The Promise Institute
for Human Rights (Europe) News
2nd Annual Judging International Justice Lecture featuring Judge Dire Tladi
In his lecture, Judge Tladi examined the role of the International Court of Justice and the contours of its function. He reflected on the interpretation of concepts of jus cogens and erga omnes, situating them within current discussions about the meaning and continued relevance of international legal institutions in a time marked by multiple conflicts and challenges to international agreements.
🌍 Understanding the Elements of Ecocide Law: A Seven-Part Series 🌍
Part 2: The Definition of Environment
As ecocide encompasses harm to the environment, the definition of environment governs what kinds of harm can be criminalized. While there is no accepted definition of the environment in international law, the International Expert Panel for the Legal Definition of Ecocide follows the language of the Environmental Modification Convention to define the “environment” as “the earth, its biosphere, cryosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere, as well as outer space”.
The International Law Commission and the International Committee of the Red Cross both consider that the concept of the environment includes both human and natural elements as they constitute a complex system of interconnections that cannot be treated as discrete.