In ongoing peace negotiations to end Russia’s unlawful invasion of Ukraine, Russia has demanded that Ukraine waive any reparation claims for the damages resulting from the invasion. This follows a broader set of Russian demands capable of impacting justice and accountability, particularly amnesties to “political prisoners” and – earlier – withdrawing declarations recognising the International…

Recently, the leaders of nine European states, out of 46 Council of Europe members, issued a joint statement calling for a fundamental revision of the interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights (‘ECHR’) on immigration issues. Initially pioneered by Italy and Denmark, and supported by Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland, the…

For a civilian caught up in the crossfire of an international armed conflict, determining protected status under international humanitarian law (‘IHL’) represents more than a theoretical exercise of distant intellectualisation by jurists. It takes centre stage in the trenches of suffering, and is arbiter in deciding who receives the full protection of the Fourth Geneva Convention (‘GC IV’)…