Impacts of Our Work
Many of BIICL's activities have a direct or indirect impact on policy and law, as well as more generally on the responses of others to our work. While this is primarily in regard to our research and publications, our events and training also provide wider public benefit in terms of information and education about contemporary legal issues. A snapshot of some key impacts from our work in 2020/21 is provided below.
Centre For International Law
International law, with its set of rules established through treaty or custom, is the key to stable international relations, collective security, and sustainable development. When international law is not respected, growing insecurity and inequalities, as well as attacks on the rule of law, become the norm. Following decades of efforts to expand the reach and content of international law through multilateralism, international law is now challenged by global power shifts and rising nationalism.
BIICL's Centre for International Law (CIL) responds to some of the most pressing regional and global challenges by conducting independent research and bringing to the fore the role of international law in addressing the current needs of society. Areas of focus for CIL include climate change, investment and trade, migration and trafficking, human rights, the law of the sea and cultural heritage. In its work, the CIL also considers the important role that non-state actors, such as businesses and civil society, may play in the development and upholding of international law.
Centre for Comparative Law
In a world characterized by complexity and interdependence, it is indispensable to understand similarities and contrasts between jurisdictions. Comparative methods are a key element to gain a profound understanding of the legal systems around the world and to advance their development. Perspectives and experiences of different jurisdictions enrich the legal debate and help in identifying areas prone for harmonisation and convergence of laws.
BIICL's Centre for Comparative Law covers a broad range of areas, from civil to commercial law, conflict of laws and dispute resolution. The Centre co-operates with various universities, distinguished scholars and research institutions in the UK and around the world.
Bingham Centre for the Rule of law
The Bingham Centre was founded by BIICL in 2010 to take forward the vision of Tom Bingham, a former President of the Institute. It was an inspiring vision then, with the Rule of Law coming under increasing strain. Today, it has become an urgent vision, as the institutions on which it depends to give it life are becoming more systematically undermined, requiring renewed effort to reach wider audiences about the meaning and fundamental importance of the Rule of Law.
Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre:
The Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre (Modern Slavery PEC) was formally launched in 2020 following the investment of public funding to enhance understanding of modern slavery and transform the effectiveness of law and policies designed to address it. With the high quality research it commissions at its heart, it brings together academics, policymakers, businesses, civil society, survivors and the public on a scale not seen before in the UK to collaborate on solving this global challenge.
Find out more about the Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre
Training and public engagement
Events
The BIICL events programme in 2021 remained online due to the risk posed by COVID-19 but continued to offer high level discussions with speakers from across the world. During the year BIICL partnered with a variety of organisations including the Asia-Pacific Europe Law Institutes Alliance (APELIA), Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies (SSSA), The Alan Turing Institute and the Center for Climate Change Studies and Sustainable Actions (3CSA). Many other collaborations during the year included law firms and members of our forums as speakers and sponsors.
Training
In 2021 BIICL significantly expanded its programme of short courses to bring a wider range of topics to participants from across the world. During the year BIICL offered the popular Public International Law in Practice short course, alongside existing courses in Business and Human Rights, Climate Change Law, International Trade Law and Law of the Sea. New courses in 2021 included Aviation Law, Cultural Heritage Law and Migration and Refugee Law. In 2021, we trained over 550 participants coming from governments around the world, international organisations, law firms and barristers' chambers, civil society and companies.
International and Comparative Law Quarterly
As the ICLQ enters its 70th year, its reputation as a trusted resource for international scholarship of the highest quality is stronger than ever. The latest two-year Impact Factor score has increased significantly to 1.932 due to a sustained increase in the number of citations to ICLQ articles. Worldwide, the ICLQ is now the highest ranked comparative law journal, the highest ranked generalist European law journal and the second highest ranked international law journal. Across all online platforms, there were over 600,000 article downloads in 2021 and scholars from around the world submitted hundreds of new articles for consideration by the Editorial Board.
