We are pleased to announce the publication of an internationally significant monograph “Critical Legal Perspectives on Contemporary Slavery: On the Presence of the Past”, published by Brill in 2025, which includes a chapter co-authored by Professor Łukasz Pisarczyk from the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Silesia. This is an important contribution to the global debate on contemporary forms of slavery, their causes, and legal options for counteracting them.

Volume 7 analyzes contemporary forms of slavery and legal regulations from a historical and comparative perspective, juxtaposing them with the legacy of the Atlantic slave trade. It shows that contemporary forms of exploitation, such as forced labor and human trafficking, are deeply rooted in social, economic, and racial structures shaped by centuries of enslavement.

The publication includes a general report and fifteen country reports from different regions of the world. Each chapter engages in an in-depth dialogue between past and present forms of slavery, pointing to both elements of continuity and areas where new forms of exploitation are emerging, including in global supply chains and care chains.

The volume includes a chapter by Professor Łukasz Pisarczyk from the University of Silesia and Professor Dagmara Skupień from the University of Łódź. The chapter “Preventing and Combating Modern Forms of Slavery in Poland: Historical Background and Current Challenges” presents an in-depth analysis of the Polish context, from historical conditions to contemporary challenges such as the precariousness of employment, the abuse of civil law contracts, the exploitation of migrants, and human trafficking.

It is one of the most comprehensive studies on contemporary forms of slavery in Poland prepared by a researcher from the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Silesia, which is part of the international discourse on combating forced labor and exploitation of workers.

We are pleased to announce that an employee of the Faculty of Law and Administration, Małgorzata Myl-Chojnacka, PhD has qualified to participate in the annual “Charles E. Scheidt Faculty Fellows” program!

This is a unique distinction awarded to selected scholars from around the world who are involved in the prevention of international crimes. The program is run by Binghamton University, New York, USA. It includes a series of training courses, study visits, and international conferences on international mass crimes.

Participation in the program is an opportunity to collaborate with leaders in global humanitarian efforts and to exchange academic experiences with researchers from around the world.

Employees of the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Silesia are working at full speed – this time they participated in two international conferences held in Slovakia!

The first one, organized by the Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, entitled “Právo, obchod, ekonomika/ Law, business, economics 2025”, took place in Štrbské Pleso on October 22-24, 2025.

During the conference, presentations were given by the following members of the Economic and Commercial Law Team:

• Vice Dean of the Faculty of Law and Administration at the University of Silesia for Scientific Research, Prof. Piotr Pinior,
• Wojciech Wyrzykowski, PhD,
• Mateusz Żaba, PhD,
• Dominik Mizerski, PhD,
• and Patryk Leks, MA.

In addition, presentations were also given by representatives of the Faculty:

• Katarzyna Pokryszka, PhD, DLitt
• Iwona Gredka Ligarska, PhD.

The second conference was organized on November 13-14, 2025, by Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, entitled “The Castle Days of Law in Banska Bystrica.”

During the event, members of the team once again presented their papers:

• Deputy Dean for Research and Director of the Institute of Law, Prof. Piotr Pinior,
• Mateusz Żaba, PhD,
• Dominik Mizerski, PhD,
• Patryk Leks, MA.

Representatives of the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Silesia also spoke at the conference:

• Deputy Dean for Education and Students, Urszula Torbus, PhD,
• Aleksandra Wentkowska, PhD, DLitt,
• Danuta Kurzyna-Chmiel, PhD, DLitt
• Michał Grudecki, PhD, DLitt,
• Katarzyna Czerwińska-Koral, PhD.

We are pleased to announce that on October 9, 2025, Mauro Arturo Rivera León, PhD, DLitt spoke at the 10th Biennial Conference of the Asian Society of International Law in Hanoi (Vietnam). Organized by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam, the event aimed to create a platform for the exchange of knowledge between scholars, practitioners, and students interested in international law.

Mauro Arturo Rivera León, PhD, DLitt actively participated in the conference, delivering a paper entitled “Autonomous Shipping in Asia: Rethinking Law Enforcement Challenges under UNCLOS,” which was prepared in collaboration with Barbara Stępień, PhD from the Jagiellonian University.

The presentation was based on a jointly written article entitled “Law Enforcement in Autonomous Shipping: Rethinking Jurisdictional Challenges under UNCLOS,” which will be available in the coming days in the International and Comparative Law Quarterly (Cambridge University Press).

During his speech he defended the notion that research on autonomous shipping in international law should focus on enforcement mechanisms rather than merely on defining legal requirements. We suggested that ensuring the enforcement of regulations pertaining to autonomous shipping should be pursued by exploring alternative approaches, such as reconceptualizing jurisdiction in light of fluid jurisdictional frameworks or implementing innovative solutions, such as a convenience enforcement forum.

Photo: Organizer

Monika Lisiecka, PhD candidate at the Doctoral School of the University of Silesia, has completed a research internship at Leipzig University, Germany, from June 23 to June 29, 2025. The internship was a part of the PROM program organized by the Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA).

This internship provided a valuable platform for advancing doctoral research through interdisciplinary studies that integrate legal sciences with political science. The experience contributed to broadening academic perspectives and fostering international collaboration, enhancing both the quality and innovation of the ongoing research.

Photo: Monika Lisiecka

On 28-31 May 2025, Katowice became the European centre of reflection and dialogue on the future of European Union law. It was here – at the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Silesia – that the official opening of the XXXI FIDE Congress, one of the most important events devoted to EU law, took place.

The Congress began with a unique event – the Young FIDE seminar, held at the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Silesia. The seminar received more than 80 applications from all over Europe, out of which nine young researchers representing, among others, Maastricht University, the European University Institute in Florence, the University of Exeter and the University of Copenhagen (Københavns Universitet), were selected to participate.

The presentations by the young generation of researchers were preceded by an inspiring keynote lecture by Professor Eleanor Sharpston entitled. ‘Young Wolves Should Be Eager To Make Their Mark: Some Ideas and Suggestions from an Older Wolf’.

In three thematic panels, each dedicated to one of the key areas of the Congress, participants presented their research findings followed by discussions with renowned experts Prof. Eleanor Sharpston, Prof. Miguel Poiares Maduro and Prof. Michal Bobek.

In the evening, participants met at the Welcome Reception – an event full of positive energy and inspiring conversations, which created a space for getting to know each other better and initiating fruitful networking. Extensive photo report from the event coming soon!

Extensive photo report from the event coming soon!

We would like to thank all participants for their attendance, commitment and amazing atmosphere – it was an excellent start to the Congress, which promises to be followed by days full of inspiring discussions and exchange of ideas! We would also like to thank Małgorzata Myl-Chojnacka, PhD for her great efforts in organizing the Young FIDE event.

Organisers:
– Polish Association for European Law Polskie Stowarzyszenie Prawa Europejskiego
– University of Silesia Uniwersytet Śląski w Katowicach
– City of Katowice Katowice City – live, work & invest

Host region:
– Silesian Voivodeship / Województwo Śląskie

Main sponsor:
– Jeronimo Martins Jerónimo Martins
– KGHM Polska Miedź KGHM Polska Miedź S.A.
– ORLEN ORLEN S.A.

Main Partner:
– Polish National Bar Council of Attorneys-at-Law Krajowa Izba Radców Prawnych

Young FIDE Partner:
– Polish National Council of Judicial Officers Krajowa Rada Komornicza
– Polish National Council of Notaries Krajowa Rada Notarialna

Photos by Marcel Goldmann
Photos by Wiktor Wojewódka

On Tuesday, May 6, 2025, as part of our Guest Lecture series, we had the pleasure of hosting Professor Anne-Laure Chaumette from Université Paris Nanterre, a specialist in international criminal law.

During a meeting with students from the Faculty of Law and Administration, the Professor talked about international criminal law in the context of the growing phenomenon of cyberbullying. Together with Professor Chaumette, the meeting participants leaned into the problem of hate speech on social media platforms such as Facebook or X.

The meeting was hosted by Joanna Nowakowska-Małusecka, PhD, DLitt, Associate Professor.

On the same day, there was also a meeting with employees of the Faculty, which was opened by the Dean of the Faculty of Law and Administration, Witold Kurowski, PhD, DLitt, Associate Professor. The meeting created a space to exchange experiences, discuss potential international cooperation and current issues, such as the application of AI at universities around the world.