International Law

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Codifying Forced Marriage in the Crimes Against Humanity Convention: From Jurisprudence to Treaty Text

States now have an opportunity to codify forced marriage as a specific violation in a proposed treaty on crimes against humanity.
Smoke rises following strikes on Tehran on April 7, 2026. New strikes rocked Tehran on April 7 with Iran showing no sign of backing down as a US deadline loomed for it to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or have its civilian infrastructure "decimated,” according to the US president. (Photo by ATTA KENARE / AFP via Getty Images) /

Reprisals and the Paradox of Trust: Why Threats of Retaliation in the Iran War are Unlikely to Work

Reprisals demand trust between adversaries, yet they often spark escalation. Their ban under international law is both moral and practical.
A wide view of the room shows Secretary-General António Guterres on a screen at left in the background, with curved rows of desks facing the screen in the photo's foreground.

What the Latest Session of the Commission on the Status of Women Reveals About Global Rights

CSW emphasized that women are at the forefront of combating global backsliding, and preserving their rights remains central to protecting rule of law and global stability.
Two men stand talking with each other in the foreground as dozens of other men swarm around and on top of a building's ruins, along with heavy equipment apparently meant to be used for rescue or cleanup operations.

In the U.S. Strike on an Iranian School, What a Serious Military Investigation Should Look Like

A U.S. military operation resulting in such a civilian death toll as the Minab school strike in Iran demands a credible, thorough Pentagon investigation.
​Grey boxes filled with fragments of ancient pottery collected after an Israeli strike near the archaeological site of the Roman hippodrome in the southern Lebanese city of Tyre.

Self-Preservation and the Erosion of International Law

It is the violation of fundamental principles of international law that ultimately constitutes an existential threat to all members of the international community.

Fighting an Illegal War and Fighting a War Illegally: the Link between Regime Change Operations and International Humanitarian Law Violations

The relationship between regime change and IHL is of inherent tension, incentivizing battlefields where the law is viewed as an obstacle rather than an essential constraint.
Wide view of Tehran’s skyline with several tall plumes of grey smoke rising between apartment buildings under a hazy, grey sky.

An Unserious Justification for an Unnecessary War: Assessing the U.S. “Article 51” Letter to U.N. on Iran War

Former US State Department attorney writes that the United States' "Article 51" letter to the UN Security Council fails to identify legal basis for Iran attack.
Elinor Hammarskjöld (on screen), UN Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs, addresses the first session of the Preparatory Committee for the United Nations Conference of Plenipotentiaries on Prevention and Punishment of Crimes against Humanity, held from Jan. 19-30, 2026. (via UN Photo)

The Crimes Against Humanity Treaty Advances with First Preparatory Committee

PrepCom’s success will depend on leadership, diverse perspectives, and a shared commitment to justice in a divisive multilateral environment.

Report Offers New Evidence of Starvation Crimes in Darfur

The evidence in the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab report demonstrates that the world is watching and gathering information to eventually bring those responsible to account.
Wooden gavel on a blue background with glowing digital circuit patterns, representing the connection between the legal system​ and data privacy​.​ (via Getty Images)

Technology and the ICRC’s GC IV 2025 Commentary

Surveys how the 2025 ICRC GC IV Commentary integrates technology into its analysis of specific rules, while raising concerns about its treatment of data as property.

Aggression, Plain and Simple: A Response to Shany and Cohen on the Attack on Iran

Legal academics debate the state of international law and international institutions in light of the US-Israel-Iran War.

The International Community at a Crossroads Over Iran: The reawakening of “illegal but legitimate” or the “law of self-preservation”?

"The tensions we have identified are particularly acute when a State faces an existential threat and, as in here, from an enemy long committed to radically unlawful behavior."
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