Alien Tort Statute (ATS)
73 Articles
Abu Ghraib Torture Survivors’ Landmark Win Gives Hope for Alien Tort Statute Cases
The Al Shirmari verdict may help other plaintiffs chart a path to navigate the Supreme Court’s constraints on Alien Tort Statute cases.
The Chiquita Verdict Expands International Human Rights Liability for Corporate Conduct Abroad
A recent verdict may have substantial ramifications for the future of international human rights litigation in U.S. Courts.
15 Years Later, Sri Lanka Continues to Deny Justice to Murdered Journalist
Lasantha’s murder, and the government’s failure to meaningfully investigate it, is a potent illustration of the importance and necessity of holding the perpetrators of crimes…
How to Get Away With Crimes Against Humanity: The Statutory Gap in US Law
Congress can bring justice for victims of crimes against humanity by passing a statute with universal jurisdiction.
The Just Security Podcast: The Mayor of Les Irois
Determined victims and creative lawyers used a U.S, law, the Torture Victims Protection Act, to hold a powerful mayor accountable.
Congress Should Close the ‘Crimes Against Humanity’ Loophole
Former U.S. Ambassador at Large for War Crimes David J. Scheffer and Kristin Smith on whether U.S. law is adequately equipped to investigate and prosecute atrocities as Congress…
Why We Need the Alien Tort Statute Clarification Act Now
"The ATSCA, while not a panacea, would revive one important tool for protecting human rights. It deserves the attention of the Senate Judiciary Committee now."
Is MBS Entitled to Head of State Immunity?
A leading transnational law scholar on why MBS is not entitled to head of state immunity, the act of state doctrine does not bar claims in a civil suit arising from Khashoggi's…
Answering the Supreme Court’s Call for Guidance on the Alien Tort Statute
Proposed Alien Tort Statute Clarification Act would clarify Congress's intent on extraterritorial jurisdiction over violations of laws of nations.
From Syria Torture Trial to Liberian Massacre Case – A Plea for Bolstering Witness Protections in Human Rights Litigation
Witness testimony was key in reaching today's conviction of a former Syrian intelligence official for crimes against humanity. But the testimony placed witnesses and victims at…
New Ruling Sheds Light on State-Paramilitary Cooperation in Colombia – and on the TVPA
A US court held that Colombian paramilitaries indisputably had a symbiotic relationship with the Colombian state and are therefore liable under the TVPA.
Historic Judgment in Liberian Massacre Case Advances US Law
A landmark case offers justice for victims - and new specificity on TVPA, ATS claims for crimes against humanity and war crimes.