International Law
Just Security offers expert analysis of international law and its role in addressing global challenges. Our coverage includes litigation in international and regional tribunals, the process of international law-making, analysis of compliance and accountability for international law violations–including international criminal justice, and challenges to the international legal order.
3,521 Articles
The Soleimani Strike and the Case for War Powers Reform
With passage of historic war powers legislation on Iran, a leading authority homes in on what deep reform of the war powers should look like.
The Defense Department’s Measured Take on International Law in Cyberspace
A close reading of the Defense Department's statement on cyber by top expert, comparing it to positions of Australia, France, Netherlands, United Kingdom and others.
Balancing Syria Advocacy and Witness Safety: Have We Lost Sight?
Groups documenting war crimes and other violations must revisit their methods of evidence collection and improve compliance with “do no harm” principles.
The Benefits (and Drawbacks) of the UN Database on Businesses Contributing to Israeli Settlements
The United Nations Human Rights Council released a controversial database of 112 businesses engaged in activities associated with Israeli settlements on February 12. Although the…
War in Space: How International Humanitarian Law Might Apply
(Editor’s Note: The absence of a comprehensive analysis of the legal framework for military operations in outer space represents a troubling deficiency in the understanding of…
Preventing and Responding to Civilian Casualties: An Upcoming Discussion on Law, Policy, and Progress
Civilian casualties are inevitable in armed conflict. Nonetheless, international law requires armed forces to distinguish between civilians and lawful military objectives, and…
Int’l Criminal Court’s Afghanistan Decision Expands Prosecutor’s Power: What to Expect Next
The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) authorized a formal investigation into alleged crimes committed during the war in Afghanistan on Thursday, overturning…
National Security at the United Nations This Week (Feb. 29 to Mar. 6)
Editor’s Note: This is the latest in Just Security’s weekly series keeping readers up to date on developments at the United Nations at the intersection of national security,…
Russian Cyber Attacks Against Georgia, Public Attributions and Sovereignty in Cyberspace
"The attack on Georgia shows the opportunity costs of states not firmly grounding their reactions in the language of international law."
Mexico’s Amnesty Proposal: An Instrument of Transitional Justice?
As violence in Mexico reaches record highs, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has proposed an amnesty law aimed at benefiting individuals accused of involvement in the country’s…
NATO Recognizes Space as an “Operational Domain”: One Small Step Toward a Rules-Based International Order in Outer Space
(Editor’s Note: The absence of a comprehensive analysis of the legal framework for military operations in outer space represents a troubling deficiency in the understanding of…
Iraqi Militias Split Over New Iran-Backed Head, Reflecting Wider Divisions
Understanding the differences among the Hashd al-Sha’abi factions is vital as the organization gains increasing influence in government, including the official Iraqi security…