In the Institute's inaugural Working Paper, our Conflict Prevention Program senior researcher argues that the last resort precept in just war theory should be jettisoned from the tradition because it can cause excess harms to innocents.

The Hague Institute for Global Justice and SPARK welcome international experts and business entrepreneurs to a conference on the private sector’s role in the promotion of human rights and peacebuilding.

Deliberate Starvation: Impact on Peace and Reconstruction in Syria

After three years of civil war in Syria, there is clear evidence that both the government and rebel groups have deliberately starved civilian populations (as a weapon of war), among other violations of international humanitarian and human rights law.

South Sudan: Allegations of Missing Dutch €500 Million and the Facts

The recent accusations that after six months of civil war in South Sudan at least €500 million of the Dutch government’s development aid went missing and more than ten years of diplomacy failed almost overnight, are likely to erode political support for any further aid to the fledgling state. However, these accusations rest on several misperceptions.

News and Commentary

Will EU Member States Reach a Common Position on Possible Sanctions on Russia after MH17’s Crash?

22 Jul 2014 | By Agnese Macaluso

After Malaysian Airlines MH17’s passenger jet crashed last Thursday, allegedly hit by a Russian-supplied missile fired by pro-Russian rebels in Ukraine, EU foreign ministers convened today in Brussels to discuss the imposition of further sanctions on Russia. The response of the Netherlands, which lost 193 people in the incident, is expected to be crucial although the decisions by the UK, France and Germany will shape the final EU position.

Finishing the Job in the Balkans

18 Jul 2014 | By Gabriella Zoia

EU membership of the Western Balkan countries is inevitable. Question is when rather than if. That was one of the conclusions of the panel discussion on “Finishing the Job in the Balkans”, hosted by The Hague Institute for Global Justice on 16 July. Distinguished Fellow, Ambassador Nikola Dimitrov moderated the talk on the state of affairs in the Balkans from the perspectives of the United States, Europe, the Netherlands, and the region.

Prospect Magazine Announces Finalists for European Think Tank of the Year

16 Jul 2014 The Hague Institute for Global Justice has been nominated by Prospect Magazine as a finalist for European Think Tank of the Year. Bestowed annually in London, the award celebrates activities and achievements by policy and research-focused organizations around the globe.

Salvaging Afghanistan’s Presidential Election and Transition

UN Photo/Eric Kanalstein

15 Jul 2014 | by Richard Ponzio

As a fallback “Plan B” but also to intensify pressure on ensuring all ballots are now properly vetted, the Afghan Government and international community should consider organizing another runoff between Dr. Abdullah Abdullah and Dr. Ashraf Ghani, according to Dr. Richard Ponzio, head of the Global Governance Program at The Hague Institute for Global Justice. Do it before the snow hits the Hindu Kush and have it co-supervised by the United Nations. Only then will an emerging democratic Afghanistan have a decent chance of succeeding.

Towards a More Efficient and Effective ICC: Focusing Discussions on Procedural Reform

Photo: The Hague Institute

10 Jul 2014 | by Xiaodon Liang and Caroline Wambui

On 9 July 2014, the Embassies of Sweden, the United Kingdom and Japan in conjunction with The Hague Institute for Global Justice convened an off-the-record seminar to discuss important clusters of procedural reforms required to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the International Criminal Court. Practitioners, state representatives, and members of civil society engaged in a constructive and frank discussion of key procedural reform issues. The day’s dialogue will inform an ongoing official process on potential changes to rules governing the court’s work.

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