Reports on the Syrian Arab Republic
Katrin Cassidy-Ginsberg Vol. 39 Contributing Editor On March 1, 2017, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic released its report on the events in Aleppo and the “alleged violations and abuses of international human rights law.”[1] Based on extensive evidence gathered through interviews and reviewing data that included satellite imagery, photographs, […]
When the Security Council Fails to Intervene in Mass Atrocities, Who Else Can Act?
Seema Kassab Vol. 38 Associate Editor There is no clearer example of the failure of the UN to halt mass atrocities and genocide than the current conflict in Syria. Nearly six years, hundreds of thousands of lives lost, and millions of refugees later, the UN has repeatedly failed to effectively take action in protecting Syrian […]
Legal Incubation: Establishing the Rule of Law in Rebel-Held Syria
Nessma Bashi Vol. 38 Associate Editor As calls for democracy-building, freedom of expression, and the right to individual sovereignty were chanted by protesters throughout the Arab World in March of 2011, many Syrians were encouraged by the promise of popular power and headed to the streets to make their voices heard. What started as peaceful […]
Russian Airstrikes in Syria: a Violation of International Law?
Seema Kassab Vol. 38 Associate Editor One of the gravest humanitarian catastrophes of the present day has been taking place in Syria over last five years. According to the UN, around 250,000 people have been killed, 13.5 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance inside Syria, and more than 50% of Syria’s population is currently displaced.[1] Instability within […]
ISIS Looted Antiquities Funding Terrorism: The Global Community’s Slow Response and What More can be Done
Amy Albanese Vol. 37 Associate Editor Vol. 38 Managing Online Content Editor For over a year, there have been reports in the international press of Syrian and Iraqi antiquities being sold by ISIS as a source of revenue.[1] The reports detail how ISIS is profiting through the sale of Syria’s antiquities on the international art […]
International Legal Implications of Measures Taken to Limit Influx of Refugees in Europe
Christine Prorok, Vol. 37 Associate Editor As hundreds of thousands of refugees flee states in the Middle East and Africa, bound largely for countries in the European Union, the international community has struggled to furnish a consistent response to accepting refugees. And some have no intent to accept refugees at all.
The Need for Internationally Accepted Refugee Laws
Zachary Anderson, Vol. 37 Associate Editor The recent Syrian refugee crisis has put a massive amount of strain on Europe. An estimated 32,000 asylum applications were recorded in Europe in July of this year alone.[1] In the wake of this crisis, arguably cruel responses by European governments and individuals have garnered the international spotlight,[2] exposing […]
Understanding the Legality of Russia’s Actions in Syria
Erin Collins, Vol. 37 Associate Editor Over the past few months we have seen the dramatic increase in Syrian crisis, culminating most recently with a Russian airstrike campaign in Syria. Under the United Nations charter Article 2(4) there is a general prohibition on the use of force. [1] There is a specific exception carved out […]
The Alien Tort Statute and the Syrian Crisis
Anonymous, Vol. 36 Associate Editor Syria’s President Bashar Assad has engaged in a civil war with Syrian citizens since March 2011.[i] As the revolution-turned-bloodbath enters its fifth year, the estimated death toll has reached 220,000 and continues to rise.[ii] The conflict has also displaced a significant percentage of the country’s pre-war population. The United Nations […]
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 and the Future of the Responsibility to Protect Doctrine
Sam Fitzpatrick, Vol. 36 Associate Editor On March 17, 2011, the United Nations Security Council (“UNSC”) adopted Resolution 1973, providing the legal framework for the subsequent NATO led military intervention in Libya.[1] The resolution established a “ban on all flights in the airspace of [Libya] in order to help protect civilians” and authorized member states […]