UN Charter
191 Articles
With the Int’l Criminal Court Going In, Russian Soldiers Should Go Home
Former President of the International Criminal Court (2018-2021) writes that Prosecutor's now taking on the case should encourage President Putin to change course.
The Legal Obligation to Recognize Russian Deserters as Refugees
States have an international legal obligation to assist soldiers who flee punishment for refusing to fight a war of aggression.
Ahead of the State of the Union: Analysis from Diplomats, Top Experts
The State of the Union Address tomorrow comes at a precarious moment for the U.S. and the world.
Holding Putin and Russia Accountable: A List of Legal and Policy Options
The primary tools have been diplomatic condemnation, sanctions, and weapons shipments to Ukraine. More possibilities exist.
On Empathy, Scholarship, and Political Action: A Response to Lahmann
The situation on Belarus's borders sparks a debate on the appropriate path for international legal scholars. The latest from Aurel Sari and Ben Hudson.
Stirring Trouble at the Border: Is Belarus in Violation of International Law? – Part 1
Belarus has been criticized for using desperate migrants to pressure EU borders. But is it breaking international law by doing so?
In Afghanistan, Lest We Forget
As the UN Security Council hosts an emergency meeting, world leaders must understand what the abandonment of the Afghan people involves.
The Definition of Aggression and Self-Defense
Exactly forty-six years ago, on December 14, 1974, the United Nations General Assembly adopted, by consensus, the Definition of Aggression, “the most serious and dangerous form…
The UN Charter’s Original Effect on State Sovereignty and the Use of Force
In 1945, not all states were UN members and not all territories were states: Dehn explains how use of force and self-defense rights under the Charter reflect these different statuses…
Questions the Senate Should Ask State Legal Adviser Nominee CJ Mahoney
The State Department Legal Adviser is the most senior U.S. lawyer responsible for ensuring the United States upholds its international legal obligations, which is now, more than…
The United Nations Charter at 75: Between Force and Self-Defense — Part Two
A more complete view of the UN Charter explains why there are no unwritten exceptions to the prohibition of force.
The United Nations Charter at 75: Between Force and Self-Defense — Part One
As we celebrate the Charter’s seventy-fifth birthday, a deep dive into its negotiating history shows that the right of self-defense under Article 51 is triggered by an act of…