Uploaded December 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
This UK book launch is part of the ILA events series, sponsored by the UCL CEL, and the State Silence grant (ERC grant ID: 850706)
*Judge Okowa has expressed only her personal views and her views are not the views of the International Court of Justice
About this event
The words and actions of States have a significant influence on law-making across all fields of international law. But what of silence and inaction? This event celebrates the launch of the new book, State Silence Across International Law, coming from the State Silence project led by Dr Danae Azaria and funded by the European Research Council (grant ID: 850706). This new book argues that State silence is interpreted in its ‘context’. During the twentieth and twenty-first century, the framework of international law underwent profound transformation. As a result, the contexts in which State silence may be interpreted have become complex and are not well understood. This ground-breaking book brings together 21 renowned international law experts in various fields of international law who endeavour to provide a better understanding of how State Silence has been interpreted taking into account the hierarchy of norms, the rise of international organizations and multilateralism in fields of international law that concern peace and security, human rights, cyber law, the law of the sea, environmental law and international economic law.
Speaker: Dr Danae Azaria is Associate Professor of Law, UCL’s Faculty of Laws; Principal Investigator (Director) of the European Research Council grant on State Silence; Editor of the book
Commentators:
1. Professor Jan Klabbers, Whewell Chair of Public International Law, Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge
2. Judge Phoebe Okowa, Judge, International Court of Justice
3. Sally Langrish, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Legal Adviser (Director General, Legal)
4. Professor Richard Gardiner, Honorary Professor of International Law, UCL Faculty of Laws
Chaired by Professor Veronika Fikfak, UCL Public Policy Department
About the organisers
The International Law Association (ILA) was founded in Brussels in 1873 and is a body for the study, clarification and development of public and private international law and the furtherance of international understanding and respect for international law. The ILA also has consultative status with a number of the United Nations specialised agencies.
State Silence is a research project under the direction of Dr Danae Azaria funded by a grant of the European Research Council (ID: 850706). To date, the project has led to the publication of 25 research outputs and has generated an intellectual community about the effects of State Silence in international law, with impact on decisions of international courts, government policy, and education.
The UCL Centre for Ethics & Law brings together leading academics, practitioners and policy makers to support cutting edge and interdisciplinary research at the intersection of ethics and law. Subscribe to receive updates on the centre and similar events.
This UK book launch is part of the ILA events series, sponsored by the UCL CEL, and the State Silence grant (ERC grant ID: 850706)
*Judge Okowa has expressed only her personal views and her views are not the views of the International Court of Justice
About this event
The words and actions of States have a significant influence on law-making across all fields of international law. But what of silence and inaction? This event celebrates the launch of the new book, State Silence Across International Law, coming from the State Silence project led by Dr Danae Azaria and funded by the European Research Council (grant ID: 850706). This new book argues that State silence is interpreted in its ‘context’. During the twentieth and twenty-first century, the framework of international law underwent profound transformation. As a result, the contexts in which State silence may be interpreted have become complex and are not well understood. This ground-breaking book brings together 21 renowned international law experts in various fields of international law who endeavour to provide a better understanding of how State Silence has been interpreted taking into account the hierarchy of norms, the rise of international organizations and multilateralism in fields of international law that concern peace and security, human rights, cyber law, the law of the sea, environmental law and international economic law.
Speaker: Dr Danae Azaria is Associate Professor of Law, UCL’s Faculty of Laws; Principal Investigator (Director) of the European Research Council grant on State Silence; Editor of the book
Commentators:
1. Professor Jan Klabbers, Whewell Chair of Public International Law, Faculty of Law, University of Cambridge
2. Judge Phoebe Okowa, Judge, International Court of Justice
3. Sally Langrish, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office Legal Adviser (Director General, Legal)
4. Professor Richard Gardiner, Honorary Professor of International Law, UCL Faculty of Laws
Chaired by Professor Veronika Fikfak, UCL Public Policy Department
About the organisers
The International Law Association (ILA) was founded in Brussels in 1873 and is a body for the study, clarification and development of public and private international law and the furtherance of international understanding and respect for international law. The ILA also has consultative status with a number of the United Nations specialised agencies.
State Silence is a research project under the direction of Dr Danae Azaria funded by a grant of the European Research Council (ID: 850706). To date, the project has led to the publication of 25 research outputs and has generated an intellectual community about the effects of State Silence in international law, with impact on decisions of international courts, government policy, and education.
The UCL Centre for Ethics & Law brings together leading academics, practitioners and policy makers to support cutting edge and interdisciplinary research at the intersection of ethics and law. Subscribe to receive updates on the centre and similar events.
