On 7 September 2026, Jamaica, which remains a Commonwealth Country with King Charles III as its head of state, will formally present a petition to the King with three questions about the legality of transatlantic chattel slavery and the UK’s
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.
Latest from EJIL: Talk! - Page 2
Two Weeks in Review: 24 August—4 September 2026
The last two weeks have covered a lot of ground, from the collapse of the Central American Court of Justice to Russian policies of population transfer in Ukraine and the place of diplomatic assurances concerning safe third country return. It…
Announcements: Law of Neutrality and the Prohibition of Aggression Symposium; New Technologies and International Legal Accountability Conference; CfP Protection of Liberty at Sea
By Mary Guest
1. The Law of Neutrality and the Prohibition of Aggression: Framing an Old Debate in the Light of Recent State Practice Symposium. On 18 September 2026, from 3pm to 5pm (CET), Bocconi University will host in hybrid format the seminar
…
Nuclear Liability Beyond Earth: Who Pays for an Incident on the Lunar Surface?
Lunar exploration during the 20th century sought to reach, explore and, in some cases, return from the Moon, rather than to serve as successive stages in the construction of permanent lunar infrastructure. Today, lunar missions are mostly about establishing the…
The Rise and Second Demise of the Central American Court of Justice
In May 2026, the Central American Court of Justice (CACJ) quietly ceased operations following Honduras’ withdrawal—a development that attracted little attention despite marking the end of one of the world’s earliest permanent international courts. Although the CACJ never succeeded in…
An Update on the Relationship Between IHL and IHRL, Lex Specialis and Recent Developments
The past couple of years have seen a substantial number of new developments regarding the relationship between international humanitarian law (IHL) and international human rights law (IHRL). These include what is probably the most significant judicial engagement ever with this…
Harmonizing the Fragmented Right to Education: The Proposed Free Education Optional Protocol
Nothing inherent in children’s development explains why their right to education should be more or less accessible depending on whether they are 4, 8, or 16. Yet international law treats financial barriers to education as more or less problematic depending…
From Specificity to Institutional Reliability: J.B. v. Greece and Diplomatic Assurances
On 26 May 2026, the European Court of Human Rights (the Court) delivered its judgment in J.B. v. Greece (no. 54796/16). The case concerns the potential removal of a Syrian national from Greece to Türkiye under the EU-Türkiye Statement of…
Beyond Forcible Relocation: Article 49(6) and State-Facilitated Settlement in Occupied Territory
Russia does not forcibly relocate its civilians into the occupied territories of Ukraine. Instead, it relies on an array of incentives, including preferential mortgages, employment programmes and tax benefits to increase the attractiveness of relocation. This gives rise to a…
Rethinking the Hormuz Toll Debate: Can Coastal States Monetize Maritime Security?
“Some reconcilement of remotest mind,
Leaves [H]ormuz rubyless, and Ophir chill.”
Hart Crane (1899–1932)
With the United States waging an illegal war against Iran to reshape the architecture of the Middle East, the architecture of the Hormuz Strait may now…