What to expect from the UN in the Israel-Hamas war Erik Voeten - February 1, 2024 The UN will have to overcome deep distrust among Israelis.
How can international law protect civilians in the Israel-Hamas war? Stacie Goddard and Tanisha Fazal - October 30, 2023 An expert explains the laws of war.
The ICC is investigating violence in Israel and Palestine Kelebogile Zvobgo - October 18, 2023 Israel doesn’t recognize the court’s jurisdiction – but it should.
What the arrest warrant for Putin really means Kelebogile Zvobgo - October 3, 2023 He may never stand trial, but that’s not all that matters.
Ukraine accused Russia of torture. Here’s how to prosecute those crimes. Alyson Reynolds, Elijah Tsai, and Kelebogile Zvobgo - November 22, 2022 Ukraine’s allies can use their own courts to investigate war crimes
Russia wants to put Syria back in control of humanitarian aid Jesse Marks / Managing Editor - August 30, 2022 Abandoning the U.N.-established cross-border aid routes could put millions of Syrians at risk
Why did Kenyans elect Ruto as president? Susanne D. Mueller - August 23, 2022 What looks superficially like a normal election was filled with contradictions, intrigue, double-crossing and surprise shifts in ethnic loyalties
Three things to know about Kenya’s elections tomorrow Kathleen Klaus and Jane (Mango) Angar - August 7, 2022 For one thing, ethnicity might matter less – and class more – than in the past.
What are the rules of war and how do they apply in Ukraine? Michael John Williams - May 8, 2022 Investigating alleged Russian war crimes is a painstaking process
The Council of Europe expelled Russia. That hurts people, not Putin. Zoha Siddiqui and Kelebogile Zvobgo - April 12, 2022 What is the Council of Europe, and why does expulsion matter?
Condemning Putin will make it harder to end the conflict with Russia Samuel Helfont - March 30, 2022 Consider how hard it was to lift sanctions after Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait
The ICJ ordered Russia to halt military operations in Ukraine. What comes next? Daniel Posthumus and Kelebogile Zvobgo - March 25, 2022 Both Russia and Ukraine have accused the other of committing genocide.
Biden called Putin a ‘war criminal.’ That’s risky. Daniel Krcmaric and Alexander Downes - March 24, 2022 Here’s the downside to prosecuting former leaders
An international court is investigating possible war crimes in Ukraine. What does that mean, exactly? Courtney Hillebrecht - March 21, 2022 The ICC can investigate Russia even though it’s not a member.
Chicago cop Jon Burge allegedly tortured suspects. Why couldn’t the U.S. prosecute him? Mark Berlin - February 16, 2022 The Chicago Police Department apologized for what it called ‘torture.’ But while the United States is a party to international human rights treaties, it doesn’t have laws at home against these violations.
Germany convicted a Syrian man of war crimes in Syria. Can national courts prosecute injustices everywhere? Maximo Langer, Margaret E. Peters, and Leslie Johns - January 14, 2022 The landmark case invoked the principle of ‘universal jurisdiction’
The ICC case against Duterte’s drug war is on hold. That could hurt the court’s authority. Courtney Hillebrecht - December 5, 2021 A new book on backlash politics explains what this means for international justice.
Many Libyans already dismiss next month’s elections as illegitimate Wolfram Lacher and Emadeddin Badi - November 16, 2021 No prominent candidates appear to have support across Libya’s regional and political divisions.
Sudan’s military has seized control. Will pro-democracy protests continue? Jeffrey Sachs - October 26, 2021 The military disbanded the joint council that has been overseeing the transition to democracy.
South Sudan promised to investigate civil war atrocities. Why hasn’t that happened? Jacqueline R. McAllister - October 5, 2021 The peace deal included a plan for an Africa-led hybrid court
Germany acknowledged colonial atrocities in Namibia as genocide. Victims’ groups want more. Franziska Boehme - June 8, 2021 Descendants of the victims want a presidential apology and further reparations.
