CILS Conference

The Center for International Law Studies Conference (CILS Conferences) is an annual event organized by the Center for International Law Studies (CILS) at the Faculty of Law of the University of Indonesia. The first conference was held on October 4–5, 2010, in Depok and was themed “Progressive Development of International Law.” From the beginning, the conference was designed as an international academic forum to bring together academics, practitioners, government agencies, and international organizations to discuss issues in international law that are relevant globally. The conference’s focus is not limited to a single sector, such as trade, but rather encompasses various topics, including human rights, legal culture, and border issues. Various Indonesian universities serve as rotating hosts of the event, including Gadjah Mada University, Andalas University, Tanjungpura University, and Brawijaya University. 

The CILS Conference has been held every year since its inaugural edition, and it has been a success. The second edition (2011) at UGM brought the topic of international environmental law to the forefront by featuring presentations from regional and global experts. The seventh edition took place at Andalas University in 2016, and the eighth edition took place at Tanjungpura University in 2017 and discussed state boundary affairs. The ninth edition (2018) at Brawijaya University focused on International Law & Culture. The tenth edition, held again at UI in 2019, involved international speakers from various institutions. This annual event demonstrates CILS’ commitment to maintaining its role as a forum for the cross-border exchange of ideas.

The 11th conference, originally scheduled for 2020, was postponed due to the pandemic. In 2022, the event was held online via Zoom, maintaining its global reach with the participation of speakers and attendees from various countries. The CILS Conference aims to strengthen international academic networks, facilitate interdisciplinary dialogue, and find solutions to international legal challenges, particularly in Southeast Asia, while maintaining a global perspective. With over a decade of experience, the CILS Conference has become a prestigious platform that disseminates academic research and fosters strategic collaboration between universities, research institutions, and international legal practitioners worldwide.

ASIANSil Biennial Conference 2023

The 9th Biennial Conference of the Asian Society of International Law (AsianSIL) took place from 7–10 August 2023. A series of events were hosted in Bandung and Depok, Indonesia. The program began on August 7 with a Junior Workshop Panel at the Faculty of Law at the University of Indonesia (FH UI) in Depok. This panel was designed to engage early-career scholars in focused discussions and mentoring sessions. After the workshop, participants traveled to Bandung for the main conference, which took place on August 8–9 at the University of Achmad Yani (UNJANI).

The event was jointly organized by FH UI and UNJANI, operating under the auspices of the Governing Board of the Asian Society of International Law. Prof. Hikmahanto Juwana, the President of AsianSIL at the time and a faculty member at both FH UI and UNJANI, played a central role in organizing and delivering the conference. The theme of this year’s conference was “Reconstructing the Bandung Spirit for Asia to Lead in the New Era of International Law.” It was chosen to reflect on the enduring legacy of the 1955 Bandung Conference and explore how its principles could guide Asia’s leadership in shaping the future international legal order.

The extensive academic program covered a wide range of sub-themes addressing pressing issues in contemporary international law. These included the history and theory of international law; foreign investment and commercial law; dispute settlement; international criminal law; law of the sea; environmental law; human rights; cyberspace and international law; international trade and commercial law; TWAIL; sovereignty and critical approaches; and Bandung and contemporary international law. Each sub-theme was explored through parallel panel sessions featuring distinguished scholars and practitioners from across Asia and beyond.

Panel discussions covered topics of Asia Pacific States and the International Court of Justice, Integrating Regional Needs into Multilateral ISDS Reform, Freedom of Navigation in the Archipelagic Sea Lanes for Nuclear-Powered Submarine, Malaysia’s CEDAW Reservation and the Debate Over Gender Equality in Islamic Family Law, and Protection of Climate Change Induced Migrants Out of Small Island Developing States.

The conference successfully brought together legal academics, practitioners, and policymakers in a vibrant exchange of ideas, reaffirming AsianSIL’s mission to advance research, education, and practice of international law from an Asian perspective.