Geir Ulfstein
About/Bio
Geir Ulfstein is Professor of International Law in the Faculty of Law and Co-director of PluriCourts, a Centre for the Study of the Legitimate Roles of the Judiciary in the Global Order, at the University of Oslo.
Recently Published
Does Israel have the right to self-defence – and what are the restrictions?
May 8, 2024
Geir Ulfstein
There has been much focus on Israeli violations of international humanitarian law (jus in bello) and possible genocide in Gaza. Less attention has been paid to Israel’s claim to self-defence (jus ad bellum) against the terrorist attack on 7 October 2023. However, the rules on self-defence address the legality of the overall purpose of the operations and the…
Are sabotage of submarine pipelines an ‘armed attack’ triggering a right to self-defence?
On 26 and 27 September 2022, explosions damaged NordStream 1 and NordStream 2 pipelines in the Baltic Sea (here). These are major transboundary pipelines (consisting of two pipelines each) transporting gas from Russia to Germany. They cross the territorial sea of three States (Russia, Denmark and Germany) and the exclusive economic zone (‘EEZ’) of five States (Russia,…
Who is the Final Interpreter in Human Rights: the ICJ v CERD?
February 22, 2021
Geir Ulfstein
In 2018 Qatar instituted proceedings against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) before the International Court of Justice (ICJ or the Court), alleging violations of the 1965 International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD or the Convention). In parallel inter-State proceedings the CERD Committee found in 2019 that it had jurisdiction to deal…
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Popular articles by Geir Ulfstein
Inter-State Applications under the European Convention on Human Rights: Strengths and Challenges
This post provides, in broad strokes, an overview of human rights litigation via the inter-State application procedure under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), as well as its strengths and challenges. In the last seven decades, States have referred 24 situations to the former Commission and to the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). Certainly, compared…
Does Israel have the right to self-defence – and what are the restrictions?
May 8, 2024
Geir Ulfstein
There has been much focus on Israeli violations of international humanitarian law (jus in bello) and possible genocide in Gaza. Less attention has been paid to Israel’s claim to self-defence (jus ad bellum) against the terrorist attack on 7 October 2023. However, the rules on self-defence address the legality of the overall purpose of the operations and the…
How International Law Restricts the Use of Military Force in Hormuz
August 27, 2019
Geir Ulfstein
We await whether an allied action will protect shipping in the Persian Gulf, and whether it will be led by the USA or by European states. The UK's new government will support US action, while at least some other European states are reluctant to be seen as supporters of US aggressive policy towards Iran. Political arguments aside, there…