanisms to outlaw and punish crimes under international law, with a particular focus on the need to prosecute the crime of aggression (the leaders responsible for aggressive war-making). To this end, he published several books, such as “Defining International Aggression – The Search for World Peace” in 1975, the two-volume documentary history “An International Criminal Court-A Step Toward World Peace” in 1980, and the two-volume book Enforcing International Law-A Way to World Peace which was published in 1983.

With the end of the Cold War, the international community started to discuss the possibility of establishing an international criminal court in the 1990s. Active from the beginning, Ben participated in the Preparatory Commission sessions for the International Criminal Court, monitoring and making available his expertise on current efforts to define aggression. His efforts contributed to the establishment of the International Criminal Court and to the recognition of aggression within the ICC’s Rome Statute as an international crime.

Ben continued to mobilize support for the International Criminal Court, working tirelessly as part of the Special Working Group on the Crime of Aggression to conclude the definition of the ICC’s crime of aggression and conditions for the ICC’s exercise of jurisdiction over the crime.

Throughout his work, Ben optimistically championed the goal of replacing the “rule of force with the rule of law.” He truly lived his main message “never give up” and gave speeches throughout the world until his death to promote international justice and the rule of law.

Ben will be sorely missed but his inspiration will live on.

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The American Branch is excited to introduce Luis Fortuño as the new Chair of the ABILA Arms Control and Disarmament Committee and sends our sincere thanks to Chris Borgen for his years of service as the former Chair.

Luis Fortuño is a Partner at Steptoe & Johnson LLP. His areas of work include corporate, government affairs and public policy, infrastructure and project finance, and qualified opportunity zones. He represents investment funds and Fortune 500 companies in regulatory, public policy, public-private partnership (P3) and project finance, finance, and other corporate matters in the US and throughout Latin America.

Previously, Fortuño served as the Former Governor of Puerto Rico from 2009 to 2013 and in the US House of Representatives from 2005 to 2008. During the 109^th Congress, he was the vice-president of the House Republican freshman class and vice-chair of the Congressional Hispanic Conference. He then served as chair of the Congressional Hispanic Conference and co-chair of the Congressional Friends of Spain during the 110^th Congress. In 2007, Fortuño was appointed at the Republican minority’s ranking member on the Natural Resource Committee’s Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs. He also served on a number of committees, including those on House Transportation and Infrastructure, International Relations, and Education and the Workforce.

In 2009, King Juan Carlos I of Spain awarded him with the Order of Isabel la Catolica, which recognizes Spanish citizens and others who have improved relations between Spain and the international community through friendship and cooperation.

Fortuño has a B.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University and a J.D. from the University of Virginia. He is admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and US Court of Appeals, First Circuit.

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The American Branch’s Arms Control and Disarmament Committee examines the nuclear weapon policies and practices of nuclear weapon states and their impact on the development of international law regarding arms control and disarmament of nuclear weapons. The Committee aims to address whether and how an international law norm is emerging on a general prohibition of the use of nuclear weapons as well as on disarmament of nuclear weapons.

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We look forward to seeing the Arms Control and Disarmament Committee continue to flourish with Fortuño as Chair!

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Call for Nominees

Deadline: June 15, 2023 (early nominations encouraged)

The International Law Association (American Branch) is seeking nominations for its Student Ambassadors program. This is a terrific way for law students to network with leading academics and practitioners as well as other students, and it will look great on their resume. All Branch members are invited to nominate students for this position. Students who are interested are encouraged to seek the support of a professional ABILA member to support their application (such as a professor at their school). If a student is unable to find an ABILA member to nominate them, they should contact the ABILA membership officer to discuss self-nominations.

Student Ambassadors help with the work of the organization, especially in the preparation for International Law Weekend 2023 (ILW 2023). ILW is held annually by the Branch and will take place in New York City on October 19-21, 2023.

Student Ambassador will work with several Branch leaders, including the ILW Organizing Committee Chairs, the Branch President, the ILW Administrative Coordinator, one of the Vice Presidents, the Media Officer, or the Co-Directors of Studies to provide various forms of assistance with ILW and to the Branch more generally. Tasks may include reporting on the conference for the ABILA blog and social media and providing logistical support as needed. After ILW, the Student Ambassadors may be asked to assist with the Newsletter, to support ABILA committees, or to perform other tasks as assigned by the President. ABILA will try to create networking opportunities for the Student Ambassadors both with ABILA members and with one another. Financial support is available to assist Student Ambassadors in attending ILW.

