Roundtable: The Codification of International Law: Back to the Future?

On May 14, 2018, the ABILA United Nations Law Committee will hold a roundtable discussion at the NYC Bar Association on “The Codification of International Law: Back to the Future?” Registration and more information are here. Here is the idea:

The “progressive codification of international law” has long been an ideal on par with disarmament and economic integration. In the 19th century, it was considered an essential condition for peace. Throughout the 20th century, it inspired lawyers and diplomats pursuing a stable legal basis for international relations. The Charter of the United Nations lists codification of international law as one of the primary responsibilities of the General Assembly, which in 1948 established a permanent organ for this purpose: the International Law Commission.

As the International Law Commission celebrates its 70th anniversary in 2018, it is time to take stock of the past achievements and future challenges of the codification movement. This panel assesses the lofty objectives and practical results of two centuries of codification, paying special attention to the role of the International Law Commission. To what extent has the Commission fulfilled its mission? Have the codification efforts by the Commission and others contributed to a more peaceful world? And what is the future of codification in the 21st century?

Speakers include Sean Murphy (ILC and Georg Washington University), Patricia Galvão Teles (ILC and Autonomous University Lisbon), Hélène Tigroudja (Aix-Marseille and NYU) and Patrick Luna (Permanent Mission of Brazil to the UN). The event will be moderated by Kristen Boon (Seton Hall) and is convened by Christiane Ahlborn and Bart Smit Duijzentkunst (ABILA UN Law Committee). It is co-sponsored by the NYC Bar Association (International Law and UN Committees), Seton Hall Law School, and the ASIL International Organizations Interest Group.