Researchers' Activities
ITLOS WORKSHOP FOR LEGAL ADVISORS
12-16 September 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilüfer Oral Was Invited to Speak at the ITLOS Workshop for Legal Advisors in Hamburg
Asia-Pacific Online Session on International Humanitarian Law Session – ARMED CONFLICT AND THE PROTECTION OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
8 September 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilüfer Oral was Invited to Speak at the Asia-Pacific Online Session on International Humanitarian Law Session – ARMED CONFLICT AND THE PROTECTION OF THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT Organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross
Centre for Studies & Research Program at The Hague Academy
7 September 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilüfer Oral and Prof Patricia Galvao Teles were Invited to Give a Presentation on the Work of the International Law Commission to Participants at the Centre for Studies & Research Program at The Hague Academy.
26 July 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilüfer Oral was Invited by the American University Washington College of Law to Speak at the “Sea Level Rise and International Law Conference” Which was held from 26-27 July 2022.
Dr Oral was invited to present a paper at a conference on Sea Level Rise and International Law: Assessing its Impacts on the Americas during the 73rd Session of the International Law Commission (ILC).
4 July 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilufer Oral was Invited to Speak at Thessaloniki Summer Course on “Climate Change and International Law”
The title of Dr Nilufer’s lecture is “Climate Change and Sea Level Rise: The Activities of the ILC”
24-25 June 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilufer Oral was Invited to Speak at the 9th Annual Ocean Law and Governance International Symposium on “Human Community with Shared Future and the Law of the Sea”
Dr Nilufer Oral spoke at the session on Climate Change and Ocean Governance focusing on “Challenges of Sea Level Rise for the Law of the Sea and the Work of the International Law Commission”
23 June 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilufer Oral was Invited to Speak at the 80th Biennial Conference of the International Law Association (ILA) held in Lisbon
Dr Oral moderated at the session: International Law and Current Challenges: Sea-Level Rise on 22 June 2022. She was also one of the panellists at the session: Biodiversity in Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction on 23 June 2022.
20 June 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilufer Oral was Invited to Speak at the Conference “Climate Change and International Law: The Promise of an Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice” – A Joint Initiative of Blue Ocean Law and Leiden University
Dr Nilufer Oral was one of the panellists at the session “Bringing Climate Change Before International Courts and Tribunals”
9 June 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilufer Oral was Invited to Speak at one of the Side Events of the First Global Meeting of National Focal Points.
Dr Oral spoke at Side Event 7: The Role of Global Networks Of Legal Experts And Practitioners To Assist In Designing And Implementing Legal Responses To Address The Triple Planetary Crisis.
7 June 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilüfer Oral was Invited to Speak at the Webinar on “Rising Sea Levels and AALCO Member States: Perils and Protection under International Law” Organized by the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization
Dr Oral spoke at the session on “Rising Sea Levels: The Role of International Organizations”.
13 May 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilufer Oral was Invited by IMO International Maritime Law Institute to Speak at the Course on International Maritime Security
Dr Nilufer Oral spoke at the session on “International Marine Environment Pollution as Security Threat/Sea Level Rise and International Security Implication”
The fluidity and complexity of modern-day maritime security challenges require a deep understanding of the law of the sea, maritime law, as well as of national policies
and regulations before responding to them. The newly emerging challenges and transformed threats which include, maritime terrorism, drug trafficking, migrant smuggling, and use of unmanned vessels, are largely unregulated in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea1982, which has led to the adoption of various international conventions and protocols.
The IMLI Course on International Maritime Security Law covers the various critical maritime security threats to the international rule of law at sea and the freedom of navigation. The Course addresses in detail the gravity of these threats and the existing international laws and State practices deterring the same.
The Course focuses on the current legal developments ensuring the safe navigation of ships, protection of offshore installations and coasts of maritime States. It also covers the contribution of international organizations, especially IMO, and the role of regional cooperation in overcoming such threats. The Course looks into the special status of warships and examine the juris prudential contribution of international courts and tribunals.
Dr Nilufer Oral spoke on the topic on “International Marine Environment Pollution as Security Threat/Sea Level Rise and International Security Implication”
5 May 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilüfer Oral was Invited by International Law Association (Nigerian Branch) to Speak at the International Conference on Environmental Law, Governance, and Sustainable Development
The International Conference on Environmental Law, Governance, and Sustainable Development provides a timely opportunity to critically investigate practical, philosophical, and methodological approaches for addressing longstanding barriers to the effective design and implementation of environmental law.
This Conference brings together governments, business leaders, environmental educators, academics, and practitioners to exchange knowledge experience and learn from each other on how to strengthen the implementation and application of the international environmental rule of law in Africa and beyond.
The theme for this year’s conference was “Climate Change, Energy Transition and Looking Beyond the Earth’s Future: The Role of Stakeholders in Sustaining International Environmental Rule of Law”. Dr Nilufer Oral was one of the keynote speakers for the conference.
