The International Association of Constitutional Law || l'Association Internationale de Droit Constitutionnel
You are cordially invited to the international conference, which will take place on 16 and 17 June 2025, at the Faculty of Law, University of Barcelona and online, on the topic 'The role of constitutional changes in promoting coexistence and social reconstruction in societies in transition': https://www.constitutions4peace.com/about.
The project aims to analyse how constitutional changes, whether through the adoption of new texts or reforms, can foster coexistence and rebuild the social fabric in societies transitioning towards peace
Faculty of Law, UB
16-17 June 2025
Room: Sala A411 Maria Soteras (4th floor, new building)
Conference subject
This conference delves into the constitutional entrenchment of peace as both a fundamental value and a guiding policy principle. While some constitutions explicitly renounce war or incorporate "peace clauses" articulating a state's commitment to peaceful conflict resolution and international cooperation, others lack such explicit provisions. In these latter cases, one should examine whether constitutional frameworks nonetheless impose restrictions on the use of force in foreign and defense policy, or establish affirmative obligations to foster peaceful relations. Furthermore, how do constitutions address internal peace, specifically concerning—but also extending beyond—principles of human dignity, equality, and the rule of law?
Sustainable constitutionalism has a double meaning. On the one hand, it refers to constitutionalism's potential to foster sustainable societies and democracies, particularly in addressing environmental challenges. On the other hand, it portrays the capacity of constitutionalism to maintain its core values related to human rights, the rule of law, and democracy, in the face of unprecedented social, economic, technological, political, philosophical and climate changes, as well as in contexts of armed conflict and their aftermath. Constitutional sustainability is a play on words that illustrates all these dynamics as it highlights a crisis of constitutionalism but, at the same time, highlights how it can be maintained, and how to make it resilient and able to coexist in "new ecosystems”.