Researchers' Activities
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
Prof Robert Beckman spoke at the IMO Seminar on Development of a Regulatory Framework for Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships
It was held over two days on Monday 6 and Tuesday 7 September as an online meeting. Day Two of the Seminar was moderated by Gillian Grant, the Chair of the Legal Committee of the IMO. Prof Beckman spoke in Panel 5: Operating MASS: Legal issues related to communication and enforcement.
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.
Prof Robert Beckman and Dr Vu Hai Dang lectured at the 10th Regional MarSec Practitioner Programme
The Programme, co-organised by the Republic of Singapore Navy and S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, introduced various aspects of maritime security for maritime practitioners. The course’s participants are navies, coastguards, and other maritime practitioners from around the world. Prof. Beckman delivered a lecture about the international law of the sea while Dr. Dang presented about Vietnam’s measures against IUU Fishing.
Researchers from CIL Ocean Law and Policy Programme are engaging with the Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP)
Youna Lyons was invited to observe the 49th GESAMP annual session held at the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) headquarters in London, United Kingdom, from 5 to 9 September 2022, on the delegation of Advisory Committee on the Protection of the Sea Advisory Committee (ACOPS).
Yulu Liu also attended the workshop of GESAMP WG 40 (as a representative of ACOPS) to develop a risk assessment framework for land and sea-based sources of marine litter and microplastics, which was held in Busan, South Korea from 26-30 October.
Vu Hai Dang, Panellist at the 8th Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue’s Fisheries Management Workshop
The Workshop introduced the results of the Common Fisheries Resources Analysis of skipjack tuna in the South China Sea, a joint research initiative implemented by scientists from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Viet Nam with support from the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue.
Danielle Yeow delivered a talk on “Path to 1.5 degrees – implementation and implication” at the AGC Academy, 1 Sept 2022
1 Sept 2022 | Speaker, “Path to 1.5 degrees – Implementation and Implication”, AGC Academy to Legal Branch officers
Dr. Tara Davenport was invited to participate (online) in the Expert Group Meeting on Enforcement Related Issues in Deep Sea Mining
Senior Research Fellow Dr. Tara Davenport was invited to participate (online) in the Expert Group Meeting on Enforcement Related Issues in Deep Sea Mining organized by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and the Secretariat of the International Seabed Authority (ISA)
Railla Puno participated at “Southeast Asia Regional Workshop on Loss and Damage”
Convened by Manila Observatory in partnership with Samdhana Institute and Chiang Mai University on 22-25 August 2022
Danielle Yeow was invited to speak at the inaugural UN-Singapore Cyber Fellowship programme (1-6 Aug)
The Fellowship, organised by the Cybersecurity Agency of Singapore and the UN Office for Disarmament Affairs, is the flagship programme under the UN-Singapore Cyber Programme.
Vu Hai Dang, Speaker at the Evolving Threats to Southeast Asia’s Maritime Security Workshop
The Workshop was organised by the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies and S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University.
Dr. Tara Davenport was invited to give a lecture at the 2022 inaugural UN-Singapore Cyber Fellowship Programme
Senior Research Fellow Dr. Tara Davenport was invited to give a lecture on ‘Cyberspace and International Law’ at the 2022 inaugural UN-Singapore Cyber Fellowship Programme from 1 – 6 August 2022 in Singapore.
29 July 2022: Brian Chang and Tensin Studer Presented at the AsianSIL Junior Scholars Workshop
CIL Research Associate Brian Chang and former Research Assistant Tensin Studer presented a conference paper on “What Investor-State Mediation Can Learn from UNCLOS Conciliation: Lessons from the Timor Sea Conciliation” at the Junior Scholars Workshop of the Asian Society for International Law (AsianSIL)’s 2022 Regional Conference in Nepal, co-organised by CIL’s Teaching and Researching International Law in Asia (TRILA) team.
29 July 2022: TRILA team and CIL colleagues co-organised and participated in the Junior Scholar Workshop of the Asian SIL Nepal Conference
The Workshop is a part of this year’s Nepal Regional Conference by Asian Society of International Law.
Vu Hai Dang moderated at the Technical Workshop on Developing a Report on Rapid Readiness Assessment to Transition to a Sustainable Blue Economy in Viet Nam
The Conference was organised by the United Nations Environment Programme, Viet Nam Administration of Seas and Islands – Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Australian Centre for Ocean Resources and Security – University of Wollongong, Centre for International Law of Sea and Maritime Law – National University of Viet Nam in Hanoi.
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).
25 July 2022 Prof Robert Beckman participated virtually in a Workshop in Beijing, China on the 20th Anniversary of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea (DOC)
Prof Beckman was one of 10 speakers in Session III. In his presentation he argued the COC should contain a “non-prejudice” clause similar to that in Article VII of the 1959 Antarctic Treaty. He argued that such a clause would enable the parties to cooperate on matters of common interest without being seen as either acquiescing to or recognizing the legitimacy of the sovereignty and maritime claims of other States or as renouncing or giving up their own sovereignty claims and maritime claims in the South China Sea.
