Center for International Law at New York Law School

Nations that don't take action to address climate change may be in violation of international law and could also face lawsuits from countries being harmed by rising emissions, said the International Court of Justice in its first-ever ruling on climate change.

World’s top court says top polluters may need to pay reparations for climate harm | CNN It marks the first time the International Court of Justice, the UN’s top court based in the Hague, has considered the climate crisis.

Russia is ultimately responsible for the 2014 downing of a civilian aircraft over eastern Ukraine and also for carrying out widespread human rights abuses in Ukraine, said a ruling from the International Court of Justice.

European Court Holds Russia Liable for Human Rights Violations in Ukraine and MH17 Attack In symbolic rulings, Moscow was again blamed for the downing of Flight MH17 in 2014 and for an array of war-related human rights violations, including the transfer of Ukrainian children to Russia.

Several European countries that border Russia or are close in proximity to that nation have recently announced their intention to withdraw from a treaty that bans landmines. For more on this treaty, visit https://disarmament.unoda.org/anti-personnel-landmines-convention/

Five European States Withdraw from Mine Ban Treaty The withdrawal of five European countries from a longstanding and effective international treaty prohibiting antipersonnel landmines unnecessarily puts civilians at risk.

Here are some legal questions surrounding yesterday's U.S. attack on Iran.

Does Trump Have the Authority to Strike Iran? As the United States joins Israel’s bombing campaign of Iran, some have questioned whether the president has the authority to involve the U.S. military in this conflict.

We're keeping busy at the Center for International Law with our lunchtime speaker series. They have included Pierre Hazan, a prominent figure in conflict mediation and transitional justice, and Ambassador Blerim Reka who is Head of Mission of the Consulate General of the Republic of Kosovo.

Many thanks to Nathalie Weizmann (at left), Senior Legal Officer at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, who discussed how international humanitarian law protects civilians during armed conflict with host Prof. Ruti Teitel, the Co-Director of the Center for International Law.

Many thanks to Dr. Rudina Jasini for her fireside chat (with our host and moderator Professor Ruti Teitel, co-director of the NYLS Center for International Law) on "Victims and the Pursuit of Global Justice."

Yesterday, our event speaker, Professor Noha Aboueldahab of Georgetown University in Qatar, led an engaging session on "Accountability as the Global South's Power Play" in an almost full room. Many thanks to Professor Ruti Teitel, the Co-Director of the Center for International Law, for hosting and moderating the discussion.

Many thanks to Michael Garcia Bochenek of Human Rights Watch for speaking to our students during a lunchtime conversation yesterday. His stories, explanations, and insights gave us a much fuller picture of his important work in investigating alleged human rights violations around the world.

We had a great time listening to a conversation between Prof. Ruti Teitel, the co-director of the Center for International Law, and our lunchtime guest Prof. Danielle Celermajer of the University of Sydney who discussed omnicide along with her book Summertime: Reflections on a Vanishing Future.

Many thanks to Professor Erika George (of the University of Utah’s S.J. Quinney College of Law) for her excellent lunch talk today on "Incorporating Rights: Strategies to Advance Corporate Accountability."

Many thanks to Professor Eliav Lieblich of Tel Aviv University who gave a wonderful overview lecture on the complexities of the international law of occupation. Kudos to Professor Ruti Teitel, the chair of today's lecture and also the co-director of the Center for International Law, who played host.