The RLI annual conference serves as a dedicated forum for bringing together decision-makers and practitioners, policy-makers, academics and students to share, discover and debate the latest research and cutting-edge developments in refugee protection.
It also reflects our success in acting as a global platform for furthering research, dissemination and legal and policy impact in the refugee law field.
"Refugee Law and Forced Migration Studies: Debates, Interactions and Futures"
15th Anniversary Conference
2 - 4 June 2025
The Refugee Law Initiative (RLI) 15th Anniversary Conference will be held in-person in 2025 from Monday 2 June to Wednesday 4 June at Senate House, University of London. The RLI Conference offers a dedicated annual forum internationally to share and debate the latest research and cutting-edge developments in refugee protection.
1. Thematic Papers and Panels
This year’s dedicated conference theme – ‘Refugee Law and Forced Migration Studies’ – revisits these fields, their debates and the connections between them.
The RLI was created in 2010 to promote research and collaboration on international refugee law. Since then, the refugee law field has expanded exponentially. But this field sits alongside, or within, a well-established field of forced migration studies with its own momentum and dynamics. Despite historical tensions between these fields, researchers and practitioners from a variety of disciplines have regularly sought innovative ways to develop and bridge them.
The conference seeks to reignite this debate, highlighting new and important directions in these fields, unpacking opportunities for mutual learning and reflecting on the remaining tensions. Possible topics for proposals for ‘thematic’ papers and panels could include:
- What is the rationale, focus and scope of “refugee law” and “forced migration studies” as fields? What are their limits? Where and how do the two fields connect with one another? Are there tensions between them still? Should they be resolved and, if so, how?
- How has “forced migration studies” developed over the last 15 years? Has it appropriately addressed concerns such as knowledge production and contemporary understandings of human mobility? Is there still a place for “refugee studies”?
- Is “refugee law” really a distinct regime of law? How does it relate to other regimes in national or international law? Are there current major fault lines in its interpretation or application? Where does its future lie?
- What are the merits of other ways of conceptualising these fields (e.g. “displacement” studies or “international protection” law)? How do they link to established disciplines (law, IR etc.) and to other multi/inter-disciplinary fields (urban studies etc.)?
- What are the major contributions of each research field to theory and practice? What can each field learn from the other? Where are the major gaps or blind spots? Have they created real theory? What should be their direction of travel in the next 15 years?
- What factors shape the development of each field? How are the fields constituted sociologically and institutionally? How have professional academics, practitioners, displacement-affected populations and others engaged with these fields?
After the conference, a selection of papers presented will be published in the Refugee Survey Quarterly journal, as a Special Issue of short pieces (c. 5,000 words) dedicated to this theme.
2. Open Papers and Panels
The remainder of panel slots will be open to ANY topic on refugee law or forced migration studies. They offer a platform for a broader range of high-quality research in this field.
3. Call for Proposals - Papers, Panels and Posters
On both “thematic” and “open” subjects, we invite proposals for individual papers and for panels of 3-4 papers (maximum). Proposals must be sent as emailed Word attachments. The subject line of your email must state whether your proposal is for a single paper or a panel and whether it is ‘thematic’ or ‘open’. Paper proposals must include an abstract of 300 words (max.) and author full name and institutional affiliation. Panel proposals must include the full name and institutional affiliation of each panellist and an abstract of 300 words (max.) for each paper included in the panel, and 300 words (max.) for the overall rationale for the panel.
We also invite proposals for posters to be presented at the drinks reception (see examples here). This is a space that newer researchers, taught students, etc. may find more suitable. Proposals not accepted for the panel sessions may be offered a place at the poster session. Please indicate in your email subject line if you are proposing a poster.
The proposal deadline has now been extended to Friday 14 February 2025. Send all proposals to rliconference@sas.ac.uk by this date. Proposals will be selected by the committee based on quality, relevance, and coherence with other submissions. Initial decisions will communicated within four weeks of the deadline. The decision of the selection committee is final. Those interested in submitting to the Refugee Survey Quarterly Special Issue should submit full drafts of papers (c. 5,000 words) by 1 May 2025.
We welcome proposals from researchers and practitioners at any career stage and from any country, including those with lived experience of displacement.
4. Registration
All attendees, including presenters, will need to register here for this in-person conference. Conference registration for one day only is not available. Registration opens on Monday 4 November 2024. Early bird tickets are non-refundable.
A. Early Bird - booking completed before or on 11 March 2025: Standard - £175; Student, unemployed etc. - £145; RLI Affiliates (RAs, SRAs, MA Refugee Protection students) - £120
B. Non-Early Bird - booking completed after 11 March 2025: Standard - £215; Student, unemployed etc. - £185; RLI Affiliates (RAs, SRAs, MA Refugee Protection students) - £155
Participants are responsible for making their own visa, travel and accommodation arrangements, which are not included in the registration fee. However, we can provide details for economical hotels close to the conference venue.
When making travel arrangements conference attendees should note that RLI working groups may plan to hold meetings on 5 June after the conference proceedings.
A limited number of places are available so please book early to avoid disappointment.
5. Draft Programme
You can view and download the draft programme here.
6. Practical Information
For details on the conference venue, including travel and accommodation, please view our practical information document here.
