Author: Institute of International Legal Studies UP Diliman College of Law

MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND COOPERATION IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA

Volume 1

MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND COOPERATION IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA

Rommel J. Casis

DOI:

The South China Sea (SCS) holds great importance for all states of the world for many reasons, aside from the ecological and economic reasons discussed in this paper. But this paper mainly focuses on the environmental challenges faced by the SCS and the cooperation required from states to resolve these issues. Unfortunately, cooperation is hampered by territorial claims. However, this paper argues that these claims and the conflicts that arise from them do not erase states’ international legal obligations to the marine environment of the SCS.

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September 3, 2026
WHERE WILL THEY GO: CASE STUDY ON THE APPLICATION OF THE NON-REFOULEMENT PRINCIPLE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Volume 1

WHERE WILL THEY GO: CASE STUDY ON THE APPLICATION OF THE NON-REFOULEMENT PRINCIPLE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Justine Kaye O. Solano

DOI:

War has ancient origins—and where there is war, there are survivors fleeing for their lives. Fortunately, the right to asylum and refugee protection has existed alongside wars, owing to the perceived moral responsibility of individuals to protect those whose fundamental human rights are threatened or violated. Over the years, states have enacted domestic refugee laws, but the recognition of refugees and asylum seekers as an international concern came only after the First World War. In 1950, after the Second World War, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) was founded. It deals with humanitarian, social, and non-political matters. It also supervises the implementation of conventions protecting the rights of refugees and asylum seekers

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September 3, 2026
CASE REPORT: THE PROSECUTOR V. CHARLES GHANKAY TAYLOR: THE TREATMENT OF HEAD OF STATE IMMUNITY UNDER INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL LAW BY THE SPECIAL COURT FOR SIERRA LEONE

Volume 1

CASE REPORT: THE PROSECUTOR V. CHARLES GHANKAY TAYLOR: THE TREATMENT OF HEAD OF STATE IMMUNITY UNDER INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL LAW BY THE SPECIAL COURT FOR SIERRA LEONE

Jamil Sahid Fofanah

DOI:

The doctrine of head-of-state immunity, a feature of the Westphalian system of sovereign equality, historically served as an absolute shield for state leaders in the judicial processes of foreign courts. It aimed to promote the smooth operation of international relations based on the principle par in parem non habet imperium, meaning “an equal has no authority over an equal.” However, the twentieth-century mass atrocities during the World Wars triggered a normative shift toward individual accountability for serious international crimes.This shift has created one of the most profound tensions in contemporary international criminal law: the conflict between sovereign

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September 3, 2026
2026 Edition
Volume I

2026 Edition

Published: 2026-09-03

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We are pleased to announce the publication of the 2026 Edition of the International Legal Studies Journal

The International Legal Studies Journal (ILSJ) is a publication of the Institute of International Legal Studies-University of the Philippines Law Center (UP-IILS). ILSJ is a yearly publication that seeks to compile Philippine state practice through scholarly articles, book reviews, and a compilation of recent jurisprudence and issuances.
The 2026 Edition includes the following articles:
- Marine Environmental Protection and Cooperation in the South China Sea | Rommel J. Casis
- Case Report: The Prosecutor v. Charles Ghankay Taylor: The Treatment of Head of State Immunity under International Criminal Law by the Special Court for Sierra Leone | Jamil Sahid Fofanah
- Where Will They Go: A Case Study on the Application of the Non-Refoulement Principle during the COVID-19 Pandemic | Justine Kaye O. Solano
The 2026 Edition includes the following essays:
- Reflections on EDSA and Access Rights in Environmental Law | Cecilia Therese “Niner” Guiao & Jurella Guiahara D. Santos
- Considering ‘People Power’ through the Idea of Revolutions under International Law | Ruby Rosselle L.Tugade
- The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Myths and Realities of Philippine Trade during the Marcos Regime | Samantha Tirthdas van der Kleij
August 27, 2026
GENERAL CALL FOR PAPERS 2026

GENERAL CALL FOR PAPERS 2026

The Institute of International Legal Studies invites academics, law students or graduate students, and practitioners to submit original, unpublished articles, case comments or book reviews focused on international law and international relations to the International Legal Studies Journal (ILSJ).

The ILSJ is a peer-reviewed publication of the Institute of International Legal Studies (IILS) of the University of the Philippines Law Center.

See the attached image for specifications as to the topics covered and the submission guidelines.

Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis. For any inquiries, kindly send an email to ilsj_law.upd@up.edu.ph.

June 11, 2026
GENERAL CALL FOR PAPERS

GENERAL CALL FOR PAPERS

The Institute of International Legal Studies invites academics, law students or graduate students, and practitioners to submit original, unpublished articles, case comments or book reviews focused on international law and international relations to the International Legal Studies Journal (ILSJ).

The ILSJ is a peer-reviewed publication of the Institute of International Legal Studies (IILS) of the University of the Philippines Law Center.

See the attached image for specifications as to the topics covered and the submission guidelines.

Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis. For any inquiries, kindly send an email to ilsj_law.upd@up.edu.ph.

June 22, 2025