The forum aimed to promote critical academic dialogue on the future of international law in light of ongoing global transformations, and examining the role of Third World, Fourth World, and decolonial approaches in rethinking the structure of the international system and the mechanisms through which legal knowledge is produced. Discussions also addressed the challenges facing international law in responding to colonial realities and structural injustice, and explored the possibilities for developing analytical and accountability tools that are more consistent with the experiences of peoples living under occupation and those affected by conflicts and protracted crises.

Over the two days, the forum hosted the international expert and visiting professor at the Institute, Professor Kiran Grewal, who delivered scholarly interventions that contributed to deepening the dialogue on critical approaches to international law. She also highlighted the importance of localizing legal knowledge and producing it from perspectives that reflect the realities and lived experiences of peoples, as well as building research and collaboration networks among Palestinian academics and those engaged in this field.

This activity forms part of a series of initiatives implemented by the Palestinian Institute for International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights, as part of its efforts to create specialized academic spaces for dialogue, deepen discussion on contemporary international legal issues relevant to the Palestinian and global contexts, and strengthen the link between academic research and critical analysis. The forum was held within the framework of the Institute’s establishment project, funded by the European Union.