Israel’s Iron Dome defense protects lives – but there’s an unexpected effect Yagil Levy - May 14, 2021 The defense system may leave Israel fewer incentives for a political solution to the Israel-Gaza conflict.
Rwanda’s government now uses the annual genocide remembrance as a political tool Gretchen Baldwin - April 7, 2021 Over the next 100 days, the government will actively remind citizens of the ethnic divisions that left hundreds of thousands dead
Biden reversed Trump’s sanctions on International Criminal Court officials. What happens now? Kyle Rapp and Kelebogile Zvobgo - April 4, 2021 Past U.S. administrations supported the court’s work — when it aligned with U.S. interests
Peru’s government forcibly sterilized Indigenous women from 1996 to 2001, the women say. Why? Ñusta Carranza Ko - February 18, 2021 Indigenous women have been demanding justice ever since.
The International Criminal Court just elected a new chief prosecutor. Here’s what you need to know. Nastaran Far, Hailey Robertson, and Kelebogile Zvobgo - February 16, 2021 The ICC’s future will rest on the new prosecutor’s success in opening, trying and closing cases — and being fair
Trump changed how the U.S. assigns the label ‘terrorist.’ Can the Biden administration change it back? Samuel M. Hickey and Manuel Reinert - February 11, 2021 Trump changed ‘designation’ from a foreign policy tool to one aimed at influencing American public opinion
The ICC says it can investigate Israel’s alleged war crimes in the Palestinian territories. Netanyahu and Biden object. M.P. Broache and Kelebogile Zvobgo - February 10, 2021 Israel and the U.S. don’t think the International Criminal Court has jurisdiction over nonmember states. Here’s when it does.
In Ethiopia’s digital battle over the Tigray region, facts are casualties Dr. Alexi Drew and Claire Wilmot - February 5, 2021 Claims about disinformation may be undermining online activism.
Mike Pompeo accused China of committing ‘genocide,’ an international crime. Biden’s team agrees. Jessica Chen Weiss - January 22, 2021 This probably won’t lead to prosecutions but it will hurt China in the court of public opinion
Ivory Coast reelected its president. Opposition candidates boycotted the voting. Tyson Roberts - December 2, 2020 The election reflected political rivalries that date back 30 years.
Australia discovered that its special forces committed war crimes in Afghanistan Thomas Gift, Charles Miller, and Andrew M. Bell - November 30, 2020 Here’s the research on how militaries can reduce violence against civilians
A special Kosovo war crimes court will try its ex-president. So how do ‘hybrid’ courts work? Dennis R. Schmidt - November 22, 2020 Courts that are simultaneously domestic and international can help overcome suspicions about fairness
What will America’s commitment to Afghanistan look like after the election? Asfandyar Mir - November 1, 2020 The peace negotiations are in flux, and the Taliban has ramped up the violence
ICE is accused of sterilizing detainees. That echoes the U.S.’s long history of forced sterilization. Steven Moore - September 25, 2020 White people who support such forced sterilizations are paternalistic rather than driven by racial animus, my research suggests.
How Congress is pushing back against Trump’s unprecedented use of emergency powers Elizabeth Goitein - September 24, 2020 Unless the laws change, future presidents are more likely to exploit emergency powers, now that Trump has ended the tradition of restraint.
‘Love Falls on Us’ explores the intersection of African LGBT rights and American activism Kim Yi Dionne - September 18, 2020 Fascinating insights and personal stories make this a compelling read
‘States of Justice’ asks tough questions about the International Criminal Court Kate Cronin-Furman - September 7, 2020 Oumar Ba’s new book illuminates the relationship between African governments and the ICC
U.S. cities and states are discussing reparations for Black Americans. Here’s what’s key. Peter Dixon - August 23, 2020 One lesson from international efforts: Keep reparations distinct from general social support.
Burundi’s leader died last month. How will the world remember him? Andrea Filipi - July 8, 2020 Pierre Nkurunziza’s long-term legacy is far from clear.
