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.
3,518 Articles
Rare U.S. Military Acknowledgment of Civilian Casualties in Yemen—Concerns about transparency persist
In a rare acknowledgment, the U.S. military admitted last night that civilians, including children, “were likely killed” in the commando raid in Yemen on Sunday. This acknowledgment…
Ukraine v. Russia: Before the International Court of Justice
With all the news around President Donald Trump taking office, and the mass protests, controversial executive orders, and pending lawsuits that followed, it may have escaped notice…
To Detain Lawfully or Not to Detain: Reflections on UK Supreme Court Decision in Serdar Mohammed
The United Kingdom Supreme Court recently delivered a number of high profile and long-awaited decisions, Belhaj v Straw and Rahmatullah v Ministry of Defence, and the joined appeals…
Executive (Dis)order and Refugees—The Trump Policy’s Blindness to International Law
President Trump says that his recent executive order on immigration is required by national security concerns. More specifically, he has said that its goal is to screen out “radical…
Trump’s First Counterterrorism Operations and the Prior Interagency Review Process
When a U.S. service member or unanticipated civilian dies in a U.S. military operation, hard questions need to be asked about what happened and how to prevent such tragedies in…
Trump’s “Safe Areas” in Syria — An Explainer on International Law
In an interview on Wednesday with ABC, President Donald Trump said he would “absolutely do safe zones in Syria.” The leaked draft of the Executive Order “Protecting the…
Trump’s Immigration Policy Risks Violating International Law—alienates US allies
The Trump Administration may be in for a rude awakening. Even if its proposed immigration policies survive the coming constitutional challenges, the administration will have to…
UK Supreme Court allows claims to proceed against UK officials for complicity in CIA torture
Earlier this month, the UK Supreme Court unanimously ruled that claims against UK officials for complicity in torture, unlawful detention and rendition are not barred by State…
Draft EO on Detention and Interrogation: Update And Additional Concerns
As is now well-known, the White House has disclaimed the draft EO which appeared to open the door to torture and revival of the CIA detainee program. (Sean Spicer: This is “not…
Understanding Complicity: When the US Makes a “Substantial Contribution” to War Crimes Committed by Foreign Partners
With power comes responsibility. In their new duties, Trump administration officials will need to consider the legal hazards associated with supporting foreign military partners…
How the European Convention on Human Rights Limits Cooperation with the Trump Administration
On the campaign trail, Donald Trump repeatedly promised to keep the Guantanamo Bay detention facility open and to “load it up with some bad dudes.” He also pledged to bring…
How News Media Can Get Misled by Tough Talk on Killing Terrorists
Image: US airstrike with 2,000lb bombs on ISIS bank in Mosul, Jan. 11, 2016 – CENTCOM Less than a half hour after Donald Trump took the oath of office on Friday, ABC News…