Call for Abstracts: Workshop on Community Interests in International Law: Theory, Adjudication and Human Rights [Nijmegen, 11 June 2027]

Workshop convenors from Radboud University and the University of Groningen invite abstracts for a one-day workshop, “Community Interests in International Law: Theory, Adjudication and Human Rights”, to be held in person at the Faculty of Law, Radboud University, Montessorilaan 10, 6525 HR Nijmegen, The Netherlands, on 11 June 2027.

The call notes that community interests have become one of the most consequential yet conceptually unsettled ideas in contemporary international law. Recalling Bruno Simma's 1994 lecture “From Bilateralism to Community Interest in International Law”, it points to recent developments: proceedings before the International Court of Justice on genocide allegations based on erga omnes (partes) obligations, the advisory opinions on climate change, the establishment of the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, and the expansion of jus cogens by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

The organisers invite submissions examining how community interest norms are conceptualised, how they are addressed by international courts and tribunals, and how the nexus between serious human rights violations and breaches of community interest norms can be assessed. The call raises these questions:

• Who constitutes the “international community as a whole”, and whose interests are at stake?
• Which interests qualify as sufficiently fundamental to transcend bilateral State relations?
• To what extent do international courts and tribunals differ in the way they conceptualise, interpret and protect these interests?
• What is the conceptual link to international human rights law?

• Scholars and practitioners working on international law.
• Early-career scholars, including doctoral candidates, are expressly encouraged to submit an abstract.
• The call states no nationality or institutional restriction.

• An abstract of up to 500 words.
• A short biography of up to 150 words.
• Send both by email to johanna.ritter@ru.nl and d.e.uribe@rug.nl with the subject line “CfA Community Interests Workshop”.
• Deadline: 15 January 2027. The organisers aim to notify applicants of the outcome by 15 February 2027.

• Each accepted contributor gives a presentation of approximately 10-15 minutes, followed by a moderated Q&A discussion.
• The workshop is discussion-oriented, and participants are asked to attend for the full day so that everyone can engage with each other's work.
• The workshop is planned as an in-person event in Nijmegen.

Selected papers may be considered for a special edition of a peer-reviewed international law journal.

The official call does not mention any submission or participation fee. It does not mention any travel or accommodation support.

• Johanna Ritter, PhD Candidate, Radboud University
• Diego Uribe, PhD Candidate, University of Groningen
• Sarah Thin, Assistant Professor, Radboud University
• André de Hoogh, Associate Professor, University of Groningen