Immunities of state officials are a subject matter in international law that continues to raise tensions between States. The seventy-sixth session of the International Law Commission (ILC) will take place in Geneva from April 14 to May 30 and June 30 to July 31, 2025. One of the topics to be discussed on the agenda is the Immunity of State Officials from Foreign Criminal Jurisdiction. In the current ILC program, the immunity of state officials is the longest-running topic. In the upcoming 76th session, Claudio Grossman Guiloff will present his second report as Special Rapporteur. One of the most contentious aspects of his report is Draft Article 7, which currently states the following: Crimes under international law in respect of which immunity ratione materiae shall not apply 1. Immunity ratione materiae from the exercise of foreign criminal jurisdiction shall not apply in respect of the following crimes under international law: (a) crime of genocide; (b) crimes against humanity; (c) war…
Sources of International Law
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Applying the Litmus Test: An Independent Norm Under Customary International Law to Prohibit Secondary Sanctions?
We can witness in real time how the Trump administration is devastating international relations as well as the international legal order. Sanctions form an integral part of this disruptive behaviour, as they attribute political and economic weight to the US’ foreign policy agendas (see e.g. here; here). One particular tool to maximize these aspired…
Metaphors, Rules and War: Making Sense of Hybrid Threats and Grey Zone Conflict
About a decade ago, hybrid warfare made its big breakthrough. The concept had been around for a number of years, but few people knew what it meant and even fewer seemed to care. In 2014, Russia launched the opening act of its ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine, taking control of the Crimean Peninsula. It did so through…
Fragmentation and Flexibility: Contrasting Environmental Governance in India and the European Union
In November 2024, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) reached an record level of 1500, categorizing the city as ‘hazardous’ and solidifying its status as the most polluted urban area globally. This alarming statistic highlights the urgent need for systemic reforms in environmental governance. Across the globe, similar environmental crises emerge within varying institutional and legal contexts. For…
The United Nations’ First Military Manual (and its contribution to International Law): An overview
In September 2024, the United Nations published the United Nations Military Manual (hereinafter the Manual), as «a reference to guide United Nations military unit commanders, staff and troops in predeployment preparation, planning and the efficient conduct of operations for the effective execution of Security Council mandates» (foreword).