ANZSIL International Peace and Security Interest Group (IPSIG)
2026 Annual Workshop: 12 and 13 February 2026, Perth, Australia
Jointly hosted by Curtin University & University of Western Australia
International Law Under Pressure: Reform or Reinforcement?
Submission of presentation proposals due by 10 November 2025
Registration of attendance due by 23 January 2026
The ANZSIL International Peace and Security Interest Group (IPSIG) was established in 2014 to provide a space for those ANZSIL members who are interested in conflict, peace and security issues to connect with one another and exchange ideas. IPSIG welcomes discussions of peace and security issues from a variety of theoretical and doctrinal perspectives.
Since its inauguration in 2015, the Workshop has become IPSIG’s principal annual activity. Attended by international law academics, practitioners, and students, IPSIG Workshops have consistently provided a valuable and constructive forum for the discussion of current international peace and security issues, and related research, teaching, and public engagement.
2026 Annual Workshop
In 2025, the international legal order stands at a difficult crossroads. The world is witnessing a surge in geopolitical fragmentation, where traditional alliances are fraying and new power blocs are emerging. At the same time, rapid technological advancements, from autonomous weapons systems to artificial intelligence, are re-shaping the nature of armed conflict and challenging the applicability of long-standing legal norms. War has grown increasingly complex, often involving multiple non-state actors, transnational threats, and hybrid warfare methods that muddy the lines between combatants and civilians, peace and war, legality and impunity. In this increasingly volatile landscape, the core principles of international law, especially those regulating the use of armed force and the conduct of hostilities, are under unprecedented strain.
The 2026 edition of the Annual IPSIG Workshop seeks to facilitate a discussion between researchers, practitioners and other experts about their work pertaining to issues currently shaping international peace and security law; conversely, considering how international peace and security law is shaping current issues. While the theme of the Workshop is intentionally broad, papers related to the following topics are particularly encouraged:
- How are Articles 2(4) and 51 of the UN Charter being interpreted amid contemporary threats and interventions?
- Rethinking the UN Security Council: reform, legitimacy, and the future of international governance
- Application of international law to cyber warfare, autonomous weapons, the growth of AI, hybrid conflicts, and non-state actors in armed conflict
- Power asymmetries and historical legacies shaping the enforcement and interpretation of IHL and the jus ad bellum
- Alternative models or institutions for regulating the use of force and IHL and ensuring accountability in international law
- Development of other mechanisms to foster better enforcement, monitoring, and accountability—especially in asymmetric warfare
- State reporting on decisions concerning use of force and compliance with international law
- To what extent can institutions such as the ICC, ICJ, and regional courts contribute to reinforcing international legal norms?
- Challenges and opportunities for strengthening legal protections for the environment in armed conflicts and IHL.
- To what extent do international sanctions remain an effective tool for ensuring compliance with international law? Should they be reformed to address contemporary challenges, or reinforced in their current form?
These themes are indicative – we also encourage submissions of papers on issues related to IPSIG more broadly. We welcome a discussion of the relevant legal issues from a variety of methodological, theoretical and doctrinal perspectives.
Keynote speaker
We have the honour to welcome Professor Devika Hovell as keynote speaker for the event. Devika Hovell is Professor of Public International Law at the London School of Economics, specialising in international criminal law, Security Council practice and procedure, sanctions, international dispute resolution and the law relating to the use of force. She has published widely in leading journals, including the European Journal of International Law, American Journal of International Law, and the British Yearbook of International Law. Alongside her academic work, Devika has worked and provided legal advice to a range of NGOs, governments, law firms and the UN International Law Commission.
Arrangements and Format
The Workshop will be held over two days, Thursday 12 February 2026 at the Curtin University City Campus, and Friday 13 February 2026 at the University of Western Australia (UWA). The Workshop is planned as an in-person event, and we hope as many people as possible will be able to join us in Perth, Australia.
The Workshop will take the form of interactive panels, with presentations followed by a Q&A session with all Workshop participants. We are also planning to include a panel of Australian and New Zealand Government representatives to discuss current events.
There is no registration or participation fee. Support for the Workshop has been generously provided by ANZSIL, Curtin University and UWA.
An optional social gathering will be organised on the evening of Thursday, 12 February 2026, following the first day of the Workshop. Additional activities and optional lunch will be organised for Friday, 13 February, at the conclusion of the Workshop. Further details about these social activities will be provided closer to the date of the event.
Submission of Presentation Proposals
Those proposing presentations should submit a single Word document comprising:
- A brief abstract of up to 300 words;
- A brief bio of up to 150 words;
- Whether you are a current ANZSIL member; and
- Whether you wish to be considered for financial support (see below).
Please submit your proposal to ipsig@anzsil.org by 10 November 2025 with the subject: Workshop Proposal. The Organising Committee will endeavour to inform applicants of the outcome of their proposals within three weeks.
The Workshop seeks to serve as a platform for exchange and reflection. Ideas do not need to be fully formed but may be workshopped for mutual benefit during the course of the proceedings. There is no requirement for draft papers to be circulated ahead of the Workshop, but participants who are seeking more detailed feedback on their work, are welcome to provide draft papers of approximately 2,000–4,000 words to IPSIG’s email address. The deadline for the draft papers is 29 January 2026, in order to allow circulation to panel chairs and/or participants ahead of the Workshop.
The IPSIG Committee is exploring the possibility of publishing selected workshop papers in a special issue of a peer-reviewed journal. Further information regarding submission procedures and requirements will be shared with all speakers after the workshop.
Registration
Both those wishing to deliver presentations and those wishing to attend the Workshop without presenting are asked to complete the registration form [click here] by 23 January 2026. Early registration is encouraged to help the organisers ensure adequate catering and facilities.
Details are also available here.
