International Law Behind The Headlines

A month after this year’s International Women’s Day and as we approach the eighty-eighth session of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (the “CEDAW Committee”), we must ask: where do we collectively stand in light of the ongoing and new threats to the rights of girls and women around the world, and what comes next? Join us as Professor Rangita de Silva de Alwis of the University of Pennsylvania Law School and Harvard Kennedy School of Government, explores the current time of “great promise and great peril” for the rights of women and girls and the role of the CEDAW Committee in shaping the future of gender equality.

The 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (“COP28”) concluded on December 13, 2023—with almost 200 countries signing a landmark Stocktake agreement and wide agreement to transition away from fossil fuels. Many commentators have heralded COP28 as a success. Was it, and what comes next for meaningful climate action in the lead-up to COP29? Join us in conversation with Dr. Christina Voigt, Professor of Law at the University of Oslo and Co-Chair of the Paris Agreement Implementation and Compliance Committee, as we look back at COP28, look ahead to COP29, and assess opportunities for effective action to address climate change and its impacts.

From new launches, private and public, into outer space to the growing challenge of “space debris,” space is a growing challenge for international lawyers. We discuss some of the current and emerging issues with Ina Popova, partner in the international dispute resolution group at Debevoise and Plimpton.

Just Security Editors in Chief Tess Bridgeman and Ryan Goodman join Kal to discuss some of the hardest legal questions raised by the current conflict in Israel and Gaza. Topics include civilian-combatant distinctions; human shields; the law of siege and occupation; and the targeting of hospitals and other special facilities.

In this episode, we speak with the first chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to discuss the recent actions of the ICC against Vladimir Putin.

In this episode, Catherine Amirfar interviews co-host Kal Raustiala about his new book, The Absolutely Indispensable Man: Ralph Bunche, the United Nations, and the Fight to End Empire.

How does feminist thought intersect with international law? Catherine Powell and Adrien Wing join Kal to discuss the recent AJIL Unbound symposium on feminist theories of international law.

In this episode, Catherine speaks with Judge Chile Eboe-Osuji—former President of the International Criminal Court—about why international criminal justice is relevant today, his position on supporting an international tribunal to prosecute the crime of aggression related to Russia’s war in Ukraine, the relationship between international criminal law and media freedom, the most difficult decision he has made in his illustrious carer in international justice, and more.

In this episode David Sloss of Santa Clara Law School discusses his new book, Tyrants on Twitter, and his proposals to combat disinformation and the misuse of social media by foreign actors.

Saudi leader Mohammed bin Salman is being sued in federal court with regard to the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi. A key issue is whether MBS’s apparent power and key leadership role give him immunity. We explore this issue, along with related foreign relations law questions, with Chimene Keitner, Fromm professor of law at UC Hastings and former counselor to the State Department.

In this episode Kal speaks with the co-editors of the recent AJIL Unbound symposium on Ukraine and International Law, who discuss the contributions to the symposium and make the case that despite the horrific violence in Ukraine international law has fared better, and appears more resilient, than many might think.

The UN Charter in Article 2(4) governs not only the use of force but also threats to use force. The situation in Ukraine raises many questions about threats and how they are treated under international law. In this episode, we speak with James Campbell Professor of Law Monica Hakimi about the issue of threats and how they fit into the larger legal structure governing the use of force.

Episode 33: Non-Binding Agreements and International Law with Oona Hathaway by American Society of International Law

In this episode Kal interviews Axios Chief Financial Correspondent and Slate Money host Felix Salmon about the recent, massive data dump of financial documents related to offshore tax avoidance and evasion, money laundering, and the role of lawyers in enabling and regulating this activity.

Rebecca Hamilton of American University comes on the podcast to discuss the recent events around “AUKUS,” the Australia/UK/US security arrangement and submarine deal, and its implications for the Non Proliferation Treaty, foreign relations in the Indo-Pacific, and everyone’s relations with France.

With COP26 fast approaching, can the parties develop better methods for dispute settlement? In this episode ASIL President Catherine Amirfar discusses the issue and importance of the conciliation annex under the Paris Agreement on climate change.

In this episode we discuss vaccine passports, new multilateral agreements, and other emerging legal Issues in Geneva and elsewhere with Gian Luca Burci, former Legal Counsel of the WHO and professor at the Graduate Institute.

In this episode we discuss the recent plane diversion by Belarus, which has been called a “state sponsored hijacking“. Joining us to analyze the international legal framework governing such incidents is Cameron Miles.

Episode 27: the Biden Administration and the Use of Force by American Society of International Law

President Trump sought to exit the WHO and the Paris Accord; President Biden is reversing both of those decisions. In this episode our guest Duncan Hollis, editor of the Oxford Guide to Treaties, explores how treaty exit and entrance work, who governs these processes, and many other related issues.