Priya Pillai

ICC concludes confirmation of charges hearing in Duterte case Today, 27 February 2026, the confirmation of charges hearing in the case The Prosecutor v. Rodrigo Roa Duterte concluded before Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC), composed ...

Last week, the International Criminal Court #ICC held hearings for the confirmation of charges relating to Rodrigo #Duterte. The pre-trial judges have 60 days for their decision on the charges, and whether there is sufficient evidence to move to trial. share.google/KDEf6RaVTSzY...

"It would be a manifest violation of the United Nations Charter for the United States to strike Iran"

— me, stating the obvious

Such a sublime read

In a chaotic world, it's so important to keep working to move the needle forward. I'm in New York for the next important phase on the Crimes Against Humanity treaty - two week session of the Preparatory Committee for the #CAH Conference has kicked off - laying the framework for treaty negotiations.

Just started today - #internationalcourtofjustice hearings on merits of #GenocideConvention case, in The Gambia v Myanmar. Over two weeks of hearings, including closed sessions with witness testimony. This is an important case, in and of itself, but also for other #ICJ cases.

If you're keen on #internationallaw and are just starting out, this may be for you!
(No DMs or inquiries, please.)

Apply by 9 January 2026 with CV and a 1-page cover letter. More information: asiajusticecoalition.org/vacancies

Winding down from a very tough year. But many silver linings as well, and counting my blessings. Best wishes to you all for 2026!

The Gambia v Myanmar at the International Court of Justice: Points of Interest in the Application On 11 November 2019, The Gambia filed an application at the International Court of Justice against Myanmar, alleging violation of obligations under the Genocide Convention.  Thi…

#Genocide Convention case #TheGambia v. #Myanmar hearings: 12 to 29 January 2026. My early post @opiniojuris.bsky.social may be of interest as a primer.
The Gambia v Myanmar at the International Court of Justice: Points of Interest in the Application - Opinio Juris share.google/9WogOtWiaxdy...

ICC Appeals Chamber judgment delivered yesterday on appeal of Rodrigo #Duterte against the decision of Pre-Trial Chamber I on Request for Interim Release.
Unanimous decision by five judge bench, dismissing the three grounds of appeal. #InternationalCriminalCourt #Philippines

While opportunities in #internationallaw are few & far between, here is the call for the International Court of Justice #ICJ #fellowship. Make sure your university is on board! Link below:

Judicial Fellowship Programme | INTERNATIONAL COURT OF JUSTICE share.google/p1f84y4N9ZQM...

Together with @wanshucong.bsky.social we put together a symposium on the 20th anniversary of Anghie's pathbreaking Imperialism, Sovereignty and the Making of IL. Our introduction is here: cil.nus.edu.sg/blog/symposi.... Terrific contributions to come including a generous response by Prof. Anghie.

Libyan general accused of crimes against humanity arrested in Tripoli Osama Almasri Najim was arrested in Italy in January on an ICC warrant, only to be released and flown back to Libya

Almasri’s detention in Tripoli is a welcome step, but accountability depends on what comes next. Libya’s GNU must now fulfill its ICC obligations, under UN Security Council Res. 1970 & its own Art. 12(3) declaration of ICC jurisdiction, by surrendering him & all others wanted by the ICC to The Hague

Rest and recuperation 101 - getting molycoddled by family (including Simba who is also recovering from surgery!), books, greenery and home food. Stronger everyday!

#KeepEyesOnSudan 🙏

Fifth Annual Symposium on Pop Culture and International Law: An Introduction [Dr Sarah Zarmsky is a Lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast School of Law and Deputy Managing Editor of Opinio Juris Dr Alonso Gurmendi is a Fellow in Human Rights and Politics at the London Scho…

I made the cut in this year’s @opiniojuris.bsky.social Pop Culture and IL symposium. My piece comes out on Friday.

opiniojuris.org/2025/10/27/f...

