Small States Conference

Trade, Investment and Small States (2022)

20 - 21 October 2022

On 21 - 22 October 2022, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, the Institute of Small and Micro States (ISMS) and the British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL) hosted a two-day conference on Trade, Investment and Small States. The conference was the seventh in our series of conferences on issues relating to small states.

The importance of trade and investment and the need to rethink them have been highlighted by the recent health crisis, as well as by environmental challenges and technological advances. Trade has been essential to saving lives and livelihoods; and international co-operation has been needed to keep trade flowing. Investment has been and will be important to overcome some of the pandemic's impact.

While small states are often treated as dependent and highly vulnerable to the whims of global markets, they have shown considerable resilience and ability to thrive in economic niches. Each small state is unique and needs to address its development prospects in the context of its own cultural, historical and social realities. There are also differences between regions. But most small states share a number of common characteristics.

The conference covered a range of topics, including the impact of trade disruptors, e-commerce trade and international dispute resolution.

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Culture, Art, Cultural Identity and Small States (2021)

17 - 19 November 2021

On 17 - 19 November 2021, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, the Institute of Small and Micro States (ISMS) and the British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL) hosted a two-day conference on Culture, Art, Cultural Identity and Small States. The conference was the sixth in our series of conferences on issues relating to small states.

Small states are not just small versions of large states-they are culturally and politically different from large ones. Small states have an astonishing cultural diversity and often develop unique cultural characteristics. This distinctiveness characterises even the smallest state. To be able to participate in today's globalised world they need to balance isolation to protect their cultural uniqueness with economic openness. They have to assert their diversity and speciality in a globalised world. This is why small states defend their interests frequently much more vigorously and often in defiance of the international community.

The conference explored how small states manage the balancing act of preserving their cultural identity with being members of a globalised world.

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Human Rights and Small States: Challenges, Resilience, and Advocacy (2020)

12 - 13 November 2020

On 12 - 13 November 2020, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, the Institute of Small and Micro States (ISMS), and the British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL) hosted a two-day conference on Human Rights and Small States: Challenges, Resilience, and Advocacy. The conference was the fifth in a series of conferences on issues relating to small states.

The conference examined how small states respect, protect and fulfill their human rights obligations and addressed the challenges that arise from their societies' interconnectedness and global phenomena, such as climate change, global displacement and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Speakers and delegates reflected on current practices and concerns as well as on past crises, and analysed the resilience strategies available, including available dispute resolution mechanisms and their strengths in safeguarding human rights and access to justice within and for small states.

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Small States, International Law and the Realisation of Rights (2019)

14 - 15 November 2019

On 14 - 15 November 2019, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, the Institute of Small and Micro States (ISMS), and the British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL) hosted a two-day conference on Small States, International Law and the Realisation of Rights. The conference was the forth in a series of conferences on issues relating to small states.

The conference examined how Small States influence international law and global decision-making, including a review of the common challenges faced and a comparative assessment of the different approaches to international law. It will also consider the particular financial vulnerability of Small States and the economic issues they face when confronted with international disputes. Speakers discussed possible strategies and solutions to address these issues.

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Environmental Dispute Resolution and Small States (2018)

6 -7 September 2018

This two-day conference brought together representatives of Small States, government officials, academics and NGOs, as well as lawyers who are involved in dispute resolution in or for Small States (defined as those states with a population of 1.5 million or less). Conference participants explored how (international) environmental dispute resolution can be used to combat climate change or environmental degradation and will discuss how Small States can obtain reparation for suffered environmental and/or climate change damage.

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International Financial Services and Small States (2017)

30 - 31 January 2017

International Financial Services Institutions based in small states (SS IFCs) are key players in the financial services industry. SS IFCs are often able to deliver international financial services more efficiently and effectively than larger enterprises. In recent years, SS IFCs have driven innovation and become important players in international financial services trade. The treatment of SS IFCs is central to the international tax reform agenda. Both the G20 and the European Union have signalled commitment to significant regulatory changes in 2017, including blacklisting and other measures which have historically penalised their small states and SS IFCs. The conference addressed the importance of SS IFCs to the financial services industry, issues involving international tax regulations affecting SS IFCs, and international arbitration as a means of resolving arising disputes.

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Integration and International Dispute Resolution in Small States (2016)

19 - 20 May 2016

On 19 - 20 May 2016, Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr LLP, the Institute of Small and Micro States (ISMS), and the British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL) hosted a 1½ conference on Integration and International Dispute Resolution in Small States. The conference was the first in a series of conferences on issues relating to small states.

The aim of this conference was bring together academics, representatives of Small States, as well as lawyers litigating in or for Small States (defined as those states with a population of 1.5m or less), to discuss the particular issues these jurisdictions face in regard to international dispute resolution and regional integration.

Small States are a micro-cosmos and allow the study of some legal phenomena more easily. On the other hand, Small States face specific issues due to their demographical, geographical size, and the size of their economies. Of particular interest are the commercial relations between large economies and Small States, the role of Small States as financial centres as well as B2B and State to State dispute resolution involving Small States.

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