Despite U.S. sanctions, the International Criminal Court will keep investigating alleged war crimes in Afghanistan Stephen Chaudoin and Kelebogile Zvobgo - June 16, 2020 The U.S. public may not agree with Trump’s move
Why the International Criminal Court will investigate possible U.S. war crimes — even if the Trump administration says it can’t Kelebogile Zvobgo - March 8, 2020 My research suggests Americans support the investigation
The U.N.’s top court ordered Myanmar to protect the Rohingya. Here’s how that could matter. John D. Ciorciari - February 9, 2020 The ruling was a significant defeat for Aung San Suu Kyi, Myanmar’s president and a former human rights icon
Is China’s influence at the United Nations all it’s cracked up to be? Courtney J. Fung - October 6, 2019 Here are five things to know
World leaders are gathering at the U.N. Yes, U.S. sanctions can make this complicated. David Bosco - September 19, 2019 Travel restrictions are a popular way to punish foreign leaders.
Sudan’s upheaval is the latest example of a ‘gray-zone coup’ Nandita Balakrishnan - April 17, 2019 Autocrats learned “coup-proofing” — and militaries learned negotiating.
Sudan ousted two autocrats in three days. Here’s what’s next. Mai Hassan and Ahmed Kodouda - April 15, 2019 Protesters want a civilian transition government. That hasn’t happened.
The U.S. revoked the visa for the ICC prosecutor. That bodes poorly for international criminal justice. Judith Kelley - April 8, 2019 If the U.S. doesn’t respect international law, why should other nations?
Sudan’s unlawful state of emergency Rebecca Hamilton and Nasredeen Abdulbari - March 4, 2019 President Omar al-Bashir declared a year-long state of emergency as protesters in Sudan continue to demand change.
Here’s how perpetrators of crimes in Syria are being prosecuted Mark Kersten - March 1, 2019 It’s only the beginning of a long road to justice and accountability.
Guaidó backed an amnesty plan for Venezuela’s military. How might that play out? Mieczysław Boduszyński and Victor Peskin - February 11, 2019 Three weeks into Venezuela’s political standoff, will there be a
The International Criminal Court just acquitted the former Ivory Coast president. What happens now? Oumar Ba - January 22, 2019 [caption id="attachment_82866" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Former Ivory Coast president Laurent Gbagbo
I testified at the trial of one of Joseph Kony’s commanders. Here’s what the court didn’t understand. Kristof Titeca - January 17, 2019 [caption id="attachment_82685" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Joseph Kony, leader of the Lord’s
Why the Nobel Peace Prize went to 2 people fighting sexual violence in war Ragnhild Nordås and Elisabeth Wood - October 8, 2018 As Islamic State forces swept through northern Iraq in 2014,
John Bolton attacked the ICC. Cooperating with it might be a better way to protect U.S. interests. Terrence Chapman and Stephen Chaudoin - September 14, 2018 [caption id="attachment_77756" align="aligncenter" width="960"] National security adviser John Bolton criticizes
Côte d’Ivoire’s president announced an amnesty program. Is this the end of a ‘victor’s peace’? Giulia Piccolino - August 15, 2018 [caption id="attachment_76742" align="alignleft" width="982"] Ivory Coast President Alassane Ouattara addresses
The International Criminal Court was established 20 years ago. Here’s how. Heidi Haddad - July 17, 2018 [caption id="attachment_75719" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga hears the
Will raising human rights issues really derail nuclear negotiations with North Korea? Danielle Chubb and Andrew Yeo - June 27, 2018 [caption id="attachment_75004" align="aligncenter" width="960"] President Trump makes a statement before
Can the International Criminal Court investigate the violence in Gaza? Mark Kersten - May 17, 2018 [caption id="attachment_73484" align="aligncenter" width="960"] People run through tear gas May
Burundi votes tomorrow on controversial constitutional amendments. A lot is at stake. Yolande Bouka and Sarah Jackson - May 16, 2018 [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Burundi soldiers and police in the
John Bolton talks tough on the U.N. What’s his record really like? David Bosco - March 27, 2018 President Trump’s selection of John Bolton to serve as his
Kenya’s government just let the opposition candidate swear himself in as a ‘parallel’ president Rahma Hussein and Anjli Parrin - January 31, 2018 [caption id="attachment_68702" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Supporters of the Kenyan opposition leader
The International Criminal Court is set to investigate alleged U.S. war crimes in Afghanistan Mark Kersten - December 8, 2017 The decision by the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal
Trump is pulling the U.S. out of UNESCO. The bigger pattern is the problem. Felicity Vabulas - October 16, 2017 On Oct. 12, 2017, the Trump administration announced the United
