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
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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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,…
Treaty Interpretation in the ICJ’s Opinion on the Right to Strike
By Julian Arato
On 21 May 2026, the International Court of Justice delivered its advisory opinion on the Right to Strike under ILO Convention No. 87. The question before the Court was whether the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right…
We Need A Global War Powers Resolution
The times has come to do something about the scourge of war.
It is shocking that, in the twenty-first century, the interacting of the minds of two men could cause a world war affecting all human beings everywhere. Despite the…
Denial of Environmental Justice: Would a Bar on Climate Tort Litigation Be Inconsistent with New Zealand’s International Obligations?
Like other countries that pride themselves on upholding the rule of law, New Zealand has seen many climate change cases decided by its courts. The most significant is the 2024 judgment of the Supreme Court in Smith v Fonterra…
Domestic Courts and the States’ Obligation to Prevent Genocide and Serious Violations of IHL: The Brussels Court of Appeal’s Interlocutory Judgment of 16 March 2026
On 16 March 2026, the Brussels Court of Appeal (hereafter, the “Court”) issued an interlocutory judgment in summary proceedings (référé) concerning the alleged failure of the Belgian State to comply with its international obligations in relation to the…
From the Diamond Princess to the MV Hondius: International Law Still Lacks Clear Rules for Public Health Emergencies on Cruise Ships
Despite the lessons of COVID-19, the treatment of cruise ships during public health emergencies remains governed by fragmented and incomplete rules under international law. Recent treaty reform efforts failed to resolve the structural gaps exposed both in 2020 and now…