Welcome to the Defense Institute of International Legal Studies
About Us
The DIILS motto is "justitia per orbem terrarum", which means "justice for all the earth."
- Defense Institute of International Legal Studies - DIILS - is a Defense Department organization that plans and executes professional legal education and international engagement focused on human rights, international humanitarian law, and the law of armed conflict. DIILS is a component of the Defense Security Cooperation University (DSCU) and directly supports the Defense Security Cooperation Agency’s (DSCA) mission of advancing US national security and foreign policy interests by building the capacity of foreign security forces to respond to shared challenges.
- Plans and executes professional legal education and international engagement focused on human rights, international humanitarian law, and the law of armed conflict.
- One of several Defense resources that support the conduct of U.S. foreign policy through security cooperation.
- Annually conducts more than 100 educational events all over the world! DIILS staff military lawyers, called JAGs or Judge Advocates, travel to partner nations to conduct courses, seminars and workshops for international military officers, legal advisors, and defense-sector civilians. DIILS offers nine resident courses for international military officers and civilians at in Newport, RI.
Latest News
DIILS Partners with the Dominican Republic
June 18, 2024
A team from the Defense Security Cooperation University’s Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS) recently traveled to the Dominican Republic to meet with members of their military and government as part of an ongoing Security Cooperation program.
DIILS Partners with Thailand
June 13, 2024
A Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS) team recently traveled to Thailand to conduct a seminar on Human Rights and the Law of Armed Conflict with members of the Thai Maritime Enforcement Command Center.
DIILS Congratulates Air Commodore Pramono
June 10, 2024
Air Commodore Agus Pramono, a DIILS resident course alumnus, was recently posted as the Indonesian Air Force Chief of Legal Services.
DIILS Engages with El Salvador
June 7, 2024
A Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS) team recently met with military members from El Salvador for a discussion on the law of armed conflict and international human rights law.
For more than 30 years, DIILS, located in Newport, Rhode Island, has been the lead U.S. Department of Defense Security Cooperation resource for global legal engagement with Partner Nation security sector institutions and personnel. As a component of the Defense Security Cooperation University, DIILS broad mission is to advance U.S. national security and foreign policy interests by building the capacity of foreign security forces to respond to shared security challenges in a responsible, accountable, and legally compliant manner.
DIILS Partners with Morocco
June 5, 2024
A team from the Defense Security Cooperation University’s Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS) recently traveled to Morocco to meet with members of their military as part of an ongoing Security Cooperation program.
DIILS Resident Course Graduation
May 31, 2024
Fifteen students graduated from the Defense Security Cooperation University’s Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS) 2024 Law of Military Operations course.
DIILS Engages with Timor Leste
May 14, 2024
A team from the Defense Security Cooperation University’s Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS) recently traveled to Timor Leste to meet with members of their military as part of an ongoing Security Cooperation program.
DIILS Partners with Mexico
May 9, 2024
A team from the Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS) recently traveled to Mexico to conduct a seminar on Human Rights and the Law of Armed Conflict with members of the Mexican military.
DIILS Congratulates Ms. Paula Gilevska, Republic of North Macedonia, on Her Appointment
May 2, 2024
Ms. Paula Gilevska was appointed to a diplomatic position to the Republic of North Macedonia’s Permission to the Office of Security Cooperation for Europe, United Nations and other International Organizations in Vienna, Austria. Ms. Gilevska is in charge of the cyber security portfolio, cooperation with Asian partners and UNODC programs.
Students Complete DIILS Legal Aspects of Combating Terrorism Course
April 17, 2024
Twenty-one students graduated from the Defense Security Cooperation University’s Defense Institute for International Legal Studies (DIILS) 2024 Legal Aspects of Combating Terrorism course.
DIILS Partners with Papua New Guinea
April 16, 2024
A team from the Defense Security Cooperation University’s Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS) recently traveled to Papua New Guinea to meet with members of their military as part of an ongoing Security Cooperation program.
DIILS Partners with Peru
April 9, 2024
A team from the Defense Security Cooperation University’s (DSCU) Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS) recently traveled to Peru.
DIILS Recognizes Brigadier General Diop, Senegal
March 28, 2024
Since March of 2022, Brigadier General Mactar Diop, Sénégal Army, has been the Chief of Staff of the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) Standby Force in Abjua, Nigeria.
DIILS Congratulates Major Texine Daw on Recent Appointment
March 5, 2024
Major Texine Daw, Guyana Defence Force, was recently appointed to Guyana’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations as First Secretary. Major Daw also serves as a legal advisor to the Mission.
DIILS Partners with the Bahamas
February 12, 2024
A team from the Defense Security Cooperation University’s Defense Institute of International Legal Studies (DIILS) recently traveled to The Bahamas to meet with members of the Bahamian military as part of an ongoing Security Cooperation program.