There was something of a celebratory mood throughout the week of the IBA Annual Conference in Miami this year. This was probably to be expected given it’s the first Annual Conference since the enforced hiatus imposed on the Association’s in-person events due to the pandemic. Over 5,000 participants congregated for the biggest event of the IBA’s conference calendar for the first time in three years.

At the same time, there were the most serious of issues to be addressed. As reflected in this edition of Global Insight – the traditional Annual Conference highlights edition – much time was devoted to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the unfolding war, human rights, accountability and so on. These issues go to the heart of the IBA’s founding mission: to promote and protect international rule of law.

At the opening ceremony, there was a video address from Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. There were sessions involving outspoken critics of the Putin regime, such as Evgenia Kara-Murza, the wife of jailed Russian opposition leader Vladimir Kara-Murza; we have an abridged version of the in-depth filmed interview she gave Global Insight. We also have an interview with the newly appointed US Ambassador-at-Large for Global Criminal Justice, Beth Van Schaack, who was present in Miami, and conducted a fascinating conversation with Ukraine’s Prosecutor General, Andriy Kostin, who joined live by video link. This, along with the interview with Kara-Murza, is available to view on the IBA’s website as part of the wide-ranging round-up of coverage of the Conference.

In this edition, we also have an article written exclusively for Global Insight by the Prosecutor General. This is the first in a series in which he will explain the major issues facing him and his team, as they set about the momentous task of holding to account those responsible for the appalling atrocities unfolding in Ukraine.