28 April 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilufer Oral was Invited by International Law Academy British Branch to Speak at the Spring Conference 2022
International Law Academy British Branch Spring Conference 2022 On 28-29 April 2022
The conference will consider legal problems likely to emerge from ongoing changes resulting from climate change and its consequences, as set out in the 2021 IPCC report.
Panels comprising a mixture of invited and selected speakers will be convened on the following themes:
- Impact of rising sea levels on migration and statehood
- Climate change and international trade and investment law
- Human rights and climate change
- Litigating on climate change.
Dr Nilufer Oral spoke on the work of the International Law Commission on sea level rise in relation to international Law.
You can read more about the conference and the programme at the link: https://www.surrey.ac.uk/events/20220428-international-law-association-british-branch-spring-conference-2022
8 April 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilüfer Oral was Invited by Università di Milano-Bicocca to Give a Lecture on “The Impact of Climate Changes: Challenges for Public, European and International Law”
Dr Nilufer Oral was invited to give a lecture as part of the Doctoral School Lectures of the University of Milano-Bicocca on rising sea level and international law. This year’s overall theme was “Climate change and law”.
The lectures were targeted at PhD students undertaking a research in law, but are open also to undergraduate students, PhD candidates from other fields and other members of the University’s academic community.
7 April 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilufer Oral was Invited by Seoul International Law Academy to Give a Lecture Titled “Climate Change and the Law of the Sea”
Dr Nilufer Oral was invited by Seoul International Law Academy to give a lecture at their International Law Seminar Series, usually held biweekly to cover current issues in international law. Dr Oral give a lecture titled “Climate Change and the Law of the Sea”. The other panellists in the session were:
Prof Hyun Jung KIM (Yonsei University)
Dr Young Kil PARK (Korea Maritime Institute)
Mr Yuchan OH (Ministry of Foreign Affairs)
Beyond UNEP’s 50th Anniversary
15 February 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilüfer Oral was Invited as a Panelist to Beyond UNEP’s 50th Anniversary: Attaining the SDGs A Symposium in Conjunction with the 5th UN Environment Assembly & UNEP@50 Honoring the Memory of Prof. Charles Okidi Odidi
Oxford Handbook on Women and International Law Symposium
10 February 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilüfer Oral was Invited as a Speaker to the Two-day Symposium for the Oxford Handbook on Women and International Law Hosted by the Max Planck Institute Luxembourg
LinCEJ Seminar Series – Lincoln University Law School (UK) Lecture
2 February 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilüfer Oral was Invited to Lecture at the LinCEJ Seminar Series of the Lincoln University Law School (UK) on Sea Level Rise and the Work of the International Law Commission
Successes and failures of UNCLOS
1 February 2022: CIL Director Dr Nilüfer Oral was Invited as a Panelist to Webinar on “Successes and Failures of UNCLOS” Hosted by Volterra Fietta Law Firm.
This was the inaugural seminar in Volterra Fietta’s seminar series to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (referred to as UNCLOS).
International Law Consequences of Climate Change and Sea Level Rise Lecture on 22 December 2021
22 December 2021: CIL Director Dr Nilüfer Oral was Invited to Give a Lecture at the Marine Law and Policy Research Centre of the Istanbul Bilgi University, Titled “International Law Consequences of Climate Change and Sea Level Rise”
More about the event at: International Law Consequences of Climate Change and Sea Level Rise, 22 December 2021 | Marine Law and Policy Research Center (bilgi.edu.tr)
“Looking Ahead to the CBD COP15: Opportunities and Challenges Posed by Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs)” organized in conjunction with the Asian Environmental Law Congress On 13 December 2021
13 December 2021: CIL Director Dr Nilüfer Oral was Invited to Speak at the Event
“Looking Ahead to the CBD COP15: Opportunities and Challenges Posed by Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs)” Organized in Conjunction with the Asian Environmental Law Congress
The IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) and the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law (WCEL), in partnership with the Asia-Pacific Centre for Environmental Law (APCEL) and the Centre for International Law (CIL) at the National University of Singapore are pleased to organize this webinar on ‘Sharing lessons and progress in identifying Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures’.
Background
At the fourteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP CBD 14) in 2018, Parties adopted Decision 14/8 on ‘protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures’ (OECMs), containing scientific and technical advice for OECMs. The decision defines an ‘other effective area-based conservation measure´ as:
“a geographically defined area other than a Protected Area, which is governed and managed in ways that achieve positive and sustained long-term outcomes for the in situ conservation of biodiversity, with associated ecosystem functions and services and where applicable, cultural, spiritual, socio–economic, and other locally relevant values.“
OECMs are expected to complement protected areas across landscapes and seascapes and enable the improved recognition and support for areas that are effectively and equitably managed as well as to achieve the long-term in situ conservation of biodiversity. OECMs are also referenced in Target 3 of the latest draft of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework . It is expected that many CBD Parties will consider OECMs in addition to protected areas to achieve this target, if it is agreed by CBD COP15 in Kunming, China, in 2022. This raises the need to advance the discussion about the legal and regulatory framework for OECMs to ensure that they deliver the outcomes required by CBD parties.
