Dear newsletter subscriber,
in recent months, have you also found yourself wondering if we’ve seen the last of good old-fashioned international law? Of all the international agreements that were supposed to bring more peace into the world after World War II?
Russia has been waging a war against Ukraine for years, and the Russian judiciary has issued arrest warrants for representatives of the International Criminal Court (ICC). The USA of all countries is vehemently opposing the established order, withdrawing from UN organisations, violating trade law and attacking sovereign states. At the UN General Assembly, Donald Trump stood on stage and contemplated driving Iran “into hell”. That doesn’t sound like more peace.
The meaning of international law and institutions generally diminishes the more states – especially more powerful ones – turn away from their commitment to international legal principles. But even though international law is currently being attacked on many sides, it has proved to be remarkably resilient. UN organisations are continuing their work, and even the heavily embattled International Criminal Court shows no signs of giving up. At the UN General Assembly, it was also clear just how many countries worldwide want a stable international order.
In our current issue, we asked two young activists from Algeria and Kenya how they view international law and the international order – and what needs to change. International law expert Kai Ambos has ideas on what Germany and Europe can do to strengthen the international system.
Please feel free to share your opinions, criticisms and suggestions by emailing us at euz.editor@dandc.eu. |
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Kind regards,
Eva-Maria Verfürth
editor-in-chief at D+C |
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Our latest Digital Monthly:
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| International law under attack |
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© picture alliance / imageBROKER / Daniel Schoenen
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“Strengthening civil society means strengthening international law”
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Russia’s war against Ukraine, the US sanctions against judges at the International Criminal Court, and the US war against Iran all demonstrate that international law is currently under severe attack on several fronts. Nevertheless, in our interview, Kai Ambos, Professor of Criminal and International Law, maintains that it is by no means obsolete.
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© picture alliance / ZUMAPRESS.com / Andrea Domeniconi
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A global threat to human rights and their defenders
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© picture alliance / Hans Lucas / Claudia Lacave
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Whose rights does international law protect?
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of participants in an international survey on housing say they have cut back on at least one expense in the past year to afford housing costs. For example, a third of those surveyed have spent less on food or groceries. The data is based on a survey of more than 30,000 people conducted across 22 countries including Ethiopia, Brazil, Guatemala, Mexico, Nepal, Nigeria, Indonesia and South Africa. The survey was commissioned by the non-profit organisation Habitat for Humanity, which is committed to overcoming the chronic shortage of housing worldwide and ensuring that everyone has access to decent accommodation.
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Between 2015 and 2024, more than 960 million people gained access to safe drinking water and 1.2 billion to safe sanitation. This is undoubtedly a success. Nevertheless, according to the World Bank, 2.1 people still lack access to safe drinking water – a situation made even worse due to the water scarcity associated with climate change.
During World Water Week in Stockholm at the end of August, one campaign attracted particular attention: Water Forward, a World Bank-led initiative that aims to improve water access to one billion people by 2030. Described as the most promising initiative in decades for attracting financing and political attention to the WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene) sector, the programme was launched in April and frames water as an economic asset.
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| What has also caught our interest |
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A “global crisis of democracy” is only half the story
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Over the past 10 years, watchdog organisations and the international media have reported extensively on cases of democratic backsliding and warned of a “global crisis of democracy”. Yet for many countries around the world, the decline of democracy is not the whole story. A 2025 study by the GIGA (German Institute for Global and Area Studies) shows that, whilst one third of the countries examined have not yet undergone “re-democratisation”, the remaining two thirds are either currently undergoing or have successfully completed attempts at re-democratisation. In its analysis of 74 instances of autocratic developments in Asia, Latin America, Africa and Europe between 1989 and 2023, the study examines patterns of de-democratisation, their varying consequences, and possible ways in which Germany and the European Union can become allies in the process of re-democratisation.
The study challenges the view that a decline in democracy must be followed by a rapid recovery to prevent the decline from becoming irreversible. Instead, it emphasises the context-specific and time-independent nature of re-democratisation and demonstrates that even weak democracies are capable of recovering. The study encourages all stakeholders not to overlook weaker democracies, to provide long-term and flexible support, to promote regional mediation, to invest in democratic depth, and to defend democracy within existing boundaries. |
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Floods in Nepal fuel demand for climate justice
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Economic activity in Nepal centres around riverbank towns and villages – putting millions of people in the Himalayan region at risk as extreme climate change-related disasters increase. Even though the Himalayas warm nearly twice as fast as the global average, this TIME article notes that Nepalis are not helpless in the face of environmental threats.
Al Jazeera writes that warning systems and evacuation plans are necessary, as well as directing internal development towards sustainability and climate adaption. Nepal is responsible for less than 0.1 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and produces most of its energy from renewable energy sources. Still, its geography makes it particularly vulnerable to severe climate and weather events, which are likely to become even more frequent. Such contradiction has stirred frustration amongst the Nepali population, who suffer the impacts of climate change other countries are responsible for. As a response to the latest devastating floods, the country submitted a letter to the UN demanding $ 20 million in compensation under the notion of climate justice. Nepal could establish a precedent for compensation for climate change-related disasters, as many developing nations, especially island states, are likely to face similar challenges in the coming years.
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| Disease systems, not health systems |
| The DRC is currently experiencing its worst and deadliest Ebola outbreak ever. By mid-September, more than 7000 cases had been recorded. This article in The Guardian shows how the epidemic is linked to supply chains for smartphones, semiconductors and other tech products: in the DRC, the demand for cobalt, gold and coltan is fuelling not only mining but also deforestation. According to the author, Sonia Shah, it is precisely these devastated forest landscapes that increase the risk of Ebola being transmitted from bats to humans and spreading rapidly in makeshift mining settlements. The global digital economy has massive side effects – and, once again, they are suffered by one of the world’s most vulnerable populations. |
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The I AM NALA Fellowship is seeking female African political leaders (current or aspiring) aged between 18-40 years who are refugees, internally displaced, stateless or otherwise displaced. Running from January to July 2027, the fellowship provides training, mentorship and support within bi-monthly online sessions.
Application deadline: 31 October
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Urgent Action Fund Africa funds strategic interventions advancing women’s human rights when an unforeseen opportunity or crisis requires rapid action. Eligible initiatives must be sustainable and supported by relevant groups. The programme offers three grant types, including Rapid Response, Advocacy and Alliance Building (for work over 6-12 months) and Protection grants for safety, security and wellbeing.
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Imprint
Publisher information: ENGAGEMENT GLOBAL gGmbH Service für Entwicklungsinitiativen
Publisher: Fazit Communication GmbH, Pariser Straße 1, D-60486 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Telephone: +49 (0)69 7591-3110 | Email: euz.editor@dandc.eu
Webseite: www.fazit.de | Managing Directors: Jonas Grashey, Hannes Ludwig |
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