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
Defense Policy Bill Should Require Reporting of Ex Gratia Payments
Without mandatory reporting on condolence payments in the National Defense Authorization Act, Congress—and the public—may remain in the dark about whether and how the Defense…
What’s In the New Draft National Defense Authorization Act
"The baseline draft bill, which is also called the chairman’s mark, touches on key issues ranging from the militarization of the southern border to deterring Russia and reemphasizing…
Focusing on Armed Non-State Actors: Protecting Education in Armed Conflict
While States have formal opportunities to commit themselves to the protection of schools, ANSAs do not, even though it is crucial to acknowledge the role they play in education…
Estonia Speaks Out on Key Rules for Cyberspace
Estonian President Kaljulaid stakes out a bold position on collective countermeasures in cyberspace and clarifies the obligation of due diligence.
Cooking the WMD Books: Politicizing the 2019 State Department Compliance Report
"I know. I used to work in State Department’s Bureau of Arms Control, Verification, and Compliance and then in the Office of the Under Secretary responsible for this report.…
Internationalizing the Monroe Doctrine: From Venezuela to Golan Heights and Back Around
The intended and unintended consequences of restructuring global order into spheres of geolegal power.
Bolton’s Stated Predicate for War With Iran Doesn’t Work
"Bolton has repeatedly threatened that Iran’s support for its 'proxies' could bring 'a very strong response'—even military force. By threatening military action against Iran…
Understanding the Decision to Revive the Sudanese Genocide Lawsuit Against BNP Paribas
The Second Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled that a lawsuit brought by victims of genocide in Sudan against the French mega-bank can proceed.
The Malvinas as a Post-Bellum Case Study: From Decolonization to the Memory of the Departed
After the International Court of Justice's Chagos opinion, the right to self-determination remains contested. But Malvinas is also a model for post-bellum diplomacy. What does…
A Critique of Defense Dept General Counsel Ney’s Remarks on the Law of War
"The law of war applies equally to U.S. forces and to ISIS, to Syria and to Russia. We should keep that in mind when we hear Ney recite Lieber’s dictum, 'The more vigorously…
When War Comes to School
Editor’s Note: Displayed throughout this piece, photos by UNICEF-commissioned photographer Marko Kokic tell the personal stories of children whose schools have been attacked…
A Step in the Right Direction: Militaries Changing Policies to Stop Using Schools
A fragile piece of papyrus dug up in Egypt in the 1970s shows that people have been struggling with the question of where soldiers should be quartered for thousands of years. The…