Search: Syria Insta-Symposium
23 Sep Does the Collective Self-Defense Justification Extend to Khorasan? If Not, Then Is There One?
I agree with Jens’ excellent post on the importance of the “unwilling or unable” standard to the US justification for legal strikes on non-state actors in Syria. I agree this action may reveal state practice supporting (or rejecting) this legal justification. I am curious whether the UK, France, or other states that may be participating in Syria strikes will embrace this theory. (I already know the Russians have roundly rejected this US justification). I also wonder whether this legal justification will weaken, as a policy matter, the ability of the...20 Mar LJIL Symposium: From Nicaragua to R2P: Continuity and Change
...(par. 228), and that economic sanctions are not covered by prohibited intervention (par. 245). Kohen provides a few other examples (at 161, another article of relevance can be found here), but the spectrum of policy measures that have been considered as part of R2P is very diverse. Does the prohibition of intervention prohibit the setting up of ‘safe zones along the Turkish-Syria and Jordan-Syria border with humanitarian corridors leading up to them’, as proposed by some European politicians? Does it prohibit support to NGOs who campaign for freedom? Does it...
30 Nov UNSC Veto Power Symposium: New Perspective for Tackling a Core Challenge to the UN System on the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations
...Third, the chapter examines the relationship between the veto power and certain foundational treaties. In particular, the chapter focuses on the obligation to “prevent” genocide found in the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (“Genocide Convention”) and the obligation to “ensure respect for” the Geneva Conventions found, for instance, in the 1949 Geneva Conventions. Subchapter 4.3 concludes that a veto cast in instances where there is ongoing genocide or war crimes (at least those war crimes covered in the 1949 Geneva Conventions), or the “serious...
07 Jun Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Symposium: Innovations, Lessons Learned, and Good Practices From CIJA’s Investigation Into the Slave Trade
[Stephanie Barbour is the Senior Sexual and Gender-based Violence Adviser at the Commission for International Justice & Accountability. This is a post in our joint blog symposium building on the discussion focusing on accountability for conflict-related sexual violence crimes associated with slave trade, slavery and trafficking , held as part of the Digital Dialogue Series , hosted regularly by the UN Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict .] The innumerable crimes in the conflicts in Syria and Iraq are among the most documented...
10 Jun Conflict-Related Sexual Violence Symposium: Key findings of CIJA’s Investigation into the IS Slave Trade
characterisations where the right case presents itself. This is also true in relation to cases against other actors in the Syrian conflict. For example, a court conducting proceedings against intelligence officers Anwar R. and Eyad A. in the first trial related to torture in Syrian Regime detention has heard evidence (see day 45) of sexual violence as a facet of the torture inflicted on detainees in Syrian prisons. Legal representatives of the victims have filed a motion to have ordinary sexual offence charges recharacterized as crimes against humanity. Prosecutors may...02 Aug Weekday News Wrap: Thursday, August 2, 2012
Syria’s president Al-Assad has praised the government forces, but is keeping a low profile. US president Obama has signed a secret order to provide support to rebel forces in Syria. A video has emerged of men, allegedly loyal to the Syrian regime, being lined up in Aleppo being shot point-blank by rebel forces. In a recent report, Amnesty International has accused members of Syria’s government of committing crimes against humanity in the current conflict. Reuters offers an analysis proffering that there is no good outcome to the conflict in Syria...
22 May Tools to Violate International Law: Armed Drones in Germany and the Government’s Legal Position
...State coalition and the use of German Tornado aircrafts in Syrian airspace. Germany stated that ISIL’s armed attacks, for example in France, are sufficient to activate the collective right to self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter. This position implicitly assumes that the right to self-defense also applies against non-state actors and that the affected state’s consent – here, Syria – is not necessary because it previously lost control over parts of its territory to ISIL. The declaration is extremely short, and Germany has avoided explaining how the terrorist...08 Sep Weekly News Wrap: Tuesday, September 8, 2015
Your weekly selection of international law and international relations headlines from around the world: Africa Kenya plans to launch a military offensive against Islamist militants who have set up bases in a remote forest at the northern tip of its Indian Ocean coastline bordering Somalia, a police official said on Monday. Middle East and Northern Africa Iran’s president has said his country is ready to hold talks with the United States and Saudi Arabia on ways to resolve the Syrian civil war. Several Turkish soldiers have been killed and others...03 Sep Weekday News Wrap: Tuesday, September 3, 2013
The UN chemical weapons inspection team in Syria is set to begin transferring samples that it has collected from the country to the laboratories for testing. More than 2 million refugees have now fled Syria’s civil war, piling pressure on neighboring host countries according to the UN. Sweden is set to change its asylum law and grant permanent residency to those approved from Syria instead of three-year temporary permits. Another sampling of the discussion happening around the web with regard to Syria: a post on Lawfare about how the 9/11...12 Jul Weekday News Wrap: Thursday, July 12, 2012
Syria has been hit by a wave of defections, with the latest–that of the ambassador to Iraq–coming yesterday. Kofi Annan has urged the UN to “reunite” regarding plans moving forward with Syria, suggesting “consequences” were Syria not to comply with the latest ceasefire calls. A human rights group, Women Under Siege, has reported that sexual violence is being used in Syria as a weapon in the conflict. Tensions between Japan and China are escalating ahead of an ASEAN summit over the islands dispute in the East China Sea. The Special...