In association with the International Commission of Jurists

North America

11 Feb

[Sanmay Moitra is a research assistant at ‘Human Rights in Practice’ and an Advanced LLM candidate at Leiden University. He has previously studied international law at the University of Oxford and Georgetown University.] On January 18, the full text of a Charter for Donald Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’ (BoP) was made public. Although UNSC Resolution 2803 had first authorised and conceived of the...

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09 Feb

[Elodie Tranchez, PhD, is an international human rights lawyer and teaches public international law, including the law of treaties and the law of international organizations, at the University for Peace (UPEACE). Elvira Domínguez-Redondo is professor of law at Kingston University, specialising in international law, human rights and United Nations mechanisms.] On 4 January 2026, the United States adopted Executive Order 14199, withdrawing from a wide range...

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04 Feb

[Serafeim Liakopoulos is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School (LL.M.) and is currently a study visitor at the European Court of Human Rights] International comity, as understood by U.S. private international law, is not a binding rule of international law but a principle of discretionary deference towards foreign sovereigns and their legal acts. It encompasses a range...

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03 Feb

[Thairi Moya Sánchez (PhD) is a full-time professor of public international law at Complutense University of Madrid] Over recent months, the Venezuela file has moved into an accelerated escalation: international airlines suspended or curtailed operations amid official safety advisories and mounting regional military risk; Washington announced coercive maritime measures against sanctioned oil shipments; and, on 3 January 2026, U.S. forces conducted...

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02 Feb

[Diana Kearney is a former Visiting Instructor of Clinical Law at Cardozo Law School Human Rights & Atrocity Prevention Clinic] The Trump administration’s abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and subsequent announcement that the U.S. intends to run the nation is the administration’s most shocking move to date– a tall order for a President that has generated a steady torrent of...

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02 Feb

[Efrén Ismael Sifontes Torres is an Ayudante de Segunda in international law courses and a member of the Observatory of International Humanitarian Law at the University of Buenos Aires School of Law] As a Venezuelan and an international lawyer, it took me some time to pause and reflect on the repercussions of the events that have shaken, and continue to shake,...

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14 Jan

[Federico Jarast is Jefe de Trabajos Prácticos at Buenos Aires University School of Law. He has served as Legal Adviser at the General Direction of Legal Affairs of the Argentine Presidency and worked as an Associate at Guglielmino Derecho Internacional.] In less than a week, 2026 has proved that it will spare no efforts in shaking the foundations of international law. For...

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14 Jan

[Davit Khachatryan is an international law expert and lecturer specializing in public international law, alternative dispute resolution, investment law, international humanitarian law, and security] A short video clip circulating online appears to show a US strike on a small vessel at sea, followed by imagery that has been read as suggesting that there were survivors in the water. The clip has...

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06 Jan

[Milena Sterio is James A. Thomas Distinguished Professor of Law at Cleveland State University College of Law and Managing Director of the Public International Law and Policy Group] The United States’ attack on Venezuela, as well as the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, have no justification in international law or international relations. This post will first discuss...

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19 Dec

[Dr. Cyril Laucci is Lead Counsel for the Defense at the International Criminal Court] For the ICC, 2025 will have been the year of US sanctions. These sanctions took shape as early as February 6 with the signing of Executive Order 14203, “Imposing Sanctions on the International Criminal Court”. This order placed Prosecutor Karim Khan at the top of a list...

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18 Dec

[Elke Schwarz is a professor of political theory at Queen Mary University London] The U.S. National Security Strategy is a strange document. Many have commented – favourable or disparagingly – on its brevity and its accessible language. The form of the document is a simple, 33-page delineation of ‘What America Wants’ and ‘How it Will get It.’ It is a policy...

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