Emergency law is invoked when ordinary laws are presented as unable to manage extraordinary circumstances. However, the application of emergency laws can vary by jurisdiction and by crisis, raising fundamental questions about who gains special powers, under what circumstances, and what specific measures they can take. Domestically, clarity can also be lacking due to fragmentation and inconsistencies as is evident in Dutch emergency law.

This international conference, organised by the Nederlandse Vereniging voor Rechtsvergelijking (NVVR), explores themes of legal coherence, democratic accountability, and the modernization of emergency law in times of crisis, from both a global and Dutch perspective. It examines innovative constitutional safeguards against power abuse in Asia, specifically regarding former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, and compares national responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Building on these global lessons, the conference analyzes the structure and constitutional basis of the Dutch emergency law system as a case study, highlighting its key challenges and broader needs for reform and modernization.

Speakers and subjects:

• Leon Verstappen: Introductory remarks;
• Bryan Dennis Gabito Tiojanco:
Constitutional checks on the unlawful exercise of emergency powers in a democracy: Asian innovations;
• Joelle Grogan: Emergency law from a comparative perspective; the corona crisis case;
• Adriaan Wierenga: Het systeem van het Nederlandse noodrecht;
• Luc Verhey: Grondwettelijk noodrecht en haar toepassing.