International Law in Brief


International Law in Brief (ILIB) is a forum that provides updates on current developments in international law from the editors of ASIL's International Legal Materials.
South Korean Truth and Reconciliation Commission Finds Human Rights Violations in Overseas Adoptions
| By: Özge Karsu : April 03, 2025 |

On March 26, 2025, the South Korean Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) concluded that the government violated human rights in connection with the overseas adoption of Korean children. The Commission found systemic failures rooted in inadequate legislation, poor oversight, and inadequate administrative procedures, resulting in widespread rights violations.

The findings followed an extensive investigation that reviewed archival materials and adoption records from four major adoption agencies, along with petitions filed by 367 overseas adoptees. The investigation also included...

Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland Recommend Withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention
| By: Özge Karsu : March 28, 2025 |

On March 18, 2025, the defense ministers of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland jointly announced their unanimous recommendation to withdraw from the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention, known as the Ottawa Convention.

The Ottawa Convention, which entered into force in 1999, prohibits the use, stockpiling, production, and transfer of anti-personnel landmines. It has been ratified by 164 countries. Notably, several major military powers—including the United States, China, India, and Israel—are not parties to the treaty.

The joint statement followed a high-level ministerial...

Turkish Authorities Arrest the Key Opposition Figure, Triggering Widespread Human Rights Violations
| By: Özge Karsu : March 28, 2025 |

On March 23, 2025, Ekrem İmamoğlu, the Mayor of Istanbul and a prominent opposition leader from Turkey’s Republican People’s Party (CHP), was arrested on corruption charges with dubious evidence. His arrest followed his detention on March 19 and the cancellation of his bachelor’s degree by Turkish authorities on March 18. In addition, several other opposition figures were detained, including Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Secretary General Mahir Polat, Beylikdüzü Mayor Murat Çalık, and Şişli Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan.

These actions came shortly after İmamoğlu and the CHP...

ECtHR Rules Ukraine Violated Human Rights Over 2014 Odesa Clashes
| By: Özge Karsu : March 21, 2025 |

On March 13, 2025, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled that Ukraine violated the European Convention on Human Rights by failing to prevent and effectively investigate violence erupted during the May 2, 2014 clashes in Odesa.

In April 2014, Ukrainian authorities received intelligence indicating a risk of violence, clashes, and disorder during the planned "For a United Ukraine" rally in Odesa. Despite these warnings, law enforcement deployed only limited police forces to key locations. On May 2, violent clashes broke out between pro-Russian activists and Maidan supporters...

U.S. Withdraws from Climate Damage Fund
| By: Özge Karsu : March 11, 2025 |

On March 4, 2025, the United States withdrew from the Board for the Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage, as transmitted in a letter from the U.S. Treasury Department.

This move reverses the U.S. commitment to the Fund, which was established at the 2023 COP28 UN Climate Change Conference to support developing nations disproportionately affected by climate change. The Fund was designed to assist nations suffering from loss of life, destruction of ecosystems, and infrastructure damage due to climate change. As of January 2023, the U.S. had joined other nations in pledging a total of...

Sudan Institutes Proceedings Against the UAE Before the ICJ
| By: Özge Karsu : March 05, 2025 |

On March 5, 2025, Sudan filed an application against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), alleging violations of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Genocide Convention).

The application concerned acts committed by Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias against the Masalit group in Darfur, Sudan since at least 2023. Sudan argued that these acts were perpetrated and enabled through direct financial, political, and military support from the UAE. The application alleged that the UAE bears...

UN General Assembly Adopts Competing Resolutions on Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine
| By: Özge Karsu : March 04, 2025 |

On February 24, 2025, the UN General Assembly adopted two resolutions addressing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, marking its third anniversary. The resolutions—proposed separately by Ukraine and the United States—both emphasized the importance of international peace and security, but took different approaches in characterizing the conflict.

The first resolution, titled “Advancing a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine” was proposed by Ukraine, alongside 52 nations. It condemned Russia’s “full-scale invasion” and called for de-escalation, cessation of hostilities, and a...

ECtHR Finds Russia Violated the Right to Freedom of Expression
| By: Özge Karsu : March 04, 2025 |

On February 11, 2025, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled that the Russian Federation violated the right to freedom of expression by imposing fines, prosecuting individuals, and blocking independent news outlets that published information critical of the war in Ukraine.

The ruling detailed how the Russian government passed legislation prohibiting the dissemination of undesirable information about the war. As a result, Russian authorities blocked access to independent media outlets, including Novaya Gazeta, Dozhd TV, 7×7, Mediazona, Sobesednik, Agentstvo, Voice of...

ECtHR Finds Ukraine Violated the Right to Respect for Private Life
| By: Özge Karsu : March 04, 2025 |

On February 13, 2025, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled unanimously that Ukraine violated the right to respect for private life by carrying out unlawful surveillance against three Ukrainian nationals and their lawyer. The surveillance targeted three public officials accused of corruption and included phone tapping and covert video monitoring. Their defense lawyer was also placed under surveillance, with his phone conversations being wiretapped by authorities.

The ECtHR found that Ukraine’s secret surveillance measures were unlawful, as there was no documented legal...

UN Human Rights Committee Finds Albania Violated Roma Children’s Rights by Denying Birth Registration
| By: Özge Karsu : March 04, 2025 |

On February 20, 2025, the United Nations Human Rights Committee found that Albania violated the rights of three Roma children by failing to register their births. This left them legally unrecognized and at the risk of statelessness.

The children were born in Greece to Albanian parents, who lacked legal residency status in Greece. Due to the lack of proper documentation, the parents were not able to obtain full birth registration and were only given basic documentation. They were prohibited from officially naming their children, leaving the children’s birth records incomplete.

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