20 July 2022: On biodiversity, we’ve done disastrously. On climate change, the window’s closing: Tommy Koh
The global community has failed to stop biodiversity loss, and people do not realise the impact of this persistent trend, warns veteran diplomat, law professor and environmentalist Tommy Koh.
Dr. Tara Davenport gave an online lecture at Kadir Has International Law of the Sea Academy held in Turkey
Senior Research Fellow Dr. Tara Davenport gave an online lecture on 19 July 2022 submarine cables and pipelines at the Kadir Has International Law of the Sea Academy held in Turkey from 18 to 29 July 2022.
15 July 2022: Amiel Valdez was invited again to serve as a Mentor at Ateneo de Manila University Law School’s Legal Research, Writing, and Analysis Workshop
The workshop is part of one of Ateneo Law School’s longest traditions, i.e., the Introduction to Law (ITL) programme for incoming law students.
Dr. Tara Davenport presented at the 2022 IUCN Academy of Environmental Law Colloquium
Senior Research Fellow Dr. Tara Davenport presented at the 2022 IUCN Academy of Environmental Law Colloquium on ‘Common Heritage of Humankind (CHH) as a basis for Environmental Governance’ on 13 July 2022.
CIL’s participation at Rhodes Academy of Oceans Law and Policy, Rhodes, Greece, 4-22 July 2022
The Faculty at the Rhodes Academy is comprised of leading experts in the law of the sea, including current and past judges from the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS). The Faculty in 2022 included two current ITLOS judges, Albert Hoffman of South Africa, the current President and Judge Tomas Heider of Iceland as well as two former Presidents of ITLOS – Rudiger Wolfrum of Germany and Vladimir Golitsyn of the Russian Federation.
Prof Robert Beckman presented at the “Ocean Dialogue 8: 40th Anniversary of UNCLOS: Promoting Maritime Cooperation in Southeast Asia” on 29 June 2022
The title of his presentation was “Reduction of Emissions from Commercial Shipping: The Global Context and Singapore Initiatives”.
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”
Ayelet Berman spoke at the Global Health Security Conference 2022
At a panel on “Global Law on Pandemic Prevention”, Ayelet Berman spoke on “The international Law and Governance of One Health”. She presented the preliminary findings of the work of the International Law Association Steering Committee on One Health, of which she is a member.
CIL’s eAcademy Teaching Assistant, Jiang Zhifeng, has been awarded the Koh Han Kok Prize – Best Student in Public International Law!
Jiang Zhifeng, a double degree law student at Yale-NUS College and the National University of Singapore (NUS) have been awarded the Koh Han Kok Prize. Best student in Public International Law.
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”
Dr Dawoon Jung presented at the “International Law and Technological Progress” Conference” on 24 June 2022
Dawoon made a presentation on “New Technology and Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships (MASS): How Does UNCLOS Evolve to Regulate the Impacts of MASS on the Marine Environment?”.
Dita Liliansa spoke at the “International Fisheries Law Conference: Persistent and Emerging Challenges in International Fisheries Law” in Tórshavn, Faroe Islands
She made a presentation on ‘Enforcement of Coastal State Jurisdiction over Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone,’ and provided a case study on Indonesia.
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.
CIL Ocean Team’s Youna Lyons, Lim Cheng Ling and Yulu Liu presented at the online forum on The Way Forward for a Stronger Regional and International Cooperation on Marine Plastic Debris
Youna, Cheng Ling and Yulu’s presentation was on intervention policies and regulations on single-use plastics restrictions in the ASEAN +3 region and their effectiveness.
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”
Danielle Yeow moderated the second session of the US-ASEAN cyber and digital dialogue jointly convened with Columbia University’s SIPA and NTU’s RSiS on 15 June 2022
Participants (from public and private sector and academia/think tanks) had a robust and engaging discussion on the cyber and hybrid threat lessons from the Russia/Ukraine crisis, and the misinformation threat landscape in the South East Asian region.
9 June 2022 – Emeritus Professor Robert Beckman presented at Volterra Fietta Virtual Seminar on UNCLOS at 40 titled “Dispute Resolution under UNCLOS”
Prof Beckman spoke on the role of the dispute settlement system in clarifying ambiguous provisions and responding to technological developments.
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.
Danielle Yeow at the “Ocean and Climate Dialogue: East Asian Seas’ Response to the Global Climate Change Challenge”
The dialogue contributes to the Sea East Asia region’s contribution to promoting climate – ocean dialogues and follows up on PEMSEA’s country partners’ reaffirmation of their commitment to the blue economy and support global efforts to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement with mitigation and adaptation as crucial underlying principles in accelerating the blue economy.
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”.
Tan Hsien-Li presented at the 2022 Sokol Colloquium on Comparative Human Rights Law
Shen presented her draft chapter on “The Human Rights System of Southeast Asia” for the Oxford Handbook on Comparative Human Rights Law.
Tan Hsien-Li at the International Committee of the Red Cross 2022 Regional International Humanitarian Law Academic Roundtable
The roundtable was titled Pens to Practice: A Regional Exchange on Strengthening the Academic Circles’ Impact on IHL Implementation.
Emeritus Professor Robert Beckman at the 2022 APOLIA Conference “UNCLOS in Asia-Pacific: 40 Years and Onwards”
Prof Beckman made a presentation in Session 3, Navigational Regimes and Enforcement of Coastal State Jurisdiction.
Research Associate Dita Liliansa participated in the 2022 APOLIA Conference: “UNCLOS in Asia-Pacific: 40 Years and Onwards”
The title of her presentation was “A Quest for Meaning: Interpretation of Article 73(3) of UNCLOS by Indonesian Supreme Court”
Research Associate Dita Liliansa spoke at 4th Annual Alexander C. Cushing International Law Conference entitled “International Law: Conflict at Sea”
She spoke in Session 6 on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing alongside Prof. Natalie Klein (University of New South Wales) and Ms. Francesca Caonero (Global Maritime Crime Programme, Latin America and the Caribbean, U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime).
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”
Dr. Vu Hai Dang (Senior Research Fellow) and Dr. Dawoon Jung (Research Fellow) served as a Judge for the International Rounds at the 2022 NILOS Moot Court Competition
The competition took place virtually from 10 to 14 May 2022. They evaluated and scored the oral pleadings of the participants during the International Rounds.
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
25 – 29 April 2022: Head of Nuclear Law and Policy, Denise Cheong Presents at IAEA’s Inaugural International Conference on Nuclear Law
Head of Nuclear Law and Policy, Denise Cheong was invited to participate in the first-ever “International Conference on Nuclear Law: The Global Debate” organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from 25 to 29 April 2022 in Vienna, Austria. She presented as part of the roundtable titled “The Role of Nuclear Law in the Broader Context of Other Areas of Law”.
Drawing on her research experience, Denise’s presentation focused on how nuclear law could be conceptualised and what implications this may have on current approaches to higher education research and the requisite learning and skills for developing capacity within the research domain. Her presentation began with observations on the state of play within the research domain then focused on nuclear law at the international level, reflecting on its role, nature and ambit, given the realities of (i) “boundary interactions” with other branches of international law, and (ii) institutional “law making”.
Key takeaways from her presentation included: First, the need for a holistic conceptualisation of nuclear law in order to promote its objective of providing a legal framework that would adequately protect individuals, property and the environment. This should include nuclear law provisions in other areas of law as well as both hard and soft law. Second, nuclear law researchers, as part of broader research community, have an important part to play in helping to “discover” the breadth & depth of nuclear law and more research collaboration is needed to advance the objective of nuclear law, in light of the increasingly complex and multidisciplinary issues that nuclear law is being called on to address. Third, new learning, skills and support are needed to help nuclear law research fulfil this role effectively.
Further details of this conference are available on the IAEA’s conference page and programme.
25 – 29 April 2022: CIL Nuclear Team Participates in IAEA International Conference on Nuclear Law: The Global Debate 2022
Senior Research Fellow Denise Cheong, Research Fellow Nivedita S and Research Associates Manisha Regalla and Annabelle Teo participated in the first-ever “International Conference on Nuclear Law: The Global Debate” organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from 25 to 29 April 2022. This was an in-person conference held in Vienna, Austria which also provided for virtual participation, allowing all members of the CIL Nuclear Team to participate in the event.
Over the week, the conference provided a unique forum for leading global experts from governments, international and non-governmental organisations, industry, academia and civil society to share experiences and discuss topical issues with a view to developing further the various areas of nuclear law and promoting international expertise in this field. The format of the conference included a high-level opening session with opening remarks by the IAEA Director General, Rafael Mariano Grossi and keynote speeches from leading global experts in the nuclear field; a series of topical sessions that addressed key nuclear law issues and round-table discussions that provided the opportunity for focused discussions. Senior Research Fellow Denise Cheong presented as part of the roundtable titled “The Role of Nuclear Law in the Broader Context of Other Areas of Law”.
Details of the event and Speakers are available on the IAEA’s conference page and programme.
Vu Hai Dang, Speaker at the Dialogue on Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI): Strengthening International Cooperation
The Conference was organised by the Centre for Public Policy Research of India in collaboration with Monash University and support from Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to support ASEAN-Australia-India Indo-Pacific Cooperation.