ALSA 2025 meeting

"Capital Drug Laws in Asia" was published by Cambridge University Press in July 2025. The book offers a critical examination of the laws and policies governing the control of illicit drugs in various Asian jurisdictions. It focuses particularly on the strategies employed to address drug-related offences, with a special emphasis on the use of the death penalty. A range of jurisdictions—especially in Southeast Asia—have been deliberately selected to highlight the diversity of approaches within the “war on drugs” debate.

Key areas examined include the use of criminal law to combat drug offences, the motivations behind drug offenders, public support for punitive sanctions, the structure and interpretation of relevant laws, procedural rights of the accused, the use of mandatory versus discretionary sentences, and the imposition of the death penalty.

Six contributing authors will present the main themes of their respective chapters as well as offer their reflections, updates, and insights drawn from their ongoing research related to the book’s central themes.

I will be presenting the main theme of my chapter in the book as well as offer my reflections, updates, and insights drawn from my ongoing research related to the book's central themes

International financial institutions (IFIs) exert substantial influence over the food policies of their member States, and finance projects that significantly affect the food situation in these States. Despite this, the question of whether they have legal obligations to ensure the respect for, protection, and fulfilment of the right to food remains unclear. This article explores the possible obligations of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), one of the most powerful IFIs in the Asia Pacific region, in relation to the right to food. First, the article argues that the ADB has indirect human rights obligations through its member States, the majority of which are legally obligated to implement the right to food. Second, it explores other bases upon which ADB may be bound directly under international law. It argues, first, that the right to adequate food may have evolved into a customary norm; and second, that the ADB is a subject of international law and is thus bound by customary norms. It concludes that at a minimum, the ADB has an obligation to respect the right to adequate food, but there is no sufficient basis yet to explicitly claim that the ADB has an obligation to protect and fulfil such right. Nevertheless, the ADB has taken actions that align with the protection and fulfilment of the right to food.