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.
3,695 Articles

No “State”-ing the Obvious for Palestine: Challenging the ICC Prosecutor on Territorial Jurisdiction
The judges have been tossed the hot statehood potato in a situation where neither the factual circumstances nor legal issues are sufficiently clear.

Congress Speaks: Trump Currently Has No Authority to Launch War with Iran
The House and Senate have passed resolutions that say President Trump has no authority to take the country to war against Iran.

Reduction of Civilian Harm in Afghanistan: A Way Forward
As all sides have jockeyed for leverage in Afghanistan, civilians have paid the price with over 10,000 civilian casualties in 2019.

Head of State Immunity is Too Important for the International Court of Justice
If the United Nations General Assembly, or another competent U.N. organ, simply requests an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice, then its member States would…

New Online Resource: War Powers and Presidential Practice
"Intended for use by policymakers, legislators, scholars, journalists and the general public, the Project is an expansive new resource that analyzes the war powers reporting practice…

Sudan Takes Two Big Steps toward Normalizing Relations: USS Cole and Bashir
Sudan’s transitional government took two significant steps toward improving its international standing and normalizing relations with the United States by first agreeing for…

Senators Call for Prosecution of Gambian Paramilitary Fighter in US Custody
Rare opportunity to criminally prosecute a person implicated in extremely grave human rights abuses in a U.S. court.

U.S. Issues Travel Ban on Sri Lankan Military Leader
The U.S. State Department’s announcement of a travel ban on Sri Lankan Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, current commander of the Sri Lankan Army and acting chief of the Defense…

Germany Goes 19th Century with New Statement on Law of Occupation — On Status of US Forces in Syria
Are U.S. forces in Syria “occupiers” under international law?

When Professionalism Mattered: Dissent Against U.S. Policy on Landmines
President Trump's retaliation against principled dissenters and his jettisoning of longstanding U.S. policy on landmines converge in a look back to see how another administration…

White House ‘1264 Notice’ and Novel Legal Claims for Military Action Against Iran
"The administration’s positions amount to a fundamental revision of existing legal foundations for military action against Iran that can be undertaken by this and future presidents."

How to Improve the Human Rights Committee Draft General Comment on Freedom of Assembly
Editor’s note from Ryan Goodman: Just Security is publishing a mini-forum on a significant document being drafted by the United Nations Human Rights Committee concerning the…