AILA Conference on International Law 2026

The Organizers invite applicants to present their abstracts for the Inaugural AILA Conference on International Law, to be held in Yerevan in February 2026. The conference seeks to bring together scholars, practitioners, and students to reflect on contemporary transformations and challenges facing international law. Participation of early-career researchers and students (for the student panel) is highly encouraged.

We welcome original abstracts addressing one or more of the main themes of the conference:

1. Knowledge: Rethinking the Teaching of International Law – How can international law
education respond to the global and local shifts in legal and political realities?

• Innovative pedagogies: simulation-based learning, clinical legal education, digital platforms.
• Decolonizing and localizing international law curricula.
• The role of moot courts and experiential learning in shaping international legal skills.
• Teaching international law in post-conflict and transitional contexts.
• Supporting international law education through art. Cinema, theatre performances, and music as tools to support legal education.

2. Action: Rethinking the Application of International Law – How can the practice of international law adapt to new actors, technologies, and crises?

• International law in hybrid and asymmetric conflicts.
• Role of domestic courts in interpreting international norms.
• Digital evidence, AI, and accountability for international crimes.
• Revisiting sovereignty, recognition, and statehood in contemporary practice.
• The future of international organizations and dispute settlement mechanisms.

3. Reflection: Rethinking Research and Academia in International Law – How can international law scholarship become more responsive, critical, and impactful?

• Interdisciplinary and empirical approaches to international law.
• Public scholarship and social media as platforms for international legal discourse.
• The role of think-tanks, NGOs, and independent research centers.
• Funding, collaboration, open access, and ethics in international legal research.

4. The Future of International Law: Student Voices and New Visions – A student-led panel for young scholars, moot court participants, and early-career lawyers to share their reflections on the evolving meaning and purpose of international law.

• Students’ perspectives on learning and practicing international law.
• How new generations reinterpret the legitimacy and relevance of international institutions.
• The role of youth networks, moots, and grassroots advocacy in shaping the future of international law.

Submission Guidelines:
Interested applicants are invited to submit:

• An abstract of up to 500 words, in English. Abstracts should include author’s full name and institutional affiliation,
• Short bio (max 300 words) or CV (max. 2 pages)

Abstracts and additional documents must be submitted in .docx or PDF formats to conference@aila.am

Submission deadline: 15 December 2025
Submissions will be reviewed on a rolling basis.

Selected authors will be invited to present at the conference. Please note that the Organizers do not require the submission of full papers prior to the conference.
Online participation will not be available.

There is no participation fee. Participants are responsible for covering their own expenses, including travel, accommodation, and other logistical costs. A very limited number of scholarships may be available to cover accommodation.

The organizers cover the conference materials, coffee breaks, and lunch during the conference, as well as a networking dinner.

For questions or more information, please contact us at conference@aila.am