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.
3,496 Articles

Letter to the Editor: Reply from Legal Adviser, Amnesty International to Ryan Goodman on Survey of Universal Jurisdiction
[Editor’s note: Ryan Goodman responds to this Letter to the Editor in a following post.] Dear Editor, I am writing with regard to the article “Counting Universal Jurisdiction…

Two Quick Reflections on Why al Maqaleh III Matters
Over at Lawfare, Raffaela Wakeman already flagged today’s (unsurprising) D.C. Circuit decision in al Maqaleh v. Hagel, once again dismissing for lack of jurisdiction appeals…

The Report of the UK Detainee Inquiry (December 2013)
On Thursday December 19, 2013, the long awaited Report of the Detainee Inquiry (“the Report”) was published. The subject of the Report was Britain’s involvement in US torture…

So Much for a New Drone Policy – Why Can’t the US Explain Why It Targeted a Wedding Party?
The New York Times has an important front-page story today by Mark Mazzetti and Robert Worth on last week’s drone strike in Yemen, which reportedly targeted a convoy of trucks…

Belhaj v. Straw: UK complicity in US rendition and torture
This morning the United Kingdom’s High Court issued its judgment in a case brought by Abdel-Hakim Belhaj and his wife Fatima Boudchar against the UK’s government and intelligence…

Senate Passes the NDAA
Late this evening, the Senate passed by a vote of 84-15 the compromise NDAA legislation that the House approved last week; it should be sent to the President for his signature…

More Breaking News: Adjournment Sought for the Kenyatta Proceedings
We’ve covered in the past (here, here and here) the legal and extra-legal efforts by Kenya and the Kenyan defendants before the ICC to get their case stayed or dismissed.…

UK Detainee Inquiry Report details Britain’s involvement in US torture and rendition programs
Across the pond, London has been politically rocked by the release of a report (full text) by an official inquiry into whether UK agents were involved in US torture and rendition…

Updates from Today’s 9/11 Case Hearings Before the Military Commission
Today was the second public session of this week’s pre-trial motion hearings in the 9/11 case before the military commission in Guantanamo Bay. As I am sure many readers…

Universal Jurisdiction Cases Involving U.S. Defendants
Ruchi Parekh’s recent post on the South African appellate decision on universal jurisdiction suggests that the ruling—which compels the South African authorities to investigate…

The Missing Moral Conscience of U.S. Foreign Policy: Where is the State Department’s Legal Adviser? [Updated]
Later today, the Senate will hold confirmation hearings for Caroline Diane Krass to serve as the CIA’s General Counsel, a position that just recently became vacant. Not letting…

Forced Transfer of Detainees with Diplomatic Assurances Against Ill-Treatment
Two recent developments have brought to the fore the issue of involuntary transfer of detainees to countries where they fear severe mistreatment such as torture or death. The first…