The 116th Annual Meeting of the American Society of International took place under the shadow of the Russian invasion of Ukraine—a campaign of appalling brutality and the greatest challenge to the international order since World War II. Not surprisingly, the invasion and its ramifications for international law were addressed in various forums over the course of the conference, including in keynote remarks by the deputy secretary of state and the ambassador of Ukraine to the United States.
The meeting was otherwise a joyous occasion, marking our return to Washington, D.C., for our first in-person Annual Meeting since 2019. The 2022 Annual Meeting theme, Personalizing International Law, gave participants the opportunity to consider the human dimension of international law through an examination of the real-world consequences of the decisions made by state and non-state actors as they grapple with the pandemic, climate change, racial and economic injustice, the erosion of the rule of law, rising authoritarianism, and many other challenges, as well as the situation in Ukraine.
For those unable to be with us in Washington, the Annual Meeting Committee offered the option of virtual attendance with access to a significant portion of the Annual Meeting. As with the all-virtual meetings held in 2020–2021, working sessions were limited to one hour, and some were pre-recorded to accommodate speakers in different time zones.
Whether attending in person or virtually, participants experienced a remarkable array of thought leaders in international law and related disciplines. The program featured more than 150 speakers, forty substantive sessions, and six cross-cutting thematic tracks, as well as Interest Group business meetings and mentoring and professional development activities designed for both in-person and virtual attendees.
The return to an in-person format brought with it many challenges and uncertainties, including evolving federal and local guidance regarding large in-person gatherings and international travel restrictions related to the pandemic. Although some members were unable to attend in person, the prospect of reconnecting with friends and colleagues drew a substantial number of attendees. Of the 1,645 people who participated in the meeting, over 700 attended in person.
In the two weeks leading up to the meeting, we reprised our Global Engagement series, introduced in 2021, consisting of four online events organized in cooperation with our regional colleague societies in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. These panels offered reflections on the Annual Meeting topic as applied to current issues of regional significance, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine and post-pandemic recovery and sovereign debt in Africa. The sessions were scheduled to facilitate attendance by participants in each region, and were made available free of charge as a way of introducing the Society to new audiences.
The first day of the meeting, Wednesday, April 6, began, as always, with the spring meeting of the Executive Council. In the afternoon, the Annual Meeting was opened by President Catherine Amirfar, who joined Dean Roger Fairfax of ASIL Law School Partner American University Washington College of Law in introducing the 24th Annual Grotius Lecture. The lecture was delivered by Judge Hilary Charlesworth of the International Court of Justice. Judge Charlesworth's theme was “The Art of International Law,” and the response was given by Karima Bennoune (ASIL Academic Partner University of Michigan Law School). The lecture was followed by the traditional Grotius Reception, sponsored by the American University Washington College of Law.
Thursday's program included a number of special events. The Manley O. Hudson Medal Luncheon honored Professor Lori Fisler Damrosch (ASIL Academic Partner Columbia Law School), and it included a discussion between Professor Damrosch and Professor José Alvarez (ASIL Academic Partner NYU Law School). They had much to discuss, as both served as president of the Society and editor in chief of the American Journal of International Law. Following the luncheon, the conferees gathered for keynote remarks by Ukrainian Ambassador Oksana Markarova on the ongoing invasion of her country.
The Society's Assembly on Thursday evening included the election of incoming leaders, the presentation of honors and awards, the recognition of new Emeritus Members, and the commemoration of the members we had lost over the past year. The Assembly Keynote featured a conversation between President Amirfar and 2021 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Maria Ressa, a prominent champion of human rights and the co-founder of the Philippine news site, Rappler. The Assembly concluded with the passing of the gavel from President Amirfar to incoming President Gregory Shaffer. The Assembly was followed by the President's Gala Reception, sponsored by ASIL Law Firm Partner Debevoise & Plimpton LLP.
The Friday morning program included the Seventh Annual Detlev F. Vagts Roundtable on Transnational Law, which examined “Transnational Regulation of the Platform Economy.” The convener was Professor Rebecca Hamilton (ASIL Academic Partner American University Washington College of Law). Also on Friday morning, the Women in International Law Interest Group (WILIG) presented the 2022 Prominent Woman in International Law Award to Fatou Bensouda, the former prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Friday afternoon featured a lecture by Hon. Chile Eboe-Osuji, the former president of the ICC and the recipient of the 2022 Goler T. Butcher Medal, sponsored by ASIL Academic Partner Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Judge Eboe-Osuji addressed “The Accountability of Sovereign Power for International Crimes.” The afternoon also included the 2022 Charles N. Brower Lecture on International Dispute Resolution, delivered by Judith Gill (Twenty Essex), who spoke on “The Arbitrator Role: Reflections of a Poacher Turned Gamekeeper.” The Friday evening keynote was delivered by Hon. Wendy R. Sherman, the U.S. deputy secretary of state. Her remarks were followed by the Members’ Reception.
Saturday's Closing Plenary featured a roundtable discussion, sponsored by the T.M.C. Asser Institute for International and European Law and the Municipality of The Hague, titled, “International Law Needs People: Humanitarian Arms Control and the Peace Movement.” Following the discussion, the attendees said their farewells at the Closing Reception, sponsored by the Municipality of The Hague.
The Annual Meeting is the work of many hands, beginning with the dedicated and hardworking Annual Meeting Committee, led by co-chairs Rachel López, Kish Parella, and Patrick Pearsall. This year's committee faced a major challenge in redesigning the meeting to accommodate both in-person and virtual participation, and they succeeded brilliantly. I would also like to express my appreciation to our event planner, Eden Capuano, and her team at Voila! Inc.; our technology partner, Silo Virtual Event Solutions; and the leaders and staff of the Society. Special thanks are due to Deputy Executive Director Wes Rist, who orchestrated the Annual Meeting with skill and resourcefulness.
Finally, we thank Erin Lovall, the editor of these Proceedings, and our speakers, sponsors, partners, exhibitors, and registrants—both in person and virtual—who made the 2022 Annual Meeting such a memorable experience.
