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21 December 2011
The great challenges facing Egypt after the recent revolution, which led to the departure of former president Hosni Mubarak, are currently only exacerbated by reported violence under the military rule. The spreading of images of disproportionate acts of violence against protesters has sparked public outrage and the acts have been condemned by the United States. On December 20th, a large group of women took to the streets to protest against the continued military rule.
Source: NY Times - Egypt’s Military Masters
21 December 2011
On December 19th, Syrian representatives signed an agreement with the Arab League to allow an observer mission to access the country. The observer mission was accepted on a number of conditions, including the cancellation of certain sanctions taken by the Arab League against Syria and a ban to visit “sensitive military sites”. Since the agreement was signed, an increase in violence has been reported.
Source 1: BBC News - Syria crisis: 'Nearly 200 lives lost' in last two days
Source 2: NY Times - Syria Offers to Allow Observers, With Strings
18 December 2011
The New York Times reported that NATO’s air campaign in Libya resulted in civilian casualties that the alliance has been refusing to acknowledge or investigate. While a spokesperson deeply regretted any loss of life, the NYT reports that NATO ‘deferred the responsibility of initiating any inquiry to Libya’s interim authorities, whose survival and climb to power were made possible largely by the airstrike campaign. So far, Libyan leaders have expressed no interest in examining NATO’s mistakes.’
Source: www.nytimes.com : In Strikes on Libya by NATO, an Unspoken Civilian Toll
17 December 2011
Brillmayer and Tesfalidet recently published an article discussing third State obligations not to contribute to the violation of another State’s legal rights in the NYU Journal of International Law and Politics. The article is available here: pdf.
Full citation: Lea Brilmayer & Isaias Tesfalidet ‘Third State Obligations and the Enforcement of International Law’ (2011) 44(1) NYU Journal of International Law and Politics 1.
Source: NYU Journal of International Law and Politics, vol 44
See also: Blogpost on Opinio Juris
16 December 2011
Julia Sebutinde has been elected to the International Court of Justice by the General Assembly and the Security Council, thus filling the remaining vacancy on Court. The new judge will serve a nine-year term starting on 5 February 2012.
Source: UN Press Release
See also: Blogpost on EJIL:Talk!