ESIL Conversations | Bumpy road to the Convention on Crime against Humanity | 20 March 2026

The European Society of International Law (ESIL)

is hosting  

ESIL CONVERSATIONS

“Multilateralism in Times of Unilateralism”

“Bumpy road to the Convention on Crime against Humanity”

20 March 2026, 15:00 CET/ROME TIME, ONLINE 

THE ESIL CONVERSATIONS

The ESIL Conversations are a series of online events through which The European Society of International Law (ESIL) aims to contribute to the discourse on international law. The first series, “Multilateralism in Times of Unilateralism”, is focused on negotiations of major treaties (like the Convention on Crimes against Humanity or the Convention on Protection of Persons in the Events of Disasters, as well as on the future of the United Nations Organisation).  ESIL Conversations will offer high-level discussions on central questions of international law.

MORE ABOUT THE INAUGURAL CONVERSATION “BUMPY ROAD TO THE CONVENTION ON CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY”

In the inaugural conversation “Bumpy road to the Convention on Crime against Humanity”, our Board Member Patrycja Grzebyk (University of Warsaw) will discuss ongoing work on the Convention on Crimes against Humanity and ask about main problems and threats related with negotiations of the new treaty with a panel of experts composed by representatives of various engaged stakeholders (UN; States; Academia; and Civil Society Organisations).

The panel of experts includes:

• Prof. Hervé Ascensio (Sorbonne Law School, University of Paris 1, Panthéon-Sorbonne, OSCE Rapporteur on Belarus and on Treatment of Ukrainian PoWs by the Russian Federation)
• Prof. Mateus Kowalski (Associate Professor at the Autonomous University of Lisbon and a Guest Associate Professor at the Nova School of Law, Senior Legal Adviser at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Portugal)
• Akshaya Kumar (Human Rights Watch, Director of Crisis Advocacy; Lecturer at Columbia University School of Law)
• Prof. Sean D. Murphy (The George Washington University, a Member of the U.N. International Law Commission (2012-22), serving as special rapporteur for crimes against humanity;  a U.N. expert for the negotiation of a Convention on Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Humanity)

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

• The event is open to anyone, and all current ESIL members are encouraged to attend.
• Registration is mandatory and open until 19 March 2026 23:59 CET/Rome Time.