Members are invited to send their nominee’s cover letter and CV to ABILA’s Membership Officer Ms. Madaline George (membership@ila-americanbranch.org) with the subject line “Student Ambassador Application.”

As a reminder, student membership in the American Branch of the International Law Association is free for students, and they may sign up from the membership page of our website.

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Description: The award shall consist of a plaque or standing crystal award engraved with the recipient’s name and the name of the award. The award shall be announced and presented to the recipient at International Law Weekend 2023 and the winner’s name shall be included in the list of all past Outstanding Service Award winners on the ABILA website.

Eligibility requirements: The American Branch of the International Law Association’s Charles Siegal Distinguished Service Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the ABILA by a member of the ABILA. Such contributions could include to the ABILA Board, ABILA Committees, and/or the ABILA’s International Law Weekend. In choosing the recipient, the Selection Committee may consider an individual’s specific extraordinary service initiatives and/or sustained superior contributions to the ABILA over a number of years. Recipients must be current members of the ABILA in good standing at the time of nomination.

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• ABILA Book of the Year Award: Awarded each year to the best book published in the previous year on international law or a topic in international law.

• ABILA Practitioners Book Award: Awarded each year to the best book published in the previous year on a technical topic in international law or on a topic likely to be of particular interest to practitioners of international law.

• ABILA New Authors Book Award: Awarded each year to the best first book published on international law or a topic in international law by an author who has not previously published a book on this or any other subject.

Award Description: The book awards shall consist of plaques or standing crystal awards engraved with the recipient’s name(s) and the name of the award. The awards shall be announced and presented to the recipients at International Law Weekend 2023 and the winners’ names shall be included in the list of all past Book of the Year Award winners on the American Branch’s website.

SUBMISSION INFORMATION:

Eligibility requirements: Recipients must be current members of the American Branch in good standing at the time of receiving the award. Eligible books must have been published within the calendar year of nomination or the preceding calendar year. The book must address some aspect of international law.

Procedure for nomination: A book may be nominated to the Award Committee by any person. Please indicate which award(s) the book is being nominated for. To be considered for the award, the nominator, author(s), or publisher must send either an electronic or hard copy of the book directly to the chair of the ABILA Book Award Committee (see below). Nominations and books must be received by July 1, 2023. Hard copies of books nominated will not be returned.

Send Nominations to the Chair of the Book Awards Nomination Committee:

Professor Mortimer Sellers (Chair)
ABILA Book Award Committee
c/o Professor Mortimer Sellers
615 County Line Road
Radnor, Pennsylvania 19087
U.S.A.
(msellers@ubalt.edu)

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Eligibility requirements: The American Branch of the International Law Association’s Outstanding Achievement Award recognizes outstanding contributions in the field of international law. Such contributions might include, but are not limited to, service to an international organization, a State, or an international court or tribunal; or to teaching, research, and scholarship in the field of international law. While candidates are reviewed comprehensively, factors considered may include consideration of an individual’s specific extraordinary service initiatives and/or sustained superior contributions to the field of international law over a number of years, as well as visionary and innovative leadership. Recipients of this annual award need not be current members of the American Branch.

Description: The award shall consist of a plaque or standing crystal award engraved with the recipient’s name and the name of the award. The award shall be announced and presented to the recipient at International Law Weekend 2023, to be held in New York City on October 19-21, 2023. The recipient must be physically present to receive the award, unless extenuating circumstances are present, in which case virtual presence suffices. The winner will be invited to deliver remarks during the conference. The winner’s name shall be included in the list of Outstanding Achievement Award winners on the American Branch’s website.

Procedure for nomination: Nominations should be sent to the Chair of the Outstanding Achievement Award Nomination Committee by July 1, 2023.

Nominations must include: Full name, title, address, and e-mail of the nominee, and a 500-1000 word description of the nominee’s outstanding service to the field of international law that highlights any connection to the International Law Association or its activities.  The description should also include details about the individual’s specific extraordinary service initiatives and/or about their sustained superior contributions over a number of years as well as visionary and innovative leadership.  The CV of the nominee or comparable bibliographical information should be included.

Send Nominations to Professor Jennifer Trahan, Chair of the Outstanding Achievement Award Nomination Committee: jt487@nyu.edu.

Committee Members: 

Jennifer Trahan (Chair)
James Boykin
Matthew Kane
Ashika Singh
Frédéric G. Sourgens

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