Law

Warning and criticism from legal experts

“International Pandemic Treaty” and “International Health Regulations”

by Thomas Oysmüller,* Austria

(23 May 2023) (Edit.) From 21–30 May 2023, the 76th Annual Session of the World Health Assembly – the supreme decision-making body of the WHO – will take place in Geneva. Planned reforms offer much explosive material and endanger the sovereignty of the 194 member countries. The following article describes the current situation based on the results of the previous Geneva negotiations of February 2023.

Provocation is Not an Innocent Act

by Alfred de Zayas,* Geneva

(23 May 2023) Provocation is not an innocent act. Under specific circumstances, provocation constitutes a tort or even a crime, especially when it deliberately generates a violent response. There is no binding definition of the term provocation, which is generally understood as intentional or reckless conduct likely to induce another person to a violent response – out of fear, anger or outrage.

Undermining the law becomes a problem

by Guy Mettan,* Geneva

(16 May 2023) What to do when the law is bent and is no longer the “law”? For the last 15 years or so, there has been a strong tendency to bend the law – international law, commercial law, and the higher law of nation states – in favour of interests that no longer have anything to do with justice and fairness.

European ‘strategic autonomy’ and the perception of reality

by Alfred de Zayas,* Geneva

(2 May 2023) (Edit.) For the renowned UN international law expert Alfred de Zayas, the visit of French President Emanuel Macron to China at the beginning of April this year raises not only the question of how Europe intends to position itself towards both China and the USA in the future, but also what international law consequences will arise from his future behaviour. It would be a blessing for Europe if Macron could stand firm on his statements and bring them closer to Germany and Italy in particular:

Crimes against Humanity: Serbia’s Law Suit against NATO

More than 15 Tons of Uranium Bombs Dropped on Yugoslavia in 1999

by Natali Milenkovic*

(18 April 2023) Over 4,000 Citizens of Serbia including Kosovo and Metohija, are Suing NATO. Their Cancer Diagnoses Are a Direct Consequence of the NATO Bombings of Yugoslavia in 1999

International Law

UN Charter – The Ukraine War and our commitment to peace

by Michael von der Schulenburg,* Germany

(11 April 2023) To argue again today that peace can only be achieved by force of arms is a throwback to the war-torn times before the UN Charter of 1945. The war in Ukraine is now entering a second year – without even an attempt at a diplomatic solution. Instead of peace talks, the warring and conflicting parties have become further entangled in a dangerous spiral of military escalation using ever heavier weapons systems. As if we were still stuck in the thought patterns of the first half of the 20th century, large-scale military offensives are now supposed to bring the solution.