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An engineer points at a screen with markings for people (in red) and vehicles (in yellow)

Will the Next U.N. Counterterrorism Strategy Hold States Accountable For Their Use of AI?

The 9th U.N. Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy should insist that AI-enabled counterterrorism policies and practices demonstrably comply with international law.
Close-up of several metal handguns laid side by side on a table, their barrels and triggers visible in tight rows, representing some of the thousands of weapons seized by the Mexican Army from drug traffickers in northern Mexico in January 2017. Gun reads: "U.S.A. [...] Springfield, Mass."

Firearms Trafficking Comes to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in Recent Advisory Opinion

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights' recent advisory opinion addresses the obligations of States and private actors to prevent and combat illicit trafficking of firearms.
Wide shot ​view of the entrance to Abu Ghraib prison west of Baghdad ​on May​ 2, 2004, showing high concrete walls, a central gate, and a watchtower under a hazy sky​.

Fourth Circuit Affirms $42 Million Jury Verdict in Abu Ghraib Case

​In Al Shimari,​ the Fourth Circuit affirmed ​two Alien Tort Statute claims: conspiracy to commit torture and conspiracy to commit cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.
Elinor Hammarskjöld (on screen), UN Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs, addresses the first session of the Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference of Plenipotentiaries on Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Humanity, held from Jan. 19-30, 2026. (via UN Photo)

The Crimes Against Humanity Treaty Advances with First Preparatory Committee

PrepCom’s success will depend on leadership, diverse perspectives, and a shared commitment to justice in a divisive multilateral environment.

Report Offers New Evidence of Starvation Crimes in Darfur

The evidence in the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab report demonstrates that the world is watching and gathering information to eventually bring those responsible to account.
Wooden gavel on a blue background with glowing digital circuit patterns, representing the connection between the legal system​ and data privacy​.​ (via Getty Images)

Technology and the ICRC’s GC IV 2025 Commentary

Surveys how the 2025 ICRC GC IV Commentary integrates technology into its analysis of specific rules, while raising concerns about its treatment of data as property.
Under a hazy, grey sky, a convoy of white vehicles drives along a dusty road near Saraya Square in western Gaza City on Jan​. 19, 2025. The vehicles are marked with the the International Committee of the Red Cross' stickers and flags.

“Significantly Diminished”: Commenting Anew on Article 23 of Geneva Convention IV in a Transformed Legal Context

New Commentary on GC IV describes Article 23—the treaty’s key provision governing the duty to allow the passage of essentials to civilians—as "significantly diminished" today.
EU and Ukrainian flags fly in the wind in front of the Berlaymont, the EU Commission headquarter for the 4th year anniversary of the full scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia, on February 23, 2025 in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Thierry Monasse/Getty Images)

Toward A Just and Lawful Peace in Ukraine: Part II

As the war in Ukraine continues to unfold, international lawyers must keep insisting that law be injected into diplomacy and accountability into power politics.
Exterior view of the International Committee of the Red Cross headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, a large white and tan multi-story building with rows of windows and the ICRC flag on the roof, under a clear blue sky.

Closing Loopholes Across Time: the ICRC’s New Commentary on the Fourth Geneva Convention

​The ICRC's updated Commentary on the Fourth Geneva Convention fills a loophole-closing function and reasserts international humanitarian law's core protective purpose.
Close-up of a wooden judge’s gavel resting on a sound block in front of stacked law books, symbolizing law, justice, and court proceedings.​

Looking Forward: What Can Courts Do and When

Given international courts current role and relevant limitations in ending wars, how can courts play a more meaningful role in ending war, or in preventing a return to war?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks at the Diplomatic Conference for the Adoption of the Convention Establishing a Special Tribunal for the Crimes of Aggression Against Ukraine at the Hague on December 16, 2025 (via Council of Europe Media Gallery)

Toward A Just and Lawful Peace in Ukraine: Part I

A review of what law and lawyers have contributed toward the goal of a just and lawful peace in Ukraine over the past four years.
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.
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