The 7th Biennial Conference of the Asian Society of International Law (AsianSIL) held in Novotel Manila, Quezon City, Philippines from 22 to 23 August 2019 gathered over 500 delegates from all over the world, including judges of various international law tribunals, international law academics and researchers, lawyers, and graduate students.

With the theme, “Rethinking International Law: Finding Common Solutions to Contemporary Civilizational Issues from an Asian Perspective,” the two-day global conference included an opening session, over 40 plenary and parallel sessions addressing a wide range of topics in international law, and a closing session.  Department of Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr., Supreme Court Justice Francis Jardeleza, AsianSIL President Harry Roque, and Philippine Society of International Law (PSIL) President Prof. Elizabeth Aguiling-Pangalangan spoke during the opening ceremonies. International Court of Justice Judge Iwasawa Yuji, a notable academic and chair of the United Nations Human Rights Committee prior to election to the World Court, delivered the Conference Keynote Address.

Among the speakers in various panels were International Criminal Court (ICC) Judge Raul C. Pangalangan, ICC Judge Chang-ho Chung, Judge Jun-Hyun Paik of the Law of the Sea Tribunal, Hague Conference on Private International Law Secretary General Christophe Bernasconi, Retired ICJ Judge Hisashi Owada, Ritzmeikan University Prof. Shin-ichi Ago, International Law Professor Andrew Byrnes of the University of New South Wales, Sydney, and Prof. Dr. Carsten Stahn, Program Director of the Grotius Center of Leiden University, The Netherlands.

The Conference also featured a special panel in honor of Justice Feliciano, on the spirit of international legal scholarship and judicial theory. Likewise, DFA Undersecretary J. Eduardo Malaya, Dean Fides Cordero Tan, and UP Institute of International Legal Studies Director Rommel Casis launched the UP Law Center Publication “Treaties: Guidance on Practices and Procedures.” Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III was also present as a special guest during the welcome dinner.

Meanwhile, 59 junior academics presented their research papers during the Junior Scholars’ Conference held at the University of the Philippines College of Law on the eve of the biennial gathering. The Keynote Speech was delivered by Prof. Jean Allain of Monash University; Notable senior academics and international law practitioners took part as commentators and moderators of the sessions.

AsiansSIL is an organization of scholars and practitioners of international law that promotes research, education, and practice of international law by serving as a center of activities in Asia and elsewhere. It fosters and encourages Asian perspectives of international law and promotes awareness of and respect for international law in Asia. The 7th Biennial Conference was co-organized by the U.P. Law Center, the Philippine Society of International Law and the Department of Foreign Affairs. Members of the Philippine Planning Committee were Dean Merlin Magallona, Prof. Upendra Dev Acharya, Prof. Elizabeth Aguiling-Pangalangan, Usec. J. Eduardo Malaya, Prof. Concepcion Jardeleza, Atty. Romel Bagares, Prof. Rommel Casis, Atty. Maricel Seno, Atty. Melissa Anne Telan, and Atty. Modesta Chungalao.