In the media

  • The municipality of the Hague publishes a piece about the Asser Institute in their Stories of Purpose series, highlighting its role in the international legal community. (12 April, 2024)
  • Researcher León Castellanos-Jankiewicz is interviewed by Mexican evening news programme Milenio Televisión on Mexico's lawsuit against Ecuador at the International Court of Justice. (12 April, 2024)
  • Researcher Léon Castellanos-Jankiewicz is interviewed by El Financiero TV on Mexico’s lawsuit against U.S. gun dealers. (2 April, 2024)
  • Researcher Marta Bo co-publishes a piece for Opinio Juris, titled ‘Symposium on Military AI and the Law of Armed Conflict: The ‘Need’ for Speed – The Cost of Unregulated AI-Decision Support Systems to Civilians’. (4 April, 2024)
  • Researcher Magda Pacholska co-publishes a piece for Opinio Juris, titled ‘Symposium on Military AI and the Law of Armed Conflict: Introduction'. (1 April, 2024)
  • El País quotes researcher León Castellanos-Jankiewicz in their news article on an Arizona court ruling that Mexico's lawsuit against U.S. gun shops and distributors can move forward [in Spanish] (26 March, 2024).
  • Researcher León Castellanos-Jankiewicz explains to news agency AFP why the Netherlands play a big role in international litigation. The article appears in France24 the Daily Sun, Urdu Point, Swissinfo.ch, and Barron's [in Spanish](19 March, 2024)
  • The BBC World Service's radio documentary 'The Inquiry' invites researcher León Castellanos-Jankiewicz as a contributor for their broadcast "Can Mexico win its battle with US gun companies?" (10 March, 2024).
  • The Ukrainian Parliament posts a news item on the participation of several members in the “Development of a comprehensive legal framework for combating serious crimes in Ukraine” project, organised by the Asser Institute jointly with the USAID Justice for All Program, International Development Law Organization, Centre for International Legal Cooperation and the Netherlands Helsinki Committee, with support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. (4 March, 2024).
  • Researcher León Castellanos-Jankiewicz is interviewed by Al-Jazeera on the Dutch court decision to the stop export of F-35 and F-16 parts to Israel. (20 February, 2024).
  • Researcher and UvA doctoral student Jonathan Kwik delves into the complexities of applying humanitarian law to emerging military AI systems. Dutch newspaper Het Parool dedicated an article to his research, while UvA student magazine Folia conducted an in-depth interview with him in both Dutch and English, exploring his analysis of the ongoing AI arms race. Additionally, the UvA Faculty of Law published an interview discussing his insights and recommendations for regulating AI weapons. (14 February, 2024) 
  • Researcher Antoine Duval joins Radio4's SPORTSVERDEN podcast to contribute the legal perspective to the European Super League discussion in a podcast with Danish Minister of Culture/Media and both the chairman and the director of the Danish Football Association (DBU). (12 February, 2024)
  • Researcher James P. Sexton features in a video by the Municipality The Hague, highlighting how the legal research conducted at the Asser Institute interacts with other organisations in The Hague working in the field of international law. (30 January, 2024) 
  • ‘The increasing turmoil on the world stage is the main reason why the EU is seeking rapprochement with Turkey,' says researcher Narin Idriz in an article in het Financieele Dagblad. Narin was a co-author of a report by the Advisory Council on International Affairs on Turkey's geopolitical role. Brussels wants to strengthen embattled ties with Turkey, as the wars in Gaza and Ukraine call for stable alliances. (23 January 2024, in Dutch)
  • Al-Hikma University's Legal Clinic, in partnership with the Asser Institute and IUSTICOM NGO, launched the 13th edition of its international criminal law programme. Expanded to the Middle East and North Africa, it is offered free to over 350 students from universities in Lebanon, Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, Algeria, and Iraq, fostering collaboration among legal clinics in Arab universities. (17 January 2024)
  • Antoine Duval referred on Euro News, Yardbarker, OneFootball and Yle on the European Court of Justice’s ruling on the case between the remaining European Super League teams, UEFA, and FIFA. (21 December 2023)
  • The NJB (Nederlands Juristenblad) announces the Asser Institute's SCL Lecture 'Navigating the international legal landscape of the Israel-Palestine conflict' (18 December 2023)
  • The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to adequate housing, Balakrishnan Rajagopal, will hold a press conference at the Asser Institute on 21 December 2023. The Hague-based advocacy group for homeless people in the Hague, StraatConsulaat, also shares the news. (11 December, 2023)
  • Researcher Marta Bo was interviewed by UK newspaper the Guardian, in an article on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Marta highlighted the risk of over-relying on systems where complex human decisions may be excessively influenced. (1 December, 2023) 
  • The OCCRP (Organized Crime & Corruption Reporting Project) quote Antoine Duval in their article on persistence of third-party ownership contracts for football players, a practice which has been compared to "modern slavery" and banned by FIFA in 2015. (17 November, 2023)
  • The Media Freedom Coalition reports on a new study by the Asser Institute and the Center for International Criminal Justice (Faculty of Law of the VU Amsterdam) into the establishment of an international investigative task force on abuses against journalists, with the article: 'Fighting crimes against journalists: new study will scope High Level Panel’s recommendation for international task force'. (16 November 2023)
  • The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is opening its Promise Institute for human rights in The Hague. UCLA Law has concluded an agreement for academic collaboration with the University of Amsterdam, which also provides classroom space for UCLA Law students at its Asser Institute in The Hague, as reported by UCLA Newsroom, Nationale Onderwijsgids, Reformatorisch Dagblad, West, and AD. (18 October 2023)
  • Antoine Duval and Sarah Joyce Ezekiel wrote an article in sportknowhowxl about the growing importance of EU competition law in the sport sector. (10 October 2023)
  • Stavros Pantazopoulos contributed to an article by Katerina Oikonomako on environmental crimes in wartime published on inside story. (20 September 2023)
  • Researcher León Castellanos-Jankiewicz discusses the lack of accountability for the European arms industry in the op-ed 'European arms manufacturers are legally and virtually untouchable. That has to change.' for Dutch newspaper NRC. (8 August 2023)
  • Researcher León Castellanos-Jankiewicz was interviewed by the Mexican evening news programme Milenio Noticias on MilenioTV, to talk about the findings of a new report on the accountability gaps in the European arms industry (2 August 2023). 
