Law

The Tamil People: “Unsung Victims”

by Alfred de Zayas,* Geneva¹

(25 January 2023) The Tamils of the island of Sri Lanka (Ceylon) belong to that category of victims of major human rights violations who only few in the world want to acknowledge as victims. Not only today, but during the past 50 years when I have been associated in various capacities in United Nations organs and human rights NGO’s, I have met many Tamils but noticed how, unlike other victims, the Tamils do not enjoy that aura of empathy that benefits other victim groups.

Revisiting the Goals of Sustainable Development

by Alfred de Zayas,* Geneva

(16 December 2022) On 8 September 2000, full of optimism and resolve, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Millennium Declaration (resolution 55/2)1 reaffirming that development, together with peace and human rights, constitute the Organization’s priorities for the 21st century.

Peace as a Human Right

25 Principles of International Order to Ensure Sustainable Peace

by Alfred de Zayas,* Geneva

(6 December 2022) The motto of the Peace of Westphalia of 1648, “Pax Optima Rerum”,¹peace is the highest good, reminds us that even after the monstrous Thirty-Years’ War with its eight million deaths, peace could be re-established in Europe by diplomatic negotiation. There were no victors.

Grave Escalation in the Russia-Ukraine Conflict: from “Grain Diplomacy” to an All-Out War

Five Questions to Prof. Dr. Hans Köchler

Institute for Cultural Diplomacy, Washington DC / Berlin

(10 October 2022) (Mark Donfried) This week President Vladimir Putin has made a public speech (in delay of one day) where he informed the world that Russia will now partially mobilize the reserve military forces and former soldiers to engage in the conflict in the Ukraine. At the same time, it was announced that a referendum would be made in several regions of the occupied Ukraine with the question if the citizens are asking to be annexed to the Russian Federation. With regards to that, President Vladimir Putin mentioned that the Russian Military Forces would protect Russian territory by all means available to them, implying that this would include also nuclear weapons. He added, it is not a bluff. The Former President Dmitry Medvedev reiterated this speech and repeated the threats. In regards to these serious developments, we would like to ask Prof. Dr. Hans Köchler* the following five questions:

Let’s Revive F.D. Roosevelt’s Four Freedoms and the Atlantic Charter

by Alfred de Zayas,* Geneva

(19 September 2022) The current US, UK, EU and NATO policies vis à vis Russia and China violate the letter and spirit of the UN Charter as well as many prior declarations and commitments and treaties which are at the basis of modern international law.

Prolonging War is a Crime against Peace – and Against Humanity

by Alfred de Zayas,* Geneva

(9 August 2022) The Nuremberg Trials and the Nuremberg Principles have not entirely lost their relevance. Notwithstanding the multiple violations of the Nuremberg norms by many countries since 1946, they are even more crucial today in the light of the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, which endanger the survival of all of humanity. The United Nations is called upon to develop preventative strategies and to ensure the peaceful resolution of conflicts.