Will the International Criminal Court’s latest target in Libya be brought to justice? Mark Kersten - August 31, 2017 [caption id="attachment_63104" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Armed Libyan men wave their national
Why a Sri Lankan leader might be tried for war crimes in Brazil Kate Cronin-Furman - August 30, 2017 [caption id="attachment_63047" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] One of the mothers of the
Why international justice still faces roadblocks Richard Dicker - June 22, 2017 [caption id="attachment_60187" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Flags fly outside of the United
Kenyans will vote in August. Why are NGO-government relations an issue? Jennifer Brass - June 16, 2017 [caption id="attachment_59997" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta of the
After Syria, is there still a taboo against the use of chemical weapons? Richard Price - April 7, 2017 [caption id="attachment_56566" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A Syrian victim receives treatment on
When is a warlord better than no warlord? Robert Blair and Pablo Kalmanovitz - March 10, 2017 [caption id="attachment_39929" align="aligncenter" width="2366"] The United Nations headquarters in New
Why the research into climate change in Africa is biased, and why it matters Cullen Hendrix - March 9, 2017 [caption id="attachment_38201" align="aligncenter" width="4868"] Africa, from space. (NASA)[/caption] Scholars have
Is the International Criminal Court biased against Africans? Kenyan victims don’t think so. Yvonne Dutton, Tessa Alleblas, Geoff Dancy, and Eamon Aloyo - March 6, 2017 [caption id="attachment_54939" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta appears before
Where do ousted dictators go? Fewer countries now offer a warm welcome. Daniel Krcmaric and Abel Escribà-Folch - January 30, 2017 [caption id="attachment_53276" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Gambia's defeated president, Yahya Jammeh, left
People like the International Criminal Court — as long as it targets other problems in other countries Terrence Chapman and Stephen Chaudoin - January 20, 2017 [caption id="attachment_52689" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Supporters of former Ivory Coast president
How a new U.N. resolution could — someday — bring justice to Syria Mark Kersten - December 30, 2016 [caption id="attachment_51905" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A Syrian man makes his way
The Lord’s Resistance Army is finally weakening in central Africa. This could dismantle it. Paul Ronan and Ledio Cakaj - December 6, 2016 [caption id="attachment_50714" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Children cheer as troops from the
Is this the end of the International Criminal Court? Stephanie Schwartz and Kate Cronin-Furman - October 21, 2016 [caption id="attachment_48238" align="aligncenter" width="960"] South Africa's minister of justice and
Calls for prosecuting war crimes in Syria are growing. Is international justice possible? Mark Kersten - October 14, 2016 [caption id="attachment_47881" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Syrian volunteers carry an injured person
Colombians rejected ‘transitional justice’ for guerrillas. They want criminal justice instead. Jamie Rowen - October 8, 2016 [caption id="attachment_47510" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A supporter of the peace deal
This is what the conviction of Chad’s former dictator means for African human rights Elise Keppler - June 10, 2016 [caption id="attachment_41896" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Chad's former dictator Hissène Habré raises
The U.S. is causing a major controversy in the World Trade Organization. Here’s what’s happening. Mark Pollack, Manfred Elsig, and Greg Shaffer - June 6, 2016 [caption id="attachment_41660" align="aligncenter" width="960"] The world's largest container ship, the
Hissène Habré, Chad’s former dictator, just got a life sentence for crimes he committed in the 1980s Oumar Ba - June 1, 2016 [caption id="attachment_41445" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Former Chadian dictator Hissène Habré, leaving
Last week, the International Criminal Court convicted a war criminal. And that revealed one of the ICC’s weaknesses. Scott Straus and Courtney Hillebrecht - March 28, 2016 Last week, the International Criminal Court read its judgment in
Thousands died when the U.N. brought cholera to Haiti. Here’s why it’s getting off scot-free. Michael Barnett, Mara Pillinger, and Ian Hurd - March 28, 2016 [caption id="attachment_38062" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] Lemaguel Alejuste grimaces in pain after
A Congolese warlord was just convicted. So why isn’t everyone thrilled about it? Laura Seay and Michael Broache - March 24, 2016 [caption id="attachment_37821" align="alignleft" width="300"] Former Congo vice president Jean-Pierre Bemba.