  • The report '“Access to Justice for Gun Violence: Seeking Accountability for European Arms Exports” was featured in the weekly newsletter of the Forum of the Arms Trade, where researcher and supervisor of the report, León Castellanos-Jankiewicz, is a listed expert. (2 August 2023)
  • UVA students find large gaps in liability for European arms exports, article in Mr Online (in Dutch). (2 August, 2023)
  • Senior researcher Christophe Paulussen talked to AFP Serbia for a fact check on war crimes and crimes against humanity, the article is written in Serbian. (2 August, 2023)
  • In the op-ed ‘The armor of the European arms industry’ for Spanish newspaper El Pais, researcher León Castellanos-Jankiewicz discusses the lack of accountability for the European arms industry. (English, 31 July 2023)
  • The op-ed by León Castellanos-Jankiewicz also appeared in a Spanish version, entitled ‘El blindaje de las armerías europeas’.  (31 July 2023)
  • Students of an International Law Clinic (University of Amsterdam, in cooperation with the Asser Institute), drafted the report "Access to Justice for Gun Violence: Seeking Sccountability for European Arms exports" Asser researcher León Castellanos-Jankiewicz supervised the drafting. (31 July 2023)
  • In the report "Access to Justice for Gun Violence: Seeking Accountability for European Arms Exports", students of the International Law Clinic (University of Amsterdam, in cooperation with the Asser Institute), explore the topic of accountability for European arms exports. Asser researcher León Castellanos-Jankiewizc supervised the drafting of the report. (31 July 2023)
  • In an article for Hoover Institution, associate fellow Nader Nadery calls for the United States to use its legal, diplomatic, and other foreign policy tools and leverage to stand with Afghan women, whom, according to Nadery are living in a Taliban-created system of 'Gender Apartheid'. (26 July, 2023)
  • In an article for Foreign Policy, Caroline de Gruyter referred to the Brigid Laffan's statements on decision-making in the EU drawn from her Annual Lecture. (28 July 2023).
  • Antione Duval, senior researcher at the Asser Institute, is quoted in an article on the Semenya ruling at the European Court of Human Rights for the Daily News (South Africa). (13 July 2023)
  • In a radio-interview on underwater naval warfare for Deutschlandfunk, Thea Coventry speaks about the law of the sea in relation to the protection of deep-sea cables in the North Sea. The Nordstream 2 pipeline sabotage in 2022, has led to a growing military presence. (11 July 2023)
  • In a blogpost for Verfassungsblog, Andrii Nekoliak and Elizaveta Klochkova (OVD-Info) describe how the Russian Federation is using a “memory law” to put pressure on potential critics of the Russian attack on Ukraine. This Russian law is used to create a mood of paranoia. The authors think that Russian regime may increasingly use Article 354.1 to purge anti-war dissent. (11 July 2023)  
  • In an interview with Newstex, Pascal Messer speaks about her role as head of communications at the Asser Institute. 
  • The Law and the Future of War Podcast invited Taylor Woodcock and Klaudia Klonowska to speak about 'Legal Review of AWS: Decision support systems and technical feasibility of review' (8 June 2023)
  • Daniela Heerdt was interviewed by Sportknowhowxl to discuss the need of more expertise in the sport and human rights field (22 June 2023)
  • The Wilson Center published an article on Mr. Nader Nadery, an associate fellow at the Asser Institute, being appointed as a senior fellow at the Wilson Center. (6 July, 2023)
  • The two Dutch law blog posts Mr.online and Nederlands Juristenblad have mentioned the BIS Matra launch of the “Basic Standards for Investigation in the Documentation of International Crimes in Ukraine” (BIS-Ukraine).
  • Tarik Gherbaoui is quoted by The National on the European developments regarding the prosecution of female members of ISIS, including for crimes against humanity
  • In an article published in Völkerrechtsblog, Catherine Gregoire argues that the Registry of the International Criminal Court (ICC) should be responsible for actively ensuring Defence participation in outreach missions.
  • UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food Michael Fakhri addresses the world's food crisis and its relation to violence in an interview with NRC's Caroline de Gruyter, prior to his 8th Annual T.M.C. Asser Lecture (17 April 2023).
  • Daniela Heerdt discusses the influence of FIA