International Courts
775 Articles
What is a War Crime?
A substantive approach to defining "war crimes" as serious violations of international humanitarian law could help bring a measure of justice in Syria and beyond.
The International Criminal Court Decision on Afghanistan: Time to Start a New Conversation
I did not anticipate waking up Friday morning to news that an International Criminal Court (ICC) Pre-Trial Chamber had rejected the Prosecutor’s request to authorize an investigation…
Julian Assange and Omar al-Bashir: What Comes Next for Two Global Fugitives?
Yesterday was a breathtaking one for global criminal justice. First, British police arrested Julian Assange at the Ecuadorian embassy in London and then, just hours later, the…
The ICC’s Afghanistan Decision: Bending to U.S. or Focusing Court on Successful Investigations?
"While it will be tempting to view the judges’ decision as simply a bend to the bullying power of the U.S., there is a larger and more complicated story here about charting a…
National Security at the United Nations This Week
The ICC rejects prosecutor Bensouda's request to open an investigation into the situation in Afghanistan, the UN calls for a ceasefire amid escalations in Libya, and Sudanese President…
Ouster of Sudan’s Bashir Is Only the Beginning
After 30 years in power, Sudan President Omar al-Bashir is finally out. But the coming days, weeks, and months will be precarious: concerns over the military takeover, a proliferation…
Accountability for War Crimes in Syria: The “Criminalization” Confusion
A new approach to defining what constitutes a "war crime" is needed to ensure domestic courts can provide accountability for war crimes committed in Syria.
To Wrest Back Rule of Law in Poland, Might EU Bureaucracy Finally Work?
After years of flailing in efforts to curb Poland’s government from eviscerating the rule of law, an arcane element of the European Union structure might actually be working…
Beyond Sanctioning Elusive War Criminals, Prosecute the Profiteers
Bidibidi is the world’s second-largest refugee camp. A sea of tents and huts spilling into Uganda from its northern border, the settlement now hosts more than a quarter million…
A Back Door to Controlling Judges: Poland’s Ruling Party Tries Another Ploy
Poland’s ruling Law and Justice Party has undertaken a systematic campaign for the past three years to control the Polish judiciary, culminating in recent, failed attempts to…
The U.S. Must Forcefully Oppose Blanket Amnesty for Civil War Atrocities in Guatemala
“All the people have disappeared.” So reads a declassified cable from the U.S. Embassy in Guatemala City, dated Dec. 28, 1982. The subject was an incident that occurred just…
Domestic Courts Step Up: Justice for Syria One Case at a Time
Further to Ryan Goodman’s recent post on the United States’ welcome support for the German request for the extradition of a high-level Syrian suspect, I have just finished…