Institute of Commonwealth Studies

04/09/2026

Forthcoming event 👇 👇 👇

International Law and the Art of the Possible with Professor Luis Franceschi, Special Envoy on Mediation at The Republic of Kenya

30 September 2026, 6pm-8pm, The Senate Room, First Floor, Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU

In a moment when multilateralism is tested by conflict and fragmentation, this lecture asks what international law can still realistically deliver, and what the Commonwealth’s distinct model of “friendship with a purpose” offers that other multilateral frameworks do not. More than treaties signed overnight or the formal architecture of law, what helps is trust patiently built, relationships sustained across generations, and a habit of speaking honestly among friends, even about those uncomfortable truths diplomats usually shun.

Drawing on years of practice in peacebuilding, Commonwealth diplomacy, and Constitutional Law, Prof. Franceschi will explore how this relational fabric opens space for legal and political possibilities that adversarial diplomacy forecloses. Grounded in real-life situations, the lecture will address the art of the possible: not the abandonment of principle, but its patient, relational pursuit.

Register here: https://commonwealth.sas.ac.uk/news-events/events/international-law-art-possible



School of Advanced Study - University of London
University of London

27/08/2026

On 31 July 2026, Professor Kingsley Abbott was delighted to represent the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the international conference “Reparatory Justice in and Through Sport” in Glasgow in the margin of the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Convened by the Centre for Sport and Human Rights, Commonwealth Sport and United Nations Human Rights, the conference was said to be the first ever international meeting bringing together leading voices at the intersection of reparatory justice and sport.

Read more here: https://commonwealth.sas.ac.uk/news-events/news/conference-reparatory-justice-through-sport


School of Advanced Study - University of London
University of London
Human Rights Consortium

On 31 July 2026, Professor Kingsley Abbott represented the Institute at the international conference “Reparatory Justice in and Through Sport” in Glasgow.

04/08/2026

Just ONE DAY LEFT to apply to our distance learning human rights programme - September 2026 start! 👇 👇 👇

https://www.london.ac.uk/study/courses/postgraduate/ma-human-rights

28/07/2026

🌎 Study Human Rights from anywhere! 🌏

Applications are still open for the MA Human Rights by distance learning at the University of London!

DEADLINE NEXT WEEK! Apply by 5 August for a September 2026 start.

Join this online, practice-focused human rights MA to learn from, and with, human rights activists from around the world. Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate also available. Study from anywhere and pay per module!

Modules include:

➡️ Women's Human Rights
➡️ Business and Human Rights
➡️ Translating Human Rights into International Law
➡️ Genocide, gross human rights violations and reconciliation
➡️ Human Rights, Sustainable Development and Environmental Justice
➡️ Indigenous peoples, minorities and human rights

https://www.london.ac.uk/study/courses/postgraduate/ma-human-rights

21/07/2026

Momentum Builds as CARICOM Reparations Commission Undertakes Second Official UK Visit

Between 13 and 15 July, the Institute of Commonwealth Studies (ICwS) proudly hosted the second official visit of the CARICOM Reparations Commission (CRC) to the United Kingdom, bringing together the CRC, civil society, policymakers, diplomats, researchers and faith leaders at a pivotal moment for the global reparatory justice movement.

The visit reflected growing international momentum behind efforts to address the enduring legacies of the trafficking in enslaved Africans. It also provided an important opportunity to strengthen collaboration between Caribbean representatives and UK-based civil society, researchers and institutions committed to advancing research, dialogue and action on reparatory justice.

Read more here:

https://commonwealth.sas.ac.uk/news-events/news/momentum-builds-caricom-reparations-commission-undertakes-second-official-uk-visit

20/07/2026

Alumni Spotlight 🎓 🔦 3️⃣ 0️⃣

As part of the 30th Anniversary of Human Rights Education at the , we will be profiling alumni and currents students on our MA and PhD programmes to highlight their contributions to securing human rights.

⭐ This month's alum is Elenor Smith ⭐

After more than 25 years away from formal education, Elenor Smith returned to study for an Masters in Human Rights at the University of London while continuing her career in corporate responsibility, business and human rights. Initially apprehensive about returning to academic study as a mature student, she found the experience both professionally and personally transformative.

Today, Elenor is a Senior Advisor of Human Rights in Supply Chains at Slave-Free Alliance, a social enterprise of Hope for Justice, where she supports businesses to identify and address risks of modern slavery, labour exploitation and wider human rights harms. Her work includes advising on human rights due diligence, worker engagement, supply chain risk management, and responsible business practices.

Read more here about her impressive accomplishments: https://commonwealth.sas.ac.uk/news-events/news/alumni-spotlight-elenor-smith

16/07/2026

16/07/2026

Asia Launch of the Practitioner's Guide on the Decriminalisation of Poverty and Status 👇👇👇

The ICwS, in collaboration with the International Commission of Jurists and The Commonwealth, launched the Practitioners’ Guide on A Human Rights-Based Approach to Criminal Law, Including the Decriminalisation of Conduct Associated with Poverty and Status at the Commonwealth Association of Law Reform Agencies Conference in Singapore on 13 July 2026.

This year’s CARLAs gathering took place under the theme ‘Law Reform in a Changing World,’ and it brought together leading statutory law reform commissioners, legal experts, and legislative drafts people.

Read more here: https://commonwealth.sas.ac.uk/news-events/news/asia-launch-practitioners-guide-decriminalisation-poverty-status


Campaign to Decriminalise Poverty & Status - Poverty is Not a Crime

15/07/2026

🌎 Study Human Rights from anywhere! 🌏

Applications are now open for the MA Human Rights by distance learning at the University of London!

Apply by 5 August for a September 2026 start.

Join this online, practice-focused human rights MA to learn from, and with, human rights activists from around the world. Postgraduate Diploma and Postgraduate Certificate also available. Study from anywhere and pay per module!

Modules include:

➡️ Women's Human Rights
➡️ Business and Human Rights
➡️ Translating Human Rights into International Law
➡️ Genocide, gross human rights violations and reconciliation
➡️ Human Rights, Sustainable Development and Environmental Justice
➡️ Indigenous peoples, minorities and human rights

https://www.london.ac.uk/study/courses/postgraduate/ma-human-rights


University of London School of Advanced Study - University of London

13/07/2026

: This evening we were honoured to host the CARICOM Reparations Commission on their second official visit to the UK, together with distinguished guests. We enjoyed two panels, the first explored the revised "CARICOM Ten Point Plan for Reparatory Justice: A Manifesto for the Coming Enlightenment;” the second focused on "The Global Reparations Movement” and recent developments.

Panelists included Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Ambassador Dorbrene O’Marde, Professor Verene Shepherd, Eric Phillips, Ambassador David Comissiong, Dr Marie-Annick Gournet and Dr Ron Daniels, whose leadership and scholarship continue to help shape this global conversation.

School of Advanced Study - University of London
University of London