International Law in Brief

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...

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...

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...

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...