Briefings and Commentary

Ratko Mladić’s death has changed nothing about the judgments against him. But Serbia’s response raises a larger question: what does it mean when a convicted perpetrator of genocide is honoured by the state?

Ratko Mladić is dead, but the judgment against him endures. Toby Cadman reflects on his final days, Serbia’s intervention and the unfinished obligations to survivors and the missing.

For two decades, Daniel Ortega preserved the appearance of democracy while systematically dismantling its foundations. With the announcement that Nicaragua will no longer hold elections, the pretence has ended. Toby Cadman examines how constitutions, courts, the legal profession and civil society are captured before the ballot box itself disappears, and why the rule of law must confront autocracy before its final stage

On the 28th anniversary of the Rome Statute, Toby Cadman examines the growing campaign to undermine the International Criminal Court. He argues that sanctions, political pressure and efforts to weaken the ICC threaten not only a single institution, but the broader principles of judicial independence, accountability and the international rule of law.

An independent review of the Kosovo Specialist Chambers raises fundamental questions about transparency, judicial accountability and institutional oversight. Toby Cadman examines whether international justice can retain legitimacy when meaningful external scrutiny is limited.

In the concluding article of his 2026 World Cup series, Toby Cadman examines the growing tension between sporting justice, political influence and institutional independence. From controversial disciplinary decisions to the integrity of VAR and FIFA governance, he argues that public confidence in the rule of law, on and off the pitch, depends as much on the appearance of fairness as on fairness itself.

Sanctions, INTERPOL Red Notices and coordinated media campaigns are increasingly deployed as a single strategy to isolate individuals and businesses before any court has ruled. Toby Cadman argues that reputation has become a hard legal asset—and that only an integrated legal, strategic and communications response can effectively counter coordinated cross-border attacks.

As the Refugee Convention marks its 75th anniversary, Lauren Lederle reflects on the state of refugee protection today, examining rising displacement, restrictive asylum policies and the growing pressures facing the international legal framework.

Seventeen years after the end of Sri Lanka’s civil war, Toby Cadman examines the case for recognising the Tamil genocide, the failures of international accountability mechanisms, and the enduring consequences of impunity for survivors and their families.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is more than a sporting event. It is also the largest live test of integrated surveillance, border control and international policing mechanisms ever staged. In this commentary, Toby Cadman examines the legal and human rights implications of a security infrastructure that may outlast the tournament itself.

As atrocity crimes continue to rise globally, governments face growing pressure to identify and respond to warning signs before mass violence occurs. Drawing on a recent House of Lords debate, John Cubbon examines the UK's approach to atrocity prevention, genocide determination and the legal reforms being proposed to strengthen accountability and early intervention.

In July 1978, the Argentine military junta threw a party. The venue was the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. The guests were seventy-seven thousand flag-waving supporters and, via television, hundreds of millions more around the world. The occasion was a World Cup final. The hosts won. General Videla stood in the presidential box and beamed. Somewhere beneath the city, in the network of detention centres that the regime called chupaderos, literally, “sucking places”, peopl

For the latest edition of Briefings and Commentary, Outline Chambers contributor Alex Prezanti examines the growing role of UK targeted sanctions policy and asks whether stronger democratic and judicial safeguards are now needed. Reflecting on recent legal developments and wider geopolitical concerns, the article explores how sanctions can remain effective while avoiding executive overreach and preserving fundamental rights. By Alex Prezanti UK Targeted Sanctions Need Stron

Outline Chambers Briefing & Commentary By Toby Cadman Over the past two decades, international criminal tribunals have made increasingly frequent resort to closed and private sessions, marking a significant shift away from the traditional presumption of open justice. What were once exceptional measures, justified by narrowly defined security concerns, have in many proceedings become routine features of trial practice. Proponents argue that closed sessions are essential to pro

Shifting the Goalposts: Haxhia v Albania and the Limits of Further Information in Part 2 Extradition Requests Matei Clej, Outline Chambers In Haxhia, Mithan, Simpson, Bridgeman and Hunt v Republic of Albania [2026] EWHC 956 (Admin), handed down on 24.04.2026, Mr Justice Swift issued a significant judgment on the validity of Part 2 extradition requests under the Extradition Act 2003. The case came before the Administrative Court as a rolled-up hearing of statutory appeals und

The International Community’s Attention Deficit Disorder By Toby Cadman There is a recurring pathology in international affairs: outrage without endurance. The international legal and diplomatic community has become highly proficient at reacting to crises, but strikingly poor at sustaining attention long enough to resolve them. We move rapidly from one catastrophe to the next—issuing statements, convening emergency sessions, announcing investigations, drafting communi