Tag Archives: war crimes

Violations of International Humanitarian Law and Issues of Accountability in the Russia-Ukraine Conflict

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Not surprisingly, in 2022, the Italian Government(s)[1] extensively dealt with several international humanitarian law (IHL) implications of the Russia-Ukraine war: firstly, the systematic violations of the rules on targeting that protect civilians and civilian objects against the effects of hostilities; secondly, the forcible transfer of civilians from occupied territories under the law of belligerent occupation; lastly, the prospects for accountability for serious violations of IHL. These aspects are explored in the following analysis.

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The Debate in the Sixth Committee on the Scope and Application of Universal Jurisdiction

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UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY, SIXTH COMMITTEE (LXVIII Session, XIV Meeting), THE SCOPE AND APPLICATION OF UNIVERSAL JURISDICTION, 18 October 2013.

On 18 October 2013, during the debate in the Sixth Committee of the UN General Assembly on the Scope and Application of Universal Jurisdiction, the Legal Adviser of the Permanent Mission of Italy, Mr Salvatore Zappalà, submitted the comments of his delegation supporting a more thorough analysis of the topic by the Committee, and also the possible involvement of the International Law Commission. After expressing satisfaction for the unanimous recognition of the principle of universal jurisdiction as a fundamental tool in ensuring that perpetrators of heinous crimes are brought to justice, he stated that:

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Minister Kyenge’s Statement on the Responsibility to Protect

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UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY, INFORMAL INTERACTIVE DIALOGUE, 11 SEPTEMBER 2013.

On the occasion of the last meeting of the UN General Assembly Informal Interactive Dialogue on the Responsibility to Protect, held on 11 September 2013, the Minister for Integration, Cécile Kyenge made a statement concerning the meaning of Responsibility to Protect for democratic constituencies. According to the Minister, even in democratic countries social vulnerability and segregation may constitute a “risk factor” within the meaning of the Secretary-General’s report on “Implementing the Responsibility to Protect”. She stated:

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