On 21 May 2026, the International Court of Justice delivered its advisory opinion on the right to strike under ILO Convention No. 87, holding by ten votes to four that the right is protected by that instrument. The
EJIL: Talk!
EJIL: Talk! is published by the European Journal of International Law and focuses on contemporary issues in international law. The blog covers topics such as the legal frameworks governing military interventions and coups, developments in human rights law including children’s rights and education, challenges in prosecuting war crimes and mercenary activities, and theoretical reflections on the nature and authority of international law. It also addresses less explored areas like the application of international humanitarian law to maritime contexts. The blog engages with current events and scholarly debates to analyze the interpretation and application of international legal principles in diverse and evolving situations.
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Announcements: Diversity and Teaching International Law Webinar; CfP Workshop on Neutrality in Legal Scholarship; Doctoral Workshop on Sustainability and Law; Evidence in Human Rights Law Conference; First International Congress on Human Rights
By Mary Guest
1. Diversity and Teaching International Law Webinar. On Wednesday 17 June at 14.30 – 16.00 CET, the ESIL Teaching Corner Webinar Series will host a webinar on ‘Diversity and Teaching International Law’ to address a wide range of perspectives on…
From Trade to Investment: Can the ACWL Model Travel?
By Bram Goede
UNCITRAL Working Group III has been seized with Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) reform for nearly ten years. Pursuing several initiatives in parallel, one project now entering its final stages is the Advisory Centre on International Investment Dispute Resolution (Advisory Centre).…
The Exacerbation of Longstanding Structural Tensions: The 11th NPT Review Conference Closes without an Outcome Document
From April 27 to 22 May 2026, the 11th Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) was held in New York amid a climate of considerable tension. In a context marked by…
Eurovision, Non-Recognition and Bangaranga?!
Bulgaria won the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna with Dara’s “Bangaranga”; Israel finished second; and five countries, Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland, stayed away in protest at Israel’s participation. That combination, spectacle, boycott and contested…
When Advice Should Have Turned Binding: A Missed Opportunity
By Pranay Lekhi
On 21 May 2026, the International Court of Justice gave its advisory opinion on the Right to Strike under ILO Convention No. 87. By ten votes to four, the Court concluded that the right to strike of workers and…
Is Deep-Seabed Mining Compatible with the Human Right to a Healthy Environment? Insights from the ICJ and IACtHR Climate Change Advisory Opinions
In 2025, following the 2024 advisory opinion (AO) of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea on Climate Change (here), the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) issued their…
Two Weeks in Review: 18—29 May 2026
China turns on tariff-free trade for Africa, while Iran turns off the internet. The ICJ’s advisory jurisdiction is back in focus, with the Right to Strike Advisory Opinion handed down a day after the UN General Assembly’s resolution on the Climate Change…
Announcements: CfA International Law of the Sea Conference; Introduction to PIL Summer School; Peace Operations International Law Summer School; CfP Works-In-Progress Workshop; Regional Energy Interconnectivity and Sustainable Development
By Mary Guest
1. Call for Abstracts: Postgraduate Research Conference on the International Law of the Sea. The International Law Department, Geneva Graduate Institute is inviting submissions for a postgraduate research conference dedicated to the international law of the sea, taking place on…
Russia, Israel, and the Trade in Stolen Ukrainian Grain: A Legal Analysis
By Philipp Kehl
In April 2026, relations between Ukraine and Israel were shaken by a considerable diplomatic crisis. In contrast to Ukraine’s recent quarrel with Hungary over the (likely illegal) interception and seizure of a Ukrainian money transport by Hungarian authorities,…