Countries have used starvation as a war strategy for centuries, historically without being prosecuted. Three experts on hunger and humanitarian relief call for holding perpetrators accountable.
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Articles on International law
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The government’s plan to override the Northern Ireland protocol breaches the UK’s legal obligations.
Western European states are ignoring the international legal rights of children and using national security arguments to avoid responsibility for them.
Holding war crimes trials during active hostilities is rare. Proceedings in Ukraine also open the risk of Russian show trials, argues a law of war expert.
Countries would likely need to set up new courts to prosecute Vladimir Putin for illegally invading Ukraine – but this isn’t a sure bet he would ever be held accountable for his crimes.
Current trends suggest that powerful nations are defining the rules of resource use in space and satellite access in ways that will make it hard for developing nations to ever catch up.
Western officials say that Russia may officially declare war on Ukraine on May 9. An international relations expert explains why this day is significant, and why a war declaration would matter.
A new study adds up the potential legal and financial risk countries could face from hundreds of agreements, like those under the Energy Charter Treaty.
The US has frozen tens of billions of dollars worth of assets belonging to Russians and their government. A legal scholar explains why confiscating them is a bit trickier.
Instead of drawing on the lessons of its own negotiated settlement and its rich history of peace-making in Africa, Pretoria chose to appease Russia.
An expert on the history and politics of the UN says that the Security Council’s failure to intervene in Ukraine is a “black eye,” but the panel’s inability to act is not a design flaw.
The laws of war and what is considered acceptable and unacceptable weaponry suggest there’s a right and wrong way to kill. It’s unlikely any of the victims of war would appreciate the distinction.
President Biden said that Vladimir Putin had committed war crimes, after news emerged of mass civilian murders in Bucha, Ukraine. Three stories from our archive explain what this means.
Nearly all of the 129 aid workers killed on the job in 2021 were from the countries where they lost their lives.
There are a few warning signs that genocide is happening. In the Russian war on Ukraine, all of those are present.
Protecting the continent’s historical artefacts requires political will from governments – and a reawakening of cultural conscience among Africans.
None of the available methods for holding Russian President Vladimir Putin accountable are likely to actually punish him, and they may even make new atrocities more likely.
While the ruling is binding, it is not enforceable. Still, it could compel other nations to support Ukraine’s cause.
No state in the global community should have to earn Russia’s compliance with the law. If the rule of law is not respected, the entire global community becomes as vulnerable as Ukraine is now.
Vladimir Putin has a history of flattening cities in time of conflict. But alleged war crimes in Chechnya and Syria never resulted in charges, let alone prosecutions. Will Ukraine be any different?
Top contributors
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Associate Professor in Human Rights and International Law, University of Newcastle
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Course Co-ordinator, International Law Clinical Program, ANU College of Law, Australian National University
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Associate Professor, The University of Western Australia
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Adjunct Professor, Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania
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Associate Professor, Faculty of Law, and Deputy Director, Castan Centre for Human Rights Law, Monash University
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Executive Director, University of Dayton Human Rights Center, University of Dayton
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Challis Chair of International Law, Sydney Law School, University of Sydney
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Reader (Associate Professor) in Law, University of Kent
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Lecturer in Law, Murdoch University
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Senior Lecturer in Law, University of Westminster
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Senior Research Fellow and Associate Professor, Melbourne Climate Futures initiative, The University of Melbourne
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Adjunct professor, The University of Western Australia
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Lecturer, RMIT University
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Professor of International Law, University of Sydney
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Emeritus Professor of International Law, Western Sydney University
