The CIL Singapore Academy of International Law (CIL Academy 2026) will take place in person from 23 to 27 February 2026. This training courses will provide law students, young academics, diplomats, and lawyers with an opportunity to enhance their knowledge in international law. The Academy will deliver courses on the core topics and current challenges in international law. 

The interactive thematic courses will be delivered by highly qualified academics and practitioners from around the world and Singapore. The lecturers include, among others, members of the United Nations International Law Commission, leading academics, and prominent practitioners in the different subjects offered. Materials will also be provided in advance to enhance the courses' interactive nature. 

Training certificates will be awarded by the NUS Centre for International Law upon successful completion of the Academy.

WHY YOU SHOULD PARTICIPATE

CIL Academy 2026 will be in-person training courses, and participants will have an opportunity to interact closely with the lecturers. The courses are highly interactive, encouraging active engagement. Participants will benefit from a dynamic learning environment to deepen their knowledge of international law. 

This year, the Academy will include modules on international law-making, peace and security, international responsibility, international dispute settlement, human rights, international humanitarian law and criminal law, international trade, climate change, and cyber and artificial intelligence. 

SCHOLARSHIP

Scholarships are available based on meeting criteria set by the organising committee.

TRAINING SESSION DURATION

Training courses: (3 hours x 2 courses per a day) | Monday-Friday
Total hours of training = 30 hours

SESSIONS

DAY ONE | Monday, 23 February 2026, 10 am – 5 pm

International Law Making

• This module will look at how international law is made today from both an academic and a practitioner's point of view. It will present a dynamic and interactive view of the sources of international law, especially treaty and customary law, and discuss the growing role of soft law. It will also analyse specific issues related to treaty negotiations, at the bilateral and multilateral levels. 

Peace and Security

• The module will discuss the current challenges to international peace and security, including the role of the United Nations Security Council, new threats such as terrorism and cyber-attacks, and the growing relevance of non-state armed groups. It will analyse important questions concerning the use of force and self-defence in the 21st century under international law.

DAY TWO | Tuesday, 24 February 2026, 10 am – 5 pm

International Responsibility

• The objective of this module is to discuss current issues related to the international responsibility of States, International Organisations, and other non-State actors. It will also focus on the issue of liability for acts not prohibited by international law and analyse examples of how the regime of international responsibility is applied in practice.

International Dispute Settlement – Panel

DAY THREE | Wednesday, 25 February 2026, 10 am – 5 pm

International Humanitarian Law and Criminal Law

• The purpose of this module is to provide an overview of the main features of international humanitarian law and international criminal law. The module will also highlight and discuss the current challenges in this area related to new types of conflicts, actors, weapons, and technologies, strengthening implementation and promoting accountability. Special attention will be paid to the roles of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), International Criminal Court, Ad Hoc Criminal Tribunals, and mechanisms of transitional justice. 

Human Rights 

• The module will provide an overview of the international and regional mechanisms for the protection of human rights. It will discuss pressing issues such as the protection of human rights during armed conflicts, human rights violations—such as those stemming from domestic violence—in a pandemic, as well as the relationship between human rights and the environment.

DAY FOUR | THURSDAY, 26 February 2026, 10 am – 5 pm

International Trade

• This module will provide an overview of the fundamental principles, sources, and institutional framework of the WTO and international trade law. It will discuss the functioning of the multilateral trading system, WTO agreements, and the basics of dispute settlement and enforcement. The module will also address contemporary challenges in global trade and related emerging issues.

Climate Change 

• This module discusses the development of international law to tackle climate change. It will present the key features of the international climate change regime and highlight recent developments in international and domestic implementation frameworks, climate justice, and climate litigation.

DAY FIVE | FRIDAY, 27 February 2026, 10 am – 5 pm

Global Commons

• This module will examine ​the international legal regimes governing the global commons in ocean space, particularly the high seas and the ABNJ. It will also discuss the basics and limits of the EEZ and the Continental Shelf. It will explore how international law frameworks address contemporary challenges concerning these global commons, such as resource extraction and environmental harm. 

Cyber and Artificial Intelligence

• The advent of new technologies, particularly cyberspace, has sparked significant debate regarding their potential impact on the content and structure of international law. The disruptions brought about by Artificial Intelligence (AI) are expected to be even more profound. This module explores the interplay between AI, cyberspace, and international law, examining the influence of AI and cyberspace on various aspects of international law, such as state responsibility and the laws of armed conflict.

The details of the Distinguished Speaker Lectures will be announced soon.

REGISTRATION