This is a must-have guide for practitioners. The updated Commentary on the 4th Geneva Convention helps align the interpretation of international humanitarian law with 75 years of legal evolution, new technologies, and modern State practice.
Read it here👉🏽 ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treat...

As a reminder, prior genocide cases took 14 and 16 years from start to finish.

Priya Pillai on X: "Starting now: the ICJ delivers its Advisory Opinion on the Obligations of Israel | UN Web TV https://t.co/4GxAlDOzCg https://t.co/EtAKoLNXfe" / X Starting now: the ICJ delivers its Advisory Opinion on the Obligations of Israel | UN Web TV https://t.co/4GxAlDOzCg https://t.co/EtAKoLNXfe

Probably anathema to post this here, but a quick tweet thread on the #ICJ #AO on Israel's obligations re #UN and #IOs:

x.com/PillaiPriy/s...

Next week - #advisoryopinion by the International Court of Justice #ICJ on obligations of #Israel in relation to the #UN and other #IOs in the Occupied Palestinian Territories #OPT. (This is distinct from the contentious case by South Africa relating to the #Genocide Convention)

US jury finds French bank BNP Paribas complicit in Sudan atrocities The French banking giant said the ruling by a jury in New York was 'clearly wrong' and that it plans to appeal.

A jury in the #USA found BNP Paribas - a French bank - liable for #atrocities committed by the regime of Omar Al-Bashir in #Sudan

The 3 plaintiffs in the case were awarded $20.75m in damages, as the bank was held to have helped prop up the Al-Bashir regime during the 2000s.

aje.io/8zwssr

Snapshots of the #Nuremberg forum 2025, from last week. Surreal to be speaking on a panel in historic courtroom 600, where the weight of history is all encompassing.

Look forward to the book launch at the Bangalore International Centre of Gautam Hazarika's new book this evening, featuring my grandfather's time as a prisoner of war and his escape and trek back to India from Singapore during #WWII (that's him on the cover, second from the left!)

Looking forward to Philippe Sands' latest book, 38 Londres Street.
Dilemma: to start now, and carry on a flight, or delay till next week? 🤔

ICYMI. Earlier this week, the “Document Containing the #Charges” against Rodrigo #Duterte was made public by the International Criminal Court #ICC. Three counts of murder and attempted murder as #crimesagainsthumanity. #CAH #Philippines

Do join us for this online 2 hour workshop on the new #crimesagainsthumanity treaty on 24 September - the new phase of the journey starts next year, and it's time to get up to speed!
Register: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

Key oceans treaty crosses critical threshold to come into force Sixty states have ratified a global treaty to protect the oceans - it will become law in January.

"The High Seas Treaty received its 60th ratification by Morocco on Friday, meaning that it will now take effect from January.
The deal...two decades in the making, will pave the way for international waters to be placed into marine protected areas."

www.bbc.com/news/article...

The perfect convalescence read - second book in the series by @richardosman. And in anticipation of the #Thursdaymurderclub movie release on...Thursday!!

Israel kills Al Jazeera journalists in targeted Gaza City airstrike - Committee to Protect Journalists New York, August 10, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists is appalled to learn of the killing today of Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al-Sharif, Mohammed Qreiqeh, camera operators Ibrahim Zaher and M...

An entire news crew working for Al Jazeera was killed by Israel as they sought to bring the world firsthand reporting from #Gaza.

Among them was prominent journalist Anas Al-Sharif, who had been previously smeared and threatened by the IDF.

#NotATarget

Full statement: cpj.org/2025/08/isra...

The Sunday read.

U.N. Relief Chief: Gaza is a man-made famine, the politics is a sideshow | CNN Christiane Amanpour speaks with Tom Fletcher, U.N. Emergency Relief Coordinator, about the “desperate… impossible conditions” inside Gaza and what he says are the “bureaucratic impediments” preventing...

Gaza is starving.

We want to believe sustained international pressure will allow us to save as many lives as possible in Gaza. But so far we’re not seeing the scale of change we need.

My interview on @cnn.com with @camanpour.bsky.social : www.cnn.com/2025/07/31/T...