President's Blog, June 2026
Posted: 13 Jun 2026 by
Hello friends,
I am just leaving Montreal, Canada after a highly successful Introduction to Family Law conference put on by the Canadian Chapter. There were 31 participants, excluding the Fellows presenting. The whole day had a lovely feel to it and many of the participants commented to me how funny, authentic, and smart our Fellows seemed to be (which is accurate!) and people pledged to fill out their IAFL applications next week. What more could we hope for? Thank you to the Fellows who presented (see photo attached), the Canadian Chapter for organizing, and most especially, Caroline Harnois who led the charge and arranged for her firm to host the event. I also always learn new things at our continuing legal education presentations. I now know to ask my clients if they could be of Scottish descent; that a separate property regime election in Quebec does not mean a spouse is waiving his or her share of the family patrimony, and to call Evan Marks if I want some advice on trying a tort committed during marriage. And we should have Ian Solloway make a toast at every IAFL event – he made everyone misty-eyed.
I also wanted to share the thoughts Avril Haines, our guest speaker at the Executive Committee meeting in Kuala Lumpur, shared with us. Ms. Haines was just named the President of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Her discussion with us provided me with a lot of clarity as to what is our organization’s role in the world as a model for conflict resolution, and our ability to unify despite the seemingly contrary state of being a group of zealous individual advocates for our clients.
Ms. Haines started by discussing the current geopolitical environment, noting that there have been approximately 60 interstate conflicts since World War II and that international order is under increasing strain. Global institutions are facing significant pressure, further compounded by ongoing military operations in the Middle East, Ukraine, and elsewhere. Ms. Haines observed that while certain conflicts – such as those involving Iran – may appear regional, their impacts are global, affecting energy markets, shipping routes, food prices and food security. The UN World Food Program estimates that instability linked to Iran could push up to 45 million people into hunger by the end of 2026. Ms. Haines also noted the disruptive potential of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence. Against this backdrop, Ms. Haines emphasized the increasing need of international networks to fulfill roles historically undertaken by governments, particularly in enabling large organizations to respond effectively to complex global challenges. She invited thoughts on how those dynamics related to family law practice and the potential risks of insularity within the IAFL.
Ms. Haines further noted that globally connected organizations can provide a model for constructive engagement and cross-cultural understanding. The greater the understanding, the better. Ms. Haines cautioned against having an overly local focus and highlighted the potential value to the IAFL of recognizing legal and behavioral developments across jurisdictions. She noted how global leaders increasingly use each other as paradigms; observing and learning from each other. She highlighted the importance of fostering constructive dialogue, particularly across differing viewpoints. Drawing on her experience in the intelligence community and, most recently, on a democracy and migration project, Ms. Haines noted that research provided a correlation between high migration levels and shifts in voter preferences, alongside declining public trust. However, within more diverse societies, there was greater resilience, particularly where there was meaningful interaction across cultures. In a survey of 40 democracies, the majority of respondents thought that democracy was the best form of government, but interestingly, two thirds of respondents did not feel that any of their country’s political parties represented their interests.
Research conducted by the Max Planck Institute of Social Science suggests younger generations, who engage across multiple identities and communities, may also exhibit more combative behaviors. Ms. Haines pointed to rising levels of anxiety, increased violence and exposure to conflict, and its developmental impact on a generation of children. There is a global reduction of trustworthy information due to decline of traditional journalism and the increasing influence of digital platforms which are incentivized to engage people in ways which make them angry and fearful. The prevalence of algorithm-driven information sources has reduced exposure to balanced perspectives, intensifying reactions and limiting critical engagement. These trends contribute to reduced willingness to compromise and a preference for immediate resolutions over sustained dialogue.
What is the IAFL’s role in these global dynamics? I think IAFL Fellows witness how individuals manage conflict and help them navigate it, not just for their own selves, but also for the greater good – the family must be functional; how families are increasingly mobile and what international cooperation can look like in addressing this new reality; that there are rarely easy fixes to our clients’ problems and when we work with fellow Fellows where there is trust and warmth, we have the stamina, goodwill, and expertise to engage in sustained dialogue to find solutions that are durable; how our Chapters can work together and not at cross-purposes while still expressing individuality; and our partnerships with non-governmental organizations, like HCCH, and sister organizations, such as AIJUDEFA, the Commonwealth Lawyers Association, LawAsia, and the East African Law Society, among many others. The IAFL has so much to offer. I truly believe this and will keep working towards finding ways for us to contribute to international dialogue on peace building.
Warmly,
Heather Q Hostetter
