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.
3,769 Articles

How to Hold Venezuela’s Maduro Accountable for Human Rights Abuses
The Trump administration's focus on the regime’s corruption, manipulation of the election process, and narco-terrorism omits other egregious violations.

National Security at the United Nations This Week (April 18-24)
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, human rights, and the rule…

First Yazidi Genocide Trial Commences in Germany
On April 24, 2020, six years after the Islamic State (IS) began persecuting and exterminating the Yazidi, the first ever trial addressing genocide against the religious minority…

Russia’s Humanitarian Law Obligations to Civilians in Occupied Ukrainian Territories in the Time of COVID-19
An examination of the Russian Federation’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Crimea and eastern Ukraine exposes a range of deficits that likely entail breaches of various…

Great Expectations: AFRICOM’s New Quarterly Report on Civilian Casualties
A look at circumstances under which civilian casualties may occur in Somalia, why the US military may be under-reporting the numbers, and what to do about it.

What Counts As Sufficient Transparency on Civilian Casualties in Somalia
Former National Security Council and Defense Department official writes about upcoming civilian casualties report from AFRICOM, and what will still be missing.

US Ramps Up War in Somalia, Killing More Civilians
While much of the world tries to fight a global pandemic that has already killed thousands, the U.S. military has been secretly stepping up its war in Somalia, killing civilians…

WhatsApp v. NSO Group: State Immunity and Cyber Spying
WhatsApp claims NSO implanted spyware on phones of human rights activists, lawyers, and religious figures. NSO says it can't be sued if it did so on behalf of (undisclosed) foreign…

Pompeo’s “Rights Commission” Is Worse Than Feared: 7 Concerns to Watch
There is a narrow window to truly examine how the U.S. government can advance, rather than undermine, equal rights for all.

ICC Afghanistan Torture Investigation Likely to Turn on Criminal Intent
Good-faith reliance on advice of counsel is a well-established defense in U.S. criminal law, but it has not yet been tested at the ICC.

Coronavirus Border Expulsions: CDC’s Assault on Asylum Seekers and Unaccompanied Minors
Relying on obscure 1944 provision that provides no such authority, CDC tries to block all asylum seekers and unaccompanied minors in violation of congressional statutes, writes…

The Time has Come to Have a Conversation at the U.N. on Self-Defence
Pablo Arrocha Olabuenaga, Legal Adviser to Mexico's Mission to UN, writes in his personal capacity about an important conversation on international law.