European Migration Law in a Global Perspective

About the Conference

The conference will explore key issues in European migration law from a global perspective. Through two expert panel discussions, the event will offer comparative insights into the development, implementation, and challenges of migration law across various regions.

The first panel will focus on the Philippine perspective on migration and the evolution of migration law. For decades, migration has been a central element of the Philippines' social and economic landscape. As both a country of origin and destination, the Philippines presents a unique and complex viewpoint. Panelists will discuss topics such as legal and institutional mechanisms designed to protect migrants' rights, the regulation of labor migration—particularly concerning Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)—the legal challenges related to labor and forced migration, and the influence of international standards on domestic migration law. Professors and experts from leading Philippine universities will present examples of recent reforms, current trends, and the tensions between national sovereignty and global human rights standards. This panel will offer Polish participants a valuable perspective by connecting the regional context of Southeast Asia with broader global social dynamics.

The second panel will focus on migration policies in Poland and the European Union. In light of ongoing humanitarian crises, increased migratory pressures, and political tensions, European migration law is rapidly evolving. Policymakers and institutions strive to balance national security, human rights, and the principle of solidarity. This panel will examine the development of the EU's common asylum and migration policy and the impact of new legal regulations—such as the Pact on Migration and Asylum—on national systems. It will also address the challenges faced by Polish migration law amidst increasing numbers of refugees and labor migrants. Additionally, the panelists will discuss the role of courts and administrative bodies in safeguarding the rights of foreigners. The panel will offer an opportunity to reflect on the growing significance of migration law as a tool for shaping both domestic and foreign policy in EU member states. Moreover, it will showcase examples of best practices, along with potential risks arising from current legislative trends.

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Speakers

Katarzyna Antolak

Ph.D. / Associate Professor

Katarzyna Antolak-Szymanski, Ph.D. / Associate Professor, is a mediator and attorney at law. Professionally, she is interested in methods of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and labor law. While working as an evaluator of mediation programs available in American courts, she conducted comparative analysis of mediation and instances of mandatory mediation in selected legislations. She is also a keen proponent of mediation as a way of solving conflicts between individual parties and in the society. She initiated a series of conferences to mark the International Mediation Day at SWPS University. Professor Antolak-Szymanski is a Senior Assistant at the Labor and Social Security Chamber of Poland’s Supreme Court. Read the full bio

Maita Chan-Gonzaga

Professor

Maita Chan-Gonzaga is a law professor and Vice Dean for Academic Affairs (since 2018) at Ateneo Law School, Ateneo de Manila University. She specializes in political law, civil law, human rights, and legal ethics. She also teaches at Ateneo de Zamboanga University College of Law and in the Master of Laws programs at Universidad de Deusto and Universidad Internacional de Andalucía, where she served as co-director of the Spanish Law course (2020–2021). Before joining Ateneo Law School in 2015, she served as commissioner—with the rank of undersecretary—at the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG, 2010–2015), appointed by President Aquino. She earned her degree in psychology (cum laude, 1997) and her Juris Doctor (2002, valedictorian, St. Thomas More Award) from Ateneo, and holds a Magister Juris from Oxford University (2008). She is a member of the International Law and International Affairs Committee of the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and served as a civil law examiner for the Philippine Bar Examinations (2018). She participated in the 16th International Anti-Corruption Conference (2015), where she addressed issues of asset recovery and legal ethics.

Paweł Kowalski

Ph.D. / Assistant Professor

Paweł Kowalski holds a doctoral degree in law. He is an active legal counsel who has been combining law with new technologies for years, particularly focusing on artificial intelligence (AI). His work centers on conducting training sessions and workshops on the practical application of AI tools in legal practice and knowledge management across various sectors and institutions. He collaborates with law firms, pharmaceutical companies (e.g, Adamed and AstraZeneca), public administration (e.g, the City of Warsaw and Gdańsk Center for Shared Services), and educational institutions, such as SWPS University and the WSB University in Dąbrowa Górnicza. His training sessions are addressed not only to professionals but also to students and individuals who wish to enhance their knowledge about AI and law, provide solutions to improve work efficiency through AI integration, and include tools such as ChatGPT in legal work. Academically, Paweł Kowalski specializes in medical law, international law, and the analysis of legal technologies. His publications span a wide range of topics, from issues related to medical confidentiality and liability for its breach, to the legal aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic, addressing pressing public health legal challenges. Notable works include his chapter in the monograph Medical Confidentiality and Liability for its Breach (2021), the article "Correction of Errors in Legal Acts of the European Union" (2024), and a chapter on the COVID-19 pandemic in Pandemic COVID-19 and Citizen Rights and Freedoms (2020). Additionally, he explores the role of emerging technologies in law, such as blockchain, as discussed in his work on blockchain technology’s impact on European society. Read the full bio

Łukasz Majewski

Ph.D. / Assistant Professor

Łukasz Majewski is a lawyer whose academic interests focus on public international law, substantive and procedural criminal law, and legal history. At SWPS University, he teaches courses in public international law, criminal law and procedure, and the origins of legal institutions.

Ryan Jeremiah Donato Quan

Professor

Ryan Jeremiah Donato Quan is a respected Filipino lawyer and professor at Ateneo Law School, specializing in international human rights law. He is the coordinator of the Graduate Legal Studies Institute at Ateneo de Manila University, where he conducts research and teaches courses on human rights, labor law, gender equality, children’s rights, and human trafficking. At the Ateneo Human Rights Center, he led the internship program, supporting initiatives for women’s rights, indigenous communities, and environmental protection. Quan earned his LL.M. (summa cum laude, 2015) from the University of Notre Dame and his Juris Doctor (2008) from Ateneo Law School. His publications—including Securing Women’s Rights Amid the Changing Climate—explore the intersections of human rights and climate change. A frequent speaker at international conferences, he brings valuable perspectives to discussions on social justice and legal policy. He previously served as an advisor to the Commission on Human Rights of the Philippines.

Amparita S. Sta. Maria

Professor

Amparita S. Sta. Maria is a distinguished legal scholar, lecturer, and researcher at Ateneo de Manila University, where she serves as director of the Graduate Legal Studies Institute and director of the Urduja Office for Women's Rights at the Ateneo Human Rights Center. She graduated with honors from Ateneo Law School (LL.B.) and earned her Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the University of Toronto through the Reproductive Health Fellowship, which focuses on women's rights and reproductive health. She joined the Ateneo faculty in 1991 and, in 2002, introduced the course Gender and the Law, which addresses women's rights and gender-based discrimination. As a professor at the Philippine Judicial Academy, she conducts training for judges, lawyers, and court personnel on human rights, women’s rights, and gender sensitivity. Her research interests include family law, human rights, women’s rights, gender issues, migration, and reproductive health. Sta. Maria actively participates in conferences, including international events such as the CALESA Conference in 2023, where she delivered a lecture on reproductive health and gender justice. She is recognized as an expert in human rights and gender equality and her work contributes significantly to advancing legal education and protecting rights in the Philippines.

Organizers

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Location

SWPS University, Chodakowska 19/31, Warsaw, Poland, room S302