The International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) is a global network of progressive lawyers and legal associations committed to defending human and peoples’ rights, promoting democratic principles, and advancing international law in the service of peace, justice, and equality.

Founded in 1946, IADL holds consultative status with ECOSOC and UNESCO. It works to facilitate cooperation among jurists and human rights defenders across the world, and actively challenges legal injustices rooted in imperialism, colonialism, racism, and economic inequality. The IADL also advocates for the rule of law, judicial independence, the right to self-determination, and the pursuit of genuine development.

Visit our website to learn more: https://iadllaw.org/ 

The 19th Congress will bring together legal practitioners, scholars, and advocates from around the world to:

• Address pressing challenges to international humanitarian law and just peace;
• Explore strategies for achieving justice and accountability;
• Strengthen international solidarity across legal and social movements.
  
  

The Congress will take place in Kathmandu, Nepal from 18 to 21 July 2025. Please note: this will be a fully in-person event. No online participation will be available.

The Congress is open to all interested participants. A registration fee of USD 200.00 to USD 275.00 applies, depending on whether you choose a shared or single room (excluding airfare and personal travel costs, and excluding any extra hotel nights).

Please be advised that all applications will be reviewed. Priority will be given to IADL member organizations.

• Register here: https://19congress.iadllaw.org/registration/

Delegates who will avail of the Educational Tour will have to pay extra fees. View the pricing page for more details.

The program will open with keynote speeches on current global issues and their legal dimensions. This will be followed by thematic workshops and commissions, focusing on topics such as:

• Palestine and the Struggle Against Genocide
• Peace and War
• Crisis in International Law and the International System
• Fascism
• Human Right to a Clean and Healthy Environment
• Struggles for Gender Equality and Against Discrimination
• Labor and Labor Rights
  

Participants must book their own flights and shoulder their travel costs. Once you have finalized your travel itinerary, please inform the organizing team of your arrival and departure details so that we can arrange airport transfers accordingly.

Visa Information:

Most attendees can apply for a visa on arrival at Kathmandu Airport. Please prepare approximately USD 30.00 for the visa fee.

However, Nationals of the following countries are requested to acquire Visa prior to their arrival from their nearby Diplomatic missions (Embassies/consulates) of Nepal Government.  

1.   Nigeria
2.   Ghana
3.   Zimbabwe
4.   Swaziland
5.   Cameroon
6.   Somalia
7.   Liberia
8.   Ethiopia
9.   Iraq
10. Palestine
11. Afghanistan
12. Syria
13. Refugees with travel document
    
    

If you are from one of these countries, notify us immediately so we can assist in processing your visa request.