international justice
144 Articles

Recognizing the Armenian Genocide Marks a Historic Turning Point in American Foreign Policy
In a significant break with his predecessors, President Joe Biden formally recognized the Armenian Genocide on April 24, the annual day of remembrance for the massacres.

UN Human Rights Council Outlines Sri Lanka Abuses, But Demurs on Action
It’s not the robust independent mechanism victims campaigned for, or the referral to the ICC that they deserve, but it is a potential path to justice.

When War Criminals Run the Government: Not Too Late for the International Community to Vet Sri Lankan Officials
Developing such a list of individuals would signal to survivors some measure of recognition of the atrocities they have suffered.

UN Should Suspend Sri Lanka from Peacekeeping Over Human Rights Abuses
The government has failed in its international obligations to investigate and prosecute crimes, and has promoted alleged war criminals to high levels.

Highlighting Sri Lanka’s Abuses to the UN in Reviews and Strategic Litigation
The Human Rights Council should build on the documentation and advocacy NGOs have done over the years to encourage accountability for gross violations.

Heeding Victims’ Voices: The Struggle of Tamil Families of the Disappeared in Sri Lanka
Their experience shows that overdue answers--and justice for all victims--requires international action to break the seal that protects the military.

Truth, Justice, and the Narrative in International Criminal Law
International courts are inherently expressive: they provide a platform for a multitude of narratives. But recently, some prosecutorial narratives have begun to dominate in International…

Sri Lanka’s Evasion of Accountability Tests the Limits of the International Human Rights System
Twelve years of failed justice must trigger an honest debate on the ability of these mechanisms to prevent violations and deal with historical atrocities.

Shooting Ourselves in the Foot: Even Democratic Nations Are Undermining the International Justice System
The biggest winners of a weakened international justice system are the many authoritarian and dictatorial leaders in the world.

Universal Jurisdiction — the Most Difficult Path to Achieve Justice for Sri Lanka
The record shows that, if this is the only feasible route to accountability for now, countries will require additional support at the UN level to achieve accountability.

Emblematic Cases Expose the Long Road to Justice in Sri Lanka
For more than a decade, in one atrocity case after another, justice is delayed, denied, or even reversed, as the government pursues impunity.

Tamils – and Justice – Can’t Wait: The Need for Decisive UN Action on Sri Lanka
The credibility of the Human Rights Council and the UN system, given its “grave failure” in the past, depends on accountability for Sri Lanka’s atrocities.