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.
UNGA Adopts Draft Resolution to Bridge Global AI Gaps
| By: Sharon Basch : July 10, 2024 |

The 78th Session of the UN General Assembly has adopted a draft resolution introduced by China to enhance international cooperation on building AI capacity, particularly in developing countries. The resolution aims to bridge the “AI divide” by promoting knowledge sharing, funding, and capacity-building assistance. It emphasizes the ethical and human rights aspects of AI development, but does not address military applications. 

The resolution calls for international cooperation to foster a fair business environment...

Peru Congress Passes Bill Introducing Statutes of Limitations on War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity
| By: Sharon Basch : July 10, 2024 |

The Peruvian Congress has passed Bill 6951 which introduces a statute of limitations for crimes against humanity that were committed prior to July 1, 2002. The decision sparked major controversy - human rights organizations and UN experts have expressed concerns about the Bill’s potential to foster impunity and impede access to justice for victims of serious abuses.

The bill, promoted by the Popular Force party, could benefit figures like former...

US and Ukraine Sign Bilateral Security Agreement
| By: Sharon Basch : June 20, 2024 |

On June 13, 2024, Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelensky signed a bilateral security agreement that outlines a ten-year plan to strengthen Ukraine’s defensive capability, and prepare Ukraine to meet the requirements for EU and NATO membership in the future. Fifteen other countries have signed similar agreements, including the UK, France, Denmark, Canada, and Japan, with whom the US will cooperate in Ukraine’s goals.

 

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Jury Finds Chiquita Liable over Paramilitary Killings
| By: Sharon Basch : June 13, 2024 |

A federal Jury in Florida found Chiquita Brands, the fruit giant responsible most notably for bananas (and once called United Fruit), liable for killings by a Colombian right-wing paramilitary group who killed thousands of people between 1997 and 2004. Even after the group was designated a terror organization by the US, Chiquita continued pouring millions of dollars into the group.

 

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Hong Kong court convicts 14 of the “Hong Kong 47”
| By: Maya Prakash : June 13, 2024 |

A Hong Kong court announced 14 convictions for pro-democracy activists on May 30, 2024 for conspiracy to commit subversion under the National Security law enacted in June 2020. The 16 defendants whose cases were decided on May 30 all pled not guilty, while the other 31 pled guilty. The case, brought in Feb. 2021, is the city’s largest to date under the National Security law, charging 47 pro-democracy defendants with subversion. Two defendants – former district councilors Lawrence Lau and Lee Yue-shun – were acquitted,...

Georgia Parliament Passes Controversial 'Foreign Influence' Bill
| By: Sharon Basch : May 29, 2024 |

Despite a veto by pro-Western President Salome Zourabichvili, the controversial "Foreign Influence" Law (translation here) was passed by the Georgian Parliament on May 28th. This law requires media outlets and NGOs to register as "foreign agents" if more than 20% of their funding comes from abroad.

The government maintains the law is necessary to counter foreign interference that could destabilize Georgia's democracy. However, critics,...

Former Gambian Minister of the Interior Convicted of Crimes Against Humanity
| By: Sharon Basch : May 29, 2024 |

On May 15th, the former Gambian Minister of the Interior Ousman Sonko was convicted of crimes against humanity by the Swiss Federal Criminal Court. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Sonko is the most senior state official to be convicted in Europe based on universal jurisdiction.

 

The court found that between 2000 and 2016, Soko, individually and as a member of a...

EU Council Adopts Migration and Asylum Reforms
| By: Sharon Basch : May 28, 2024 |

The European Council announced on May 14th, 2024 its adoption of the Pact on Migration and Asylum. The pact is a set of new rules managing migration and establishing a common asylum system at the EU level. The Pact includes four major pillars: 

 

Robust screening: Those not fulfilling the conditions to enter the EU will be registered and subject to identification, security, and health checks. Eurodac asylum and migration database: The...

UK High Court Rules on UK Breach of ECHR
| By: Sharon Basch : May 28, 2024 |

In a judgment passed down by Mr. Justice Smith of the UK High Court on May 14, 2024, it was determined that the certain amendments introduced by the Police Act of 2022 (a set of amendments to the Criminal Order and Public Order Act 1994) were in breach of Articles Eight and Fourteen of the European Convention of Human Rights.

 

As...

Biden Signs Law to Support Ukraine with Seized Russian Assets
| By: Brita Jelen : May 09, 2024 |

On April 24, 2024, President Biden approved a new law providing $95.2 billion in security assistance and foreign aid to countries including Ukraine, Israel, and countries in the Indo-Pacific region. Notably, the law includes a provision named Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity for Ukrainians Act, which allows the government to use seized Russian assets to support humanitarian causes in Ukraine. 

When Russia first attacked Ukraine...

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