Call for Papers: 2nd Annual Nordic IHL/LOAC Symposium, Copenhagen, Denmark, 28-29 May 2026

CALL FOR PAPERS – NORDIC EARLY CAREER PROFESSIONALS

2^nd Annual Nordic IHL/LOAC Symposium

Copenhagen, Denmark, 28-29 May 2026

IHL/LOAC Implications for Nordic Preparedness in Relation to Emerging Threats and Technologies

We invite early career professionals (ECPs) from or based in the Nordic region to submit abstracts for the 2^nd Annual Nordic IHL/LOAC Symposium, co-hosted by the University of Copenhagen’s Centre for Military Studies, the Danish Red Cross, the Danish Ministry of Defence, and the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Through the lens of International Humanitarian Law/Law of Armed Conflict and related areas of international law (IHL/LOAC+), it will explore how developments in modern warfare – in terms of geography, actors, targets, and technology – have affected and will affect Nordic preparedness on the home front and in the European theatre.

The Symposium will take place from Thursday morning until Friday afternoon and will feature five panels of Nordic-based experts from State authorities, academia, and civil society as well as a number of global IHL/LOAC experts. The fifth panel, the subject of this Call for Papers, will consist exclusively of ECPs.

ELIGIBILITY

The early career professional panel is open to both academics and professionals who are either nationals of or based in a Nordic state (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) or one of their autonomous territories (the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Åland). Academics should be in the first five (5) years of their career post-PhD. Professionals should be in their first five years of work in the international-law space.

SUBMISSION

If you are interested in participating, please submit (1) an abstract of no more than 500 words on any topic related to the symposium theme and (2) a statement of eligibility no later than 28 February 2026 at 11:59 CET. Abstracts should be sent to Prof. Kevin Jon Heller at kevinheller@ifs.ku.dk.