Biennial International Law Conferences
The objectives of the International Law Association (ILA) are the study, clarification and development of international law, both public and private, and the furtherance of international understanding and respect for international law. One of the main activities is the organisation of an international law conference which takes place in a different jurisdiction every two years. The inaugural conference was held in Brussels in 1873 and the most recent conference took place in Greece in 2024.
The conference provides opportunities to share both experiences and understanding of current issues and challenges in international law. The ILA Committees also report on their work and Reports and Resolutions in particular areas of International Law are considered and adopted. The ILA has established a Scholarship Fund to help graduate and postgraduate students and early career professionals attend the Biennial Conferences. The conference is also an excellent opportunity to connect with colleagues from across the world, not only catching up on local and regional developments but also establishing new links to build upon once you have returned home after the event. A detailed report of the event, including the papers, Reports and Resolutions discussed and adopted at the conference is published following the event.
The ILA Standing Orders 2024 sets out the procedure for drafting and submission of Resolutions at the Conference in addition to other aspects of the programme including working sessions. A copy can be downloaded here - Biennial Conference Standing Orders 2024.
A list of all previous ILA Biennial International Law Conferences and Resolutions can be downloaded here.
82nd Biennial International Law Conference Vienna 2026
The 82nd Biennial International law Conference will take place in Vienna, Austria from 17 - 21 August 2026.
| Committee / Study Group | Name | Report | Resolution |
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150th Anniversary ILA Conference 2023
On 13 October 1873, on the occasion of a meeting held in Brussels, Belgium, the Association for the Reform and Codification of the Law of Nations, which later became the International Law Association (ILA) was founded. Under the auspices of the ILA French Branch, a series of events was held throughout 2023 to mark this significant milestone including online webinars and a meeting that was held in Paris in June 2023.
A series of thematic White Papers were published between June and September 2022. The themes chosen corresponded to the major challenges we face in the 21st century and two questions were considered: (1) In which international society do you want to live by 2050? (2) To achieve this international society, what international law do we need? Copies of the White Papers are available to download here.
Regular Newsletter were published on the organisation and outcomes of the events and previous copies are available to download below.
- September 2021- Newsletter 1 English French
- October 2021 - Newsletter 2 English French
- December 2021 - Newsletter 3 English French
- January 2022 - Newsletter 4 English French
- March 2022 - Newsletter 5 English French
- March 2022 - Special Issue Ukraine English French
- April 2022 - Newsletter 6 English French
- June 2022 - Newsletter 7 English French
- July 2022 - Newsletter 8 English French
- September 2022 - Newsletter 9 English French
- October 2022 - Newsletter 10 English French
- December 2022 - Newsletter11 English French
- January 2023 - Newsletter 12 English French
- February 2023 - Newsletter 13 English French
- March 2023 - Newsletter 14 English French
- April 2023 - Newsletter 15 English French
- June 2023 - Newsletter 16 English French
- August 2023 - Newsletter 17 English French
- September 2023 - Newsletter 18 English French
- November 2023 - Newsletter 19 English French
- February 2024 - Newsletter 20 English French
The final conclusions from the conference were published in May 2024 and a copy is available here.
Regional Conferences
In 2019, two successful ILA regional conferences took place in Slovenia and Portugal, in June and September respectively. The focus of each conference was different, namely ‘Migration and International Law’ and the ‘Contribution of Case-law, International Courts and Tribunals to the Development of International Law’. Participants reported excellent presentations by speakers and good networking opportunities. Other significant outcomes included agreement to establish new committees and branches to further the work of the ILA.
