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.
European Court of Human Rights Introduces the Ethics Council
| By: Özge Karsu : February 18, 2025 |

On January 27, 2025, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) announced the creation of an Ethics Council to advise the President on judicial ethics. The Plenary Court adopted this decision during its session on 16 December 2024.

The Ethics Council will play a key role in addressing ethical dilemmas, preventing conflicts of interest, and upholding the judiciary’s credibility. It will consist of five members: the most senior Vice-President, the most senior Section President, and the three most senior sitting judges. The Court’s Registrar will assist the Council in its operations....

FIDH: Thailand Violates Prisoners' Right to Health
| By: Özge Karsu : February 18, 2025 |

On January 20, 2025, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) submitted a report on Thailand to the UN Special Rapporteur on the right to health. The report analyzed the right to health of individuals deprived of their liberty in Thailand. It concluded that Thailand has consistently failed to uphold the right to health of prisoners as guaranteed under Article 12 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and failed to meet the international minimum standards of prison management, such as the UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of...

79 ICC Member States Reaffirm “Unwavering Support”
| By: Özge Karsu : February 07, 2025 |

On February 7, 2025, seventy-nine member states of the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a joint statement reaffirming their “unwavering support” for the court’s operations, emphasizing its role in ensuring accountability for serious international crimes and delivering justice for victims.

The joint statement was issued in response to an executive order signed by the U.S. President Donald Trump, authorizing sanctions against the ICC officials, including asset freezes and travel restrictions. The U.S. executive order specifically targets the court’s efforts to investigate and...

Israel Announces Withdrawal from UN Human Rights Council
| By: Özge Karsu : February 06, 2025 |

On February 6, 2025, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar announced Israel's withdrawal from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC), citing long standing institutional bias against the country.

The letter addressed to the UNHRC president condemned the council’s treatment of Israel, stating that it has “traditionally protected serial human rights abusers by allowing them to hide from scrutiny” while demonizing Israel. It described the UNHRC as a “political tool” used to delegitimize the country.

The letter specifically criticized Item 7 of the agenda of the UNHCR,...

Trump Signs an Executive Order Sanctioning ICC
| By: Özge Karsu : February 06, 2025 |

On February 6, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) in response to its issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. The order imposes measures on ICC officials and their immediate families, including asset freezes, property restrictions, and bans on entry into the United States.

According to the executive order, the ICC has overstepped its mandate by asserting jurisdiction over non-member states, the U.S. and Israel. The U.S. described...

Trump Withdraws US from UN Human Rights Council, UNRWA, and Orders Review of UNESCO Involvement
| By: Özge Karsu : February 04, 2025 |

On February 4, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) and the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), while also calling for a review of U.S. involvement in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

The order stated that the UNHRC has shielded human rights abusers by allowing them to use the organization to avoid scrutiny. Established in 2006, the UNHRC is the UN’s primary body for the promotion and protection of human rights worldwide. It...

ECtHR Faults Turkey Over Judges’ Lack of Legal Recourse Following Dismissals
| By: Özge Karsu : January 24, 2025 |

On January 14, 2025, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled that Turkey violated the European Convention on Human Rights by dismissing 42 judges and prosecutors without granting them access to an effective legal remedy. The court concluded that these dismissals, carried out under Turkey’s controversial Law No. 6524 (2014), violated Article 6 of the Convention, which guarantees the right to a fair trial. The court awarded each of the 42 applicants €7,800 in non-pecuniary damages, along with compensation for legal fees and costs.

The Turkish Government argued that the...

Human Rights Watch Releases World Report 2025
| By: Özge Karsu : January 23, 2025 |

Human Rights Watch (HRW) released its annual World Report 2025 on January 16, 2025, presenting on the challenges to human rights worldwide in 2024. The 546-page report, covering human rights practices in over 100 countries, drew attention to weakened democratic institutions, ongoing violations of humanitarian law, and the human toll of major global conflicts.

HRW highlighted the severe impact of the conflicts in Gaza, Sudan, and Ukraine and emphasized the failure of governments and international organizations to address the crises. In Gaza, HRW noted war crimes and crimes against...

ECtHR Rules Italy Violated Human Rights in Terra dei Fuochi
| By: Özge Karsu : January 20, 2025 |

On January 20, 2025, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled that Italy violated the right to life (Article 2 of the Convention) and the right to respect for private and family life (Article 8 of the Convention). The ruling was based on Italy’s prolonged failure to address widespread illegal waste dumping by organized criminal groups in the Terra dei Fuochi (Land of Pyres) region near Naples.

The Italian government argued that it had taken sufficient action to mitigate the health impacts of pollution, including intensified cancer screening efforts. However, the...

U.S. Declares Genocide in Sudan Amid Escalating Conflict
| By: Brita Jelen : January 10, 2025 |

On January 7, 2025, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken officially declared that Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and their allied militias have committed genocide amid the nation’s ongoing civil war. This marks a significant escalation in international recognition of the atrocities unfolding in Sudan since conflict erupted in April 2023 between the RSF and the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF).

This determination follows Blinken’s December...

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