International Law

🏅2020 CIPS Blog Award Winner! MBS admits “full responsibility” for the Khashoggi murder: What this means for the Kingdom’s allies 0
- Analysis, CIPS, News
- September 29, 2020
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince is either behind the assassination of the journalist, Jamal Khashoggi, or has no control. Either way, the situation begs a serious response

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman (the now notorious ‘MBS’) recently admitted his …
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Autocrats use feminism to undermine democracy 0
- Analysis
- October 30, 2019
More women are being elected in autocratic regimes, but this is part of a democratic facade. The definition of democracy needs to change.

Fake news, disinformation, foreign influence in elections: We’re starting to understand the ways bad actors attack …
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What Canada Can Do About the Rohingya Genocide 0
- Analysis
- May 1, 2019
By Payam Akhavan and John Packer

Twenty-five years ago, as young UN human rights officers working together in Geneva, we witnessed how the world watched and did nothing as close to a million Rwandan Tutsis were exterminated. Brimming with idealism …
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Canada is on the Front Lines of Challenges to Rule of Law 0
- Analysis
- January 28, 2019
China’s apparent use of Canadian detainees as diplomatic bargaining chips is not just a problem for Canada. It is a challenge to all countries that seek to uphold the rule of law in their domestic and international affairs.

The dispute …
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Khashoggi Murder Case a Test for Despots Everywhere 0
- Analysis
- October 18, 2018
The disappearance and possible murder of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi is an important test case for despots everywhere. Can they get away with interrogating, kidnapping, and even assassinating their critics in other countries?

Khashoggi, a resident of the United …
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Decisive Action is Overdue to Protect the Rohingyas 0
- Analysis
- September 15, 2018
By John Packer

Director of the Human Rights Research and Education Centre at the University of Ottawa and Neuberger-Jesin Professor of International Conflict Resolution

Finally, the United Nations Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar has stated the obvious: the Rohingya …
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Why Deleting Facebook Isn’t Enough 0
- Analysis
- April 4, 2018
By Taylor Owen and Ben Scott

While being pessimistic about the depressing tableau of Silicon Valley malfeasance is easy, let us not forget that the internet has brought tremendous value to our society. Therefore, the answer is not to lock …
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Standing Guard on Japan’s Most Western Point 0
- Analysis
- March 30, 2018
Yonaguni, Japan’s most westernmost inhabited island (pop. 1745), lies 111 km from Hualien (Taiwan), but more than 2000 km from Tokyo. Yonaguni is part of the Sakishima Islands that include the Yaeyama Islands to the west near Taiwan and the …
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Drug Dealers on Death Row?0
- Analysis
- March 25, 2018
By Dane Degenstein

Donald Trump has suggested the death penalty for drug dealers.

It has been difficult to pin down President Trump’s policies on anything and the opioid crisis is no different. The fact that he uses language similar …
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Liberals’ Vague “Values” Talk Undermines Rights Promotion 0
- Analysis
- February 2, 2018
Canadian governments since the mid-1970s have claimed that promoting human rights around the world is a foreign policy priority. There are solid moral, legal, and practical grounds for doing so. Yet increasingly, the Liberal government, like its Tory predecessor, justifies …
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A Pioneering War Crimes Tribunal Comes to an End 0
- Analysis
- December 14, 2017
At the end of December, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) closes its doors after 24 years in business.

The United Nations court, situated in The Hague, was established in 1993 with the goal of providing accountability …
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The General and the Genocide 0
- Analysis
- November 26, 2017
General Ratko Mladić has been sentenced to life in prison by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. The court found the former Bosnian Serb military chief guilty of one count of genocide and ten crimes against humanity, plus …
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