UN Charter

Highlights:

(L-R) Deputy Minister of Justice of Ukraine Iryna Mudra, the European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice and Rule of Law Michael McGrath, the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas and the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Berset standing at white podiums in front of a blue backdrop.

International Law at the Precipice: Holding Leaders Accountable for the Crime of Aggression in Russia’s War Against Ukraine

The Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine cannot be treated as a bargaining chip in negotiations to end hostilities.
U.S. President Donald Trump (C) and Vice President JD Vance meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office at the White House on February 28, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Negotiations at Gunpoint: Does U.S. Pressure on Ukraine for a Minerals Deal Amount to Unlawfully Procuring a Treaty by Use of Force?

Coercion leveraged by the U.S. to secure Ukrainian mineral resources could be deemed use of force, rendering any resulting treaty void.
A person wearing a Panamanian flag steps on a U.S. flag.

Upending the International Order: Why Undermining the UN Charter and US Defense Commitments is Self-Defeating

The President should understand that bellicose threats and unreliability as an ally may leave the United States poorer and more vulnerable on his watch and will frustrate his nuclear…
The blue flag of the International Criminal Court flies outside of the organization's headquarters.

Why the ICC Should Respect Immunities of Heads of Third States

International courts must respect international law, also in dire times. The International Criminal Court’s denial of immunity to heads of third States does not.
Image of a tree rings with associated dates

Pax Americana: How Not to Hide an Empire

The international order worth fighting for is a radically different world altogether.
Kyiv buildings at night with explosions in the sky

The Voices from Kyiv: Is the World Legal Order in Decay?

The Russian invasion of Ukraine, and states’ reactions to it, are setting the stage for possible changes to the international legal order. In the end, this is a battle for a…
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130 Articles
Kyiv buildings at night with explosions in the sky

Голоси з Києва: чи це епоха руйнування світового правопорядку?

Існують різні переломні точки в історії, які визначили метаморфозу міжнародного правопорядку.
US Marine Corps hang barbed wire

U.S. Military Action in Mexico: Almost Certainly Illegal, Definitely Counterproductive

U.S. military action in Mexico would not only be illegal, it would sabotage Trump’s stated immigration policy priorities and could lead to retaliation against Americans.
Historical map featuring Greenland

More Territory, More Problems: Can Trump Seize Greenland?

An essay on the lessons for the Trump administration of territorial acquisition from the McKinley era and the dangers it would pose today.
Alternating American flags and United Nations flags, set around a pole, wave in the wind.

“The Trump Administration’s Attacks on International Law and Institutions”: Public Statement of American Human Rights Experts, Current and Former Members of UN Bodies

Since the 20th of January, we have watched with increasing alarm as the administration of U.S. President Donald J. Trump has sought to repudiate the commitments of the United States…
A group of representatives of small island nations stand, smiling for a group photo, in front of the International Court of Justice building.

An Interim Report on the ICJ’s Climate Advisory Opinion

The International Court of Justice's proceedings in a climate change advisory opinion case stand to issue important, authoritative guidance about the nature and interaction of…
Guterres gesturing at the podium in the UN General Assembly chamber.

What the UN’s Summit of the Future Can Teach Us – When the Dust Settles

The Summit did not reinvigorate multilateralism. Multilateralism survived, yes, but did not exactly get a new lease on life.
In front of a large golden wall with the globe symbol of the United Nations, stands President of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. He is addressing several seated audience members at the UN General Assembly.

The UN’s New Pact for the Future: A Milestone That Can Set a Path for Change

How the recent summit could spur long-overdue structural changes necessary for more inclusive, networked, and effective global governance.
The episode title appears with sound waves behind it.

The Just Security Podcast: What to Expect from the 2024 U.N. General Assembly

Unpacking the key themes around this year’s U.N. General Assembly is Richard Gowan, the U.N. Director at the International Crisis Group.
The episode title appears with sound waves behind it.

The Just Security Podcast: Assessing the Laws of War

Cordula Droege, chief legal officer and head of the legal division of the International Committee of the Red Cross, assesses the laws of war.
The city of Aleppo with smoke rising in the background.

War and What We Make of the Law

Compliance with international humanitarian law must be about fulfilling its humanitarian purpose, not skirting its limits.
Fighters from the Free Syrian Army cheer and react as they fight against the Islamic State (IS) group jihadists on the outskirts of the northern Syrian town of Dabiq, on October 15, 2016.

Armed Groups and International Law: Introduction to the Symposium

An exploration of armed groups and international law outside of conflict; the criminal liability of armed groups and their members; rebel governance; and the role of armed groups…
The U.N. Security Council sits in around a large open circular table, with a mural in the background.

Q&A with Eliav Lieblich on Iran-Israel Hostilities

Expert insight on the legality of recent attacks by Iran and Israel, how domestic politics could impact an Israeli response, and prospects for de-escalation.
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