6 things you need to know about Côte d’Ivoire in the wake of Sunday’s attack Justine Davis and Carrie Reiling - March 15, 2016 [caption id="attachment_37196" align="aligncenter" width="908"] A soldier comforts an injured boy
Why is the International Criminal Court stepping out of Africa and into Georgia? Mark Kersten - February 5, 2016 [caption id="attachment_35367" align="aligncenter" width="908"] An Ossetian woman, an Orthodox church
Who is Laurent Gbagbo, and why is he on trial at the ICC? Oumar Ba - February 3, 2016 [caption id="attachment_35256" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Former Côte d'Ivoire president Laurent Gbagbo
The Responsibility to Protect doctrine is faltering. Here’s why. Mark Kersten - December 8, 2015 [caption id="attachment_33247" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Residents inspect damage from what activists
The most interesting thing about Côte d’Ivoire’s election was that it wasn’t interesting Tyson Roberts - November 26, 2015 [caption id="attachment_32664" align="aligncenter" width="908"] People line up outside a polling station
Gawker got pranked. Kony isn’t looking for peace. Here are the facts. Ledio Cakaj - November 5, 2015 [caption id="attachment_31762" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Lord's Resistance Army leader Joseph Kony
Piketty thinks South Africa needs to redistribute land. Democracies can’t do that. Dictators can. Michael Albertus - October 20, 2015 [caption id="attachment_30832" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] A man cuts sugarcane on a
This is what you need to know about xenophobia and this Sunday’s elections in Côte d’Ivoire. Koffi Yao-Kouamé and Beth Whitake - October 19, 2015 [caption id="attachment_30820" align="aligncenter" width="982"] This photo taken on October 27,
Sudan, South Africa and the future of the International Criminal Court in Africa Mark Kersten - October 13, 2015 [caption id="attachment_30589" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir (C) seen
Twenty years after the most important U.N. conference on women, what – if anything – has changed? Aili Tripp - September 25, 2015 [caption id="attachment_29835" align="aligncenter" width="908"] In this 1995 file photo, a
How international relations got religion, and got it wrong Elizabeth Hurd - July 9, 2015 [caption id="attachment_27258" align="aligncenter" width="908"] A general view shows Secretary of
Is the International Criminal Court really targeting black men? Kate Cronin-Furman - June 17, 2015 [caption id="attachment_26085" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir (C) arrives
Should South Africa have arrested Sudan's president? - June 15, 2015 [caption id="attachment_26086" align="aligncenter" width="620" class="center"] Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir (C),
Should South Africa have arrested Sudan’s president? Mark Kersten - June 15, 2015 [caption id="attachment_26086" align="aligncenter" width="620" class="center"] Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir (C),
Why hold elections in Sudan? Abdelwahab El-Affendi - April 16, 2015 [caption id="attachment_23739" align="aligncenter" width="620" class="align center "] A man casts