International Law

SWANU condemns Israel’s actions in Gaza

The South West Africa National Union has condemned Israel's actions in Gaza, warning Germany against involvement in potential genocide, given its history. Following South Africa's appeal, the International Court of Justice instructed Israel to prevent genocide in Gaza. SWANU President, Charles Katjivirue is calling for global recognition of genocide as a serious offense. he US House of Representatives has rejected a Republican-led bill that would provide more than 331-billion-rand in […]

7 February, 2024 48

South Africa

UN selects South Africa’s Dire Tladi for ICJ role

Professor Dire Tladi is set to be sworn in as South Africa’s first permanent judge at the International Court of Justice in The Hague today. The former professor of international law at the University of Pretoria was elected by the United Nations General Assembly and Security Council. Tladi will serve a term of nine years as a member of the ICJ.

6 February, 2024 45

Africa

Even many critics of the Rwanda deportation policy are missing the point of why it’s wrong

By Ẹniọlá Ànúolúwapọ́ Ṣóyẹmí, University of Oxford The UK government’s proposals to send asylum seekers arriving to the UK onto Rwanda continue to spark intense opposition. This includes opposition from right-wing Conservative MPs who don’t think the plan goes far enough. Several recently attempted a rebellion against the latest bill, arguing that it failed to conclusively stop refugees from legally challenging their own deportation to Rwanda. The government’s […]

5 February, 2024 38

Africa

What is genocide? Six western countries want a broader application of the law – experts unpack why it matters

By Kerstin Bree Carlson, Roskilde University and Line Engbo Gissel, Roskilde University In November 2023, six western states filed a joint application before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) arguing for an ample and expansive understanding of genocide. This intervention, as it is legally termed, was made by Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK in relation to the genocide case The Gambia filed against Myanmar in […]

19 January, 2024 17

World

UN court hears genocide case against Israel

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his country is fighting Hamas terrorists, not the Palestinian population, and they are doing so in full compliance with international law. His comments come as the International Court of Justice is hearing South Africa’s case accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The case is currently being heard by the UN’s International Court of Justice which is based in the Hague in […]

11 January, 2024 28

Opinion Pieces

South Africa’s genocide case against Israel: expert sets out what to expect from the International Court of Justice

By Magnus Killander, University of Pretoria The International Court of Justice (ICJ) will be holding public hearings on 11-12 January at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the seat of the court, in a case brought by South Africa against Israel. South Africa has accused Israel of violating the 1948 Genocide Convention in its military bombardment and siege of Gaza, which started after the deadly 7 October Hamas attack […]

9 January, 2024 27

Press Releases

2023 : Alarming increase in journalists killed in conflict zones

UNESCO figures show that 2023 has been a particularly deadly year for journalists who work in conflict zones, with killings almost doubling compared to the past three years. The last three months of this year in particular have already been the deadliest quarter for journalists in conflict zones since at least 2007, with 27 deaths. 65 journalists have been killed in the line of duty in 2023, compared with […]

20 December, 2023 7

Opinion Pieces

300,000 Tanzanians were killed by Germany during the Maji-Maji uprising – it was genocide and should be called that

Klaus Bachmann, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities and Gerhard Kemp, University of the West of England Political actors in Tanzania have in recent years demanded compensation from Germany for colonial atrocities committed in the early 20th century. In early 2017, the National Assembly of Tanzania stopped short of putting the label of genocide on the atrocities committed by German troops during the Maji-Maji uprising (1905–1907). During a visit […]

20 November, 2023 9