Aims and Objectives
This webinar aimed to generate knowledge sharing and discussion about the legal and policy basis and aspects of OECMs, addressed how laws and policies enable the recognition of OECMs, the associated challenges, and how they addressed to enable the long-term conservation of biodiversity within OECMs. The objectives included the introduction of the CBD guidance for OECMs, a number of country case studies and the facilitation of a discussion among participants to develop an understanding of the opportunities and challenges posed by OECMs, the diverse approaches that may be considered for developing the legal and policy frameworks to support their recognition and their role in delivering biodiversity outcomes in the long-term.
More about the event at: https://law.nus.edu.sg/apcel/events/oecm13dec21/
Informal Intersessional BBNJ High Seas Treaty Dialogues 8-9 December 2021
8-9 December 2021: CIL Director Dr Nilüfer Oral was Invited to Moderate at the Informal Intersessional BBNJ High Seas Treaty Dialogues
Day 1 of the December High Seas Treaty Dialogues picked up on October discussions related to Implementation, Compliance and Dispute Settlement, it also focused on the relationship between the Institutional Arrangements under the future BBNJ agreement and relevant legal instruments frameworks and relevant global, regional, subregional and sectoral bodies. Day 2, which is moderated by Dr Nilufer Oral, focused on Marine Genetic Resources, including questions on the Sharing of Benefits and Transfer of Marine Technology.
Launch of Caroline Foster’s new book “Global Regulatory Standards in Environmental and Health Disputes: Due Regard, Due Diligence and Regulatory Coherence” On 8 December 2021
8 December 2021: CIL Director Dr Nilüfer Oral was Invited to be a Panellist at the Book Launch Event of Caroline Foster’s New Book “Global Regulatory Standards in Environmental and Health Disputes: Due Regard, Due Diligence and Regulatory Coherence”
Global regulatory standards are emerging from the environmental and health jurisprudence of the International Court of Justice, the World Trade Organization, under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and investor-state dispute settlement. Most prominent are the three standards of regulatory coherence, due regard for the rights of others, and due diligence in the prevention of harm. These global regulatory standards are a phenomenon of our times, representing a new contribution to the ordering of the relationship between domestic and international law, and a revised conception of sovereignty in an increasingly pluralistic global legal era.
However, the legitimacy of the resulting ‘standards-enriched’ international law remains open to question. International courts and tribunals should not be the only fora in which these standards are elaborated, and many challenges and opportunities lie ahead in the ongoing development of global regulatory standards. Debate over whether regulatory coherence should go beyond reasonableness and rationality requirements and require proportionality stricto sensu in the relationship between regulatory measures and their objectives is central. Due regard, the most novel of the emerging standards, may help protect international law’s legitimacy claims in the interim. Meanwhile, all actors should attend to the integration rather than the fragmentation of international law, and to changes in the status of private actors.
The session was chaired by Christina Voigt and panellists include Dr Nilufer Oral, Gleider Hernandez and Geir Ulfstein.
Maastricht University Law School – Lecture on Peremptory Norms of International Law and the Environment on 8 Dec 2021
8 December 2021: CIL Director Dr Nilüfer Oral was Invited to give a lecture at Maastricht University Law School on the topic “Peremptory Norms of International Law and the Environment”
The event was chaired by Dr Craig Eggett.
More on the lecture at the link: Jus Cogens and Environmental Law – events – Maastricht University
2nd IUCN World Environmental Law Congress High-Level Judicial Segment The Role of Judges: Environmental Law 2030 and Beyond 8-10 Dec 2021
10 December 2021: CIL Director Dr Nilüfer Oral was Invited to Speak at 2nd World Environmental Law Congress – High-level Judicial Segment on A Critical Decade for Environmental Law
This hybrid event reaffirmed, further developed, and advanced the 2016 IUCN World Declaration on the Environmental Rule of Law and the 2018 Brasilia Judicial Declaration on Water Justice, in light of the Marseille Manifesto and outcomes of the 2021 IUCN World Conservation Congress (September 2021), the recognition of a right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment by the United Nations Human Rights Council (October 2021), the Kunming Declaration of CBD COP 15 (October 2021), and the outcomes of UNFCCC COP26 in Glasgow (November 2021).
The High-Level Judicial Event included discussions on the following topics:
- Climate Change, Biodiversity and the Environmental Rule of Law
- The Water Crisis and the 2018 Brasília Declaration of Judges on Water Justice
- Judicial Education on Climate Change and Biodiversity Law
Dr Nilufer Oral spoke at the session: Judges and the Oceans Crisis
More about the event at the link: https://www.iucn.org/commissions/world-commission-environmental-law/events-wcel/upcoming-events/role-judges-environmental-law-2030-and-beyond