International Law

International Criminal Law

× Clear Filters
765 Articles
International Court of Justice chambers.

Symposium: Is There a Role for International Courts in Ending Wars?

Judicial involvement in ongoing armed conflicts should be examined from multiple vantage points: courts, victims, parties to conflict, and broader goals of peace and security.
Wide shot of the International Court of Justice courtroom, with judges seated in a row behind a long elevated bench beneath a large mural, and rows of delegates and observers seated at desks facing the bench, listening to ongoing proceedings.

Courts in Wartime: A Level Playing Field for Peace

Although international courts have limits, they can do what few other peaceful dispute resolution mechanisms can when it comes to ending war.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) and Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Berset (R) speak at podiums in front of a light blue backdrop, next to the blue flag with a circle of gold stars that represents the European Union and the Council of Europe and the edge of a Ukrainian flag showing on the left edge of the image.

From Commitment to Action: The Next Steps in Holding Russia’s Leaders Accountable for the Crime of Aggression Against Ukraine

The Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression in Ukraine is a step toward closing a longstanding gap in international criminal accountability.
Wooden judge’s gavel lies next to a small globe on a reflective surface, symbolizing international justice and the global reach of legal decisions.

Suspend Your Judgment? The Role of International Courts in Ending Wars

When international courts intervene in active wars, they must contend with how (and whether) they can contribute to ending wars and shape the post-war aftermath. 
Gavel and a globe

Governments Need to Disrupt the Business of War Crimes: And No, Sanctions Are Not Enough

If governments are serious about accountability for atrocities, they must start following the money and treating international crimes like the big business they are.
Bronze Lady Justice statue with balanced scales stands beside a wooden judge’s gavel resting on a law book, in front of a stack of legal volumes on a dark background.

When the Warning Bells Ring: Judicial Awareness in War

By heeding the warning bells and embracing a do‑no‑harm principle, international courts can denounce abuse while preserving the credibility of international justice.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky gestures while walking away from the International Criminal Court building in The Hague during his first visit to the Netherlands on May 4, 2023.

Assessing the ICC’s Impact in Ukraine

An analysis of the ICC’s warrants against Putin and Lvova-Belova, exploring their real impact on diplomacy, deterrence, and justice in Ukraine.
3D rendering of the scales of justice and a wooden gavel on a desk (via Getty Images).

International Criminal Court Intervention in Civil Wars: A Tradeoff Between Atrocity Prevention and Peace

Although ICC intervention does appear to deter atrocities, on balance, its involvement in ongoing civil wars fails to facilitate peaceful settlement in most cases.
Visualization of digital justice

Securing Justice for Cyber-Enabled International Crimes

A new ICC policy provides a valuable framework for the investigation of cyber-enabled international crimes.
Close-up of a bronze Lady Justice statue holding balanced scales in front of a blurred modern office background, symbolizing fairness and the law.

International Human Rights and Criminal Courts and the End of War

The relationship between international courts and States shapes how they provide accountability, build peace, and respond to backlash.
U.N. Security Council members seated in a circular chamber raise their hands to vote unanimously for Resolution 808 establishing a war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, 22 February 1993.

Pursuing Truth, Not Peace: International Courts’ Limited Ability to Help End Wars

International courts rarely end wars, but when designed humbly, creatively, and fairly, they can help parties choose law over war—turning justice into a path toward peace.
General view taken at the start of the first hearing at the International Court of Justice in which Myanmar is accused of committing genocide against the country's Muslim minority, the Rohingya, in the Hague on January 12, 2026. The Gambia filed the genocide case in cooperation with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in 2019. Myanmar's military deliberately targeted the Rohingya minority in a bid to destroy the community, Gambia's Justice Minister Dawda Jallow told the International Court of Justice Monday at the start of a genocide hearing. (Photo by Phil Nijhuis / ANP / AFP via Getty Images)

Proving Genocide: The Burden of Proof

The Gambia has not shifted the burden of proof in the Gambia v. Myanmar ICJ case; rather, Myanmar faces a tactical choice in its response.
1-12 of 765 items

DON'T MISS A THING. Stay up to date with Just Security curated newsletters: