Legal Alternatives to War - LAW not War Update

Posted: 16th November 2023

Legal Alternatives to War – LAW not War Update

Congratulations to new ICJ judges

On October 23, UNFOLD ZERO the World Federalist Movement and other partner organizations publicly launched Legal Alternatives to War: Towards universal jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice (LAW not War), a new global campaign to enhance the jurisdiction and use of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in order to assist countries to resolve international disputes peacefully rather than through recourse to the threat or use of force.

Speakers included a former ICJ judge (Sir Ken Keith), two legal experts who two weeks later were elected as new judges to the ICJ (Prof. Bogdan Aurescu and H.E. Mr. Juan Manuel Gómez Robledo Verduzco) plus other experts in international relations, peace and law.

To watch the event please see the 22 minute video report of the launch event produced by Peace TV (scroll down to International Court Expert Forum) or view the full video of the launch event.

Speakers at the launch of LAW not War included Prof Bogdan Aurescu and Mr Juan Manuel Gomez Robledo (top left) who two weeks later were elected to be judges of the International Court of Justice (ICJ); Neshan Gunasekera (top right) who formerly worked for Judge Weeramantry, former Vice-President of the ICJ; Tadashi Inuzuka (bottom left), Co-President of World Federalist Movement and former Senator from Nagasaki and Sir Kenneth Keith (bottom right) a former ICJ judge.

Launch of LAW not War

The LAW not War launch event included reference to numerous examples of ICJ cases that have successfully resolved international conflicts, as well as discussion on:

how to encourage governments to enhance their use of the ICJ through acceptance of jurisdiction for any dispute unable to be resolved by other peaceful means;
increasing the use of the ICJ through clauses in international treaties providing for jurisdiction;
making greater use by UN bodies of the option to request ICJ Advisory Opinions;
ensuring sufficient financial and political support for the ICJ to enable it to more effectively fulfil its mandate.

“The International Court of Justice has proven that it can help resolve critical conflicts through the application of law. LAW not War is an important initiative to ensure UN Member states turn to the court – and not to the use of force – when they are unable to resolve their conflicts by other peaceful means.”
Alyn Ware, Director of Aotearoa Lawyers for Peace, speaking at the Launch of LAW not War

Congratulations to the new ICJ judges

UNFOLD ZERO, WFM and the other partner organizations in LAW not War congratulate the four new judges elected on November 9 to serve on the International Court of Justice, the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, plus the one judge who was re-elected to the Court. (See Five judges elected to United Nations’ top court).

We congratulate, in particular, Prof. Bogdan Aurescu and Mr. Juan Manuel Gómez Robledo Verduzco for their election. Prof Aurescu and Mr Gómez Robledo have been active in advancing the Declaration of like-minded countries on promoting the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice and were speakers at the October 23 launch of LAW not War.

WFUNA joins LAW not War

Short video of the WFUNA Assembly in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Captures some of the intense negotiations over the LAW not War resolution.The World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) adopted a resolution at its 43rd Plenary Assembly in Tbilisi, Georgia supporting the LAW not War campaign and calling on national United Nations Associations (UNA) to encourage their governments to consider accepting the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice if they have not already done so.

The resolution was submitted by the UNA of New Zealand, one of the like-minded countries promoting the Declaration of like-minded countries on promoting the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice.

WFUNA includes over 100 national United Nations Associations (UNAs) and their thousands of constituents. National UNAs, in general, have very good relationships with their governments. The support of WFUNA for LAW not War adds considerable credibility to the campaign to move governments to accept the jurisdiction of the ICJ.

Amongst the eight other resolutions adopted by WFUNA at its assembly was one also submitted by UNANZ calling on UNAs to encourage their governments to participate in the ICJ case on Climate Change by making written submissions before the deadline of January 24, 2024.