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
Does Trump Have Legal Authority to Follow Through on John Bolton’s Threats to the Int’l Criminal Court?
Many observers have already written, on Just Security and elsewhere, of how National Security Advisor John Bolton’s predictable attack on the International Criminal Court…
Bolton, the ICC and the Rohingya
If the U.K. and the U.S. make it a priority, those responsible for the terrible crimes against the Rohingya could be held accountable. But now, with Bolton’s scathing remarks…
Post-9/11 Generation Reaches Enlistment Age in Unmoored ‘War on Terror’
Human Rights First International Legal Counsel Rita Siemion says it's long past time to ensure that war-based authorities are used only when specifically authorized by Congress…
Countries’ Reactions to Bolton’s Attack on the ICC
Here we lay out the reactions of different states that we’ve managed to gather so far after looking for statements by all 123 States Parties to the Rome Statute, as well as some…
Grading the Pompeo Certification on Yemen War and Civilian Protection: Time for Serious Reconsideration
Former State Department official (stepped down in May 2017) and top expert on civilian casualties and targeting operations analyzes the State Department's certification to Congress,…
The Legal Line Crossed in Bolton’s Attack on the ICC
National Security Adviser John Bolton’s Sept. 10 speech on U.S. policy towards the International Criminal Court (ICC) – prompted by the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber’s impending…
Why Bolton’s Assault on the ICC Is Not in U.S. Interests
As a personal crusade, John Bolton’s frontal attack on the International Criminal Court (ICC) is not surprising. He led the charge against the ICC early in the George W. Bush…
Rear Admiral Hutson: Why Senators Should Vote No on Kavanaugh
Why the U.S. military and national security are poorly served by Kavanaugh's support for extreme Presidential Powers.
It’s a Start – Why the Global Compacts on Refugees and Migration Matter
Both documents contain significant weaknesses. But they emerge at a time of urgency and provide a route for the crucial discussions that will still be needed going forward, because…
The UK Government Needs to Learn that Secrecy is Not the Answer to Increased Litigation
Following the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, large scale deployments of British troops on combat missions seem unlikely until national memories are healed and budgets are rebalanced.…
Why John Bolton vs. Int’l Criminal Court 2.0 is Different from Version 1.0
"This time around, the consequences for the court and the rule of law in the world will likely be far graver, and the return to a constructive relationship with the ICC in the…
Ambass. David Scheffer on John Bolton’s Announcement of “Ugly and Dangerous” Punitive Actions against Judges, Prosecutors of Int’l Criminal Court
"The punishments called for in the Bolton speech are ugly and dangerous."