2026 ASIL Annual Meeting

Advancing and Defending The Rule of Law

The rule of law is a foundational concept and a precondition for a just world order. Today, it faces profound challenges that undermine international norms and standards, and multilateralism itself. Fundamental tenets of the United Nations Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and other consensus-based instruments, including in trade and environmental law, are under threat. Core elements of the rule of law – including separation of powers, equality before the law, accountability, fairness in the application of the law, legal certainty and independent adjudication – are in jeopardy, even in some democracies, with far-reaching consequences.

The municipal and international manifestations of the rule of law are interdependent. As the United Nations Secretary General affirmed in 2023: “The rule of law is fundamental to lasting peace and security. It is the foundation for conflict prevention, peace-making, peacekeeping, sustaining peace and peacebuilding. It is essential for addressing injustices and inequalities that fuel conflict and for protecting civilians in crisis and post-conflict situations.”

One of ASIL’s constitutional goals is “to promote the establishment and maintenance of international relations on the basis of law and justice.” To pursue that goal in such critical times, the Society and all international lawyers need to consider difficult questions about the contemporary meaning of the rule of law. Should we alter how we define, implement, or protect the rule of law? How does resurgent authoritarianism challenge the rule of law? How should “every individual and every organ of society” defend and advance the rule of law, at home and abroad? What impacts are foreseen due to the proposed structural and financial changes at the UN and related international organizations, and cuts in funding for and other obstacles facing civil society? Should the private sector fill gaps via “corporate social responsibility”? Are we witnessing an inevitable divide in the rule of law between international and domestic levels?

The 2026 ASIL Annual Meeting, the Society’s 120th such gathering, will convene in uniquely difficult circumstances, characterized by increasing tension surrounding the rule of law. It will be a key moment to probe the role of international lawyers, norms and institutions in addressing this tension, including as it pertains to all of the meeting’s thematic tracks. The program co-chairs invite submissions from all ASIL stakeholders – including international and domestic lawyers, policymakers and experts spanning diverse sectors, disciplines, and perspectives on the Annual Meeting theme.

1. International Human Rights, Humanitarian Law, and Criminal Justice
2. Transnational Litigation, Arbitration, and Dispute Resolution
3. International Trade, Investment, and Finance
4. International Organizations, Global Governance, Global Health, and Technology
5. International Peace and Security, Foreign Relations, and Use of Force
6. Environment, Oceans and Seas, Space, and Sustainable Development

The Annual Meeting Committee welcomes ideas addressing this year’s theme both within and across the many subfields of international law. Drawing on the submitted ideas, the Committee will create a program with the following goals in mind:

• coverage of a breadth of timely topics of interest to ASIL members;
• participation by individuals from a variety of backgrounds; and
• a vibrant exchange of ideas through the use of innovative program formats.

The Committee will prioritize ideas that utilize formats other than traditional panels, such as interviews, question-and-answer roundtables, lectures, debates, or the use of multimedia or interactive audience participation features.

The Committee will also prioritize novel or cutting-edge topics in international law. In addition, the Committee is committed to expanding diversity in the issues and voices represented at the Annual Meeting.

Thank you for taking the time to submit a thoughtful proposal. We look forward to seeing you at the 2026 Annual Meeting!

Important note on how the ASIL Annual Meeting program is crafted:
The Annual Meeting Committee appreciates the work required to submit an idea for a substantive session, and it takes seriously the submitters’ views on areas of focus and format for the Annual Meeting. Nonetheless, given the number of submissions expected, the inevitable similarities between some proposals, and the goals and themes articulated above, not all session ideas can be accepted into the program as submitted.

Please understand that the Committee reserves (and commonly must exercise) the right to accept but significantly modify submissions, which may result in omitting proposed participants (including the author), adding new participants, combining multiple submissions, or modifying a session’s description, focus, or goals. Due to these factors, it is unlikely that the author will be contacted regarding their submitted idea. We recognize that ASIL takes a unique approach to the creation of our program and we appreciate both your contributions and your flexibility as we collaboratively work to cultivate a cutting-edge, nuanced, and varied Annual Meeting program.

• Track One: International Human Rights, Humanitarian Law, and Criminal Justice
• Track Two: Transnational Litigation, Arbitration, and Dispute Resolution
• Track Three: International Trade, Investment, Finance, and Tax
• Track Four: International Organizations, Global Governance, Global Health, and Technology
• Track Five: Security, Foreign Relations, and Use of Force
• Track Six: Environment, Sea, Space, and Sustainable Development