Vera Gowlland-Debbas was a highly renowned scholar in international law, whose vast career spanned both academic work and practice. She taught at the Institute from 1994 until her retirement in 2009, when she was named honorary professor. In parallel, she co-founded the European Society of International Law (ESIL) in 2001 and taught a course at the Hague Academy of International Law in
2007. She also participated in the proceedings of the International Court of Justice’s 2004 advisory opinion on the Legal Consequences of the Construction of a Wall in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, representing The League of Arab States.