Ocean and Peace Conference, 9th December 2025, Shangri La Jakarta
The Centre for International Law of the National University of Singapore (CIL) and the Indonesian Ocean Justice Initiative have successfully co-organised a one day, in person Conference on “Ocean and Peace” at the Shangri La Hotel, in Jakarta Indonesia on 9th December 2025.
This Conference brought together senior diplomats, leading academics, legal practitioners, and researchers from Southeast Asia and beyond to exchange ideas and develop concrete collaborations aimed at promoting the ocean as a domain of peace. The programme featured four panel discussions addressing key issues related to sustaining peace in the ocean, namely: (1) An Ocean for Peace; (2) A Cooperative Ocean for Peace; (3) Disruptors of Peaceful Uses of the Ocean; and (4) Promoting the Peaceful Resolution of Disputes.
Dr. Nilufer Oral, Director of the Centre for International Law (CIL), delivered opening remarks.
Ambassador Rena Lee, President of the BBNJ Intergovernmental Conference, delivered a special address where she emphasized that UNCLOS recognized the oceans as fundamental to maintaining international peace and security, a value that is reaffirmed by the BBNJ Agreement as an instrument dedicated to peaceful purposes. Ocean and peace are therefore not only reflected in legal provisions, but in what UNCLOS and BBNJ represent collectively—a commitment to multilateral cooperation that moves beyond rule-making to effective implementation, enabling us to work together to deliver tangible outcomes for the ocean and to create pathways for peace.
CIL Director Dr. Nilufer Oral and CIL researchers actively participated as moderator and presenters at the Conference.
In Session 2: A Cooperative Ocean for Peace, CIL research fellow Dr. Yulu Liu, presented on Marine Debris Management in Southeast Asia.
In Session 3: Disruptors of Peaceful Uses of the Ocean, Dr. Nilufer Oral presented on the topic of Sea-Level Rise. CIL research fellow Dr. Su Wai Mon, presented on Protection of Critical Underwater Infrastructure (CUI): Challenges and the Way Forward for ASEAN. CIL research fellow Dita Liliansa, presented on Unmanned Underwater Vehicles: Enablers or Disruptors of the Peaceful Uses of the Sea? Emeritus Prof Robert Beckman, Co-head of CIL Ocean Law and Policy Programme was the moderator for this session.
CIL research associate Conrado M. Cornelius, actively participated at the Conference.
On 10th December 2025, a meeting was held between the members of CIL and IOJI to discuss the framework for the joint conference report, which will be made available shortly thereafter. Building on the enriching discussions of the Conference on Ocean and Peace, the meeting also identified key research areas for further collaboration between the two institutions.
