Written by Bolu Jegede   Introduction For the ninth year in a row, Libya remains a special case in the U.S. Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report, underscoring its persistent struggles with human trafficking and lawlessness amid ongoing instability. Libya ranks as one of the worst places for trafficking in the world, although the number…

Written by Dimitrios Kostaras               The illicit procurement of the Parthenon Marbles and the demand for their repatriation have remained a diplomatic strain between Britain and Greece for two centuries. In the early 19th century, the British ambassador to the Ottoman Empire, the 7th Lord Elgin, Thomas Bruce, forcefully…

Written by Lauren Thompson   Introduction The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) judgment against the former chief of the Timbuktu Islamic Police highlights systematic violence against women and girls and stands as a pivotal moment in the fight for justice. This landmark case emphasizes the importance of recognizing gender-based violence as a crime against humanity and highlights…

Written by Nathan Yost   Introduction In March 2011, Ethiopia announced the construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), a massive hydropower project on the Blue Nile. Designed with a height of 145 meters and a storage capacity of 74 billion cubic meters, GERD will be Africa’s largest hydroelectric dam and is central to…

Written by Ithar M. Hassan   Introduction On October 4, 2024, the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) handed down a defeat for the European Commission (the Commission) by quashing the Commission’s recent trade deals with Morocco for disregarding the rights of the Sahrawi people. During a trip to Rabat, French President Emmanuel…

Written by Vivienne Monger   Introduction The ongoing TikTok debate has sparked heated discussions about U.S.-China trade relations and national security. It may seem like a fight over a social media app, but it’s more than that. The ban is a symbol of the growing tension between the two countries as they battle for dominance…

Written by Johanna Leffler   Introduction In July 2024, the European Union’s (“EU”) Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (“CSDDD” or “Directive”) entered into force. Among its primary goals, the Directive aims to ensure that companies active in the EU market contribute to sustainable development and bringing an end to adverse human rights and environmental impacts flowing…

Written by Davis Hayman   In May 2024, the Prosecutor for the International Criminal Court announced applications for arrest warrants for two Israeli heads of state based on preliminary investigations of the ongoing hostilities in Gaza which began on October 7th, 2023. In response, Congress introduced the “Illegitimate Court Counteraction Act”. This Bill creates sanctions…

Written by Shoshi Leviton   Introduction In September 2024, the Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center, the American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico, and the Center for Constitutional Rights submitted a habeas corpus petition on behalf of four Venezuelan noncitizens detained at Otero Processing Center, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility, for over…

Written by Keisuke Fujio   Introduction The upcoming prosecution of Michael Sang Correa (Correa) represents a significant step forward for U.S. compliance with the United Nations Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) and U.S. leadership in the fight against torture. Correa, a Gambian national, is only the third…