CCIL - CCDI 2025

The CCIL Conference Organizing Committee welcomes proposals in relation to specific fields of international law, including (but not limited to) health, human rights, trade and investment, environment, climate justice, sustainable development, indigenous rights, security, humanitarian law, criminal justice, accountability and dispute resolution.

THEME

Friends, Enemies, Frenemies: Engagement and Retaliation in International Law

Globalization and Post-Cold War international law saw a shift beyond a purely state-centric system toward an international order emphasizing cooperation and community-building, through various vehicles like NGOs, human rights instruments, trade and investment agreements, regional agreements, or other treaties. However, in recent times, the nation-state paradigm has seemingly reasserted itself, often at the expense of international institutions such as the United Nations, the World Trade Organization, and regional economic blocs. States oscillate between collective cooperation and unilateral action, seeking strategic advantages—but at what cost? What incentives, past and present, drive the most powerful nations to adhere to a rules-based international system?

This oscillation between multilateral engagement and unilateralism echoes evolving tensions in international law. The 1970 Declaration on Friendly Relations, adopted by the United Nations General Assembly, reaffirmed key principles of the UN Charter, including sovereign equality, non-intervention, peaceful dispute resolution, and cooperation among States. While this declaration reinforced the legal and moral foundation of these norms, contemporary geopolitical realities increasingly challenge their application. The reassertion of nationalist rhetoric, territorial disputes, and strategic unilateralism suggests that, despite the aspirational vision of the 1970 Declaration, States continue to prioritize power and self-interest over collective commitments.

The conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, alongside geopolitical tensions—such as discussions on U.S. territorial expansionism regarding Canada and Greenland—highlight renewed debates on territorial sovereignty and nationalist rhetoric. Meanwhile, economic warfare and rapid technological advancements are reshaping diplomatic relations and, by extension, the international legal framework as we know it. From climate change and armed conflict to digital regulation and the future of multilateralism, contemporary challenges continue to test the resilience of international law and the enduring relevance of principles reaffirmed in the Declaration on Friendly Relations.

PROPOSAL APPLICATION & SELECTION PROCESS

• Complete the application by Wednesday, May 7, 2025, 11:59 PM (ET).

Each year, we receive many more proposals than could be presented over the two days of the conference. The committee will use the following criteria when reviewing proposals:

• Proposals that showcase a broad spectrum of perspectives, including but not limited to gender, ethnicity, and expertise.

• Proposals that have, among other things, a balanced perspective on panels as warranted.

• Consistency with theme: Priority will be given to those proposals that are consistent with and directly address the conference theme.

• Originality of topic or approach: Does the proposal consider the theme from a novel perspective?

• Extra consideration will be given to proposals which aim to engage the live audience in original ways.

• Speaker notability, diversity and confirmation status: Are the session speakers identified? Are they noted or original voices in their field? Do they represent a suitable cross-section of international legal professionals or academics? Are they confirmed and committed to participating, subject to precise scheduling?

• Overall diversity of session topics: With the intent of ensuring that the Conference addresses the professional and academic interests and needs of as broad a range of international lawyers as possible, attention will be paid to ensuring overall diversity of topics discussed at the Conference.

• Extra consideration will be given to proposals that satisfy the criteria for eligibility for EDI accreditation by the Law Society of Ontario (LSO) and convey the willingness of the panel to work with the LSO to get the panel accredited. Equal consideration will be given to proposals that satisfy the criteria for accreditation in other provinces, provided that the proposal clearly lays out the basis for that accreditation and stipulates that the necessary administrative steps will be undertaken by the panel.

• Each session may have a maximum of 5 (five) participants - comprised of a chair (moderator) plus 4 speakers.

• Panels with confirmed speakers will be prioritized for acceptance.

• Please note that this is not a call for individual presentations.

NOTE: All presentations must be given in person. We are unable to accommodate virtual presentations.

Contact Us

For technical assistance with submitting your proposal, please contact: ccil-ccdi@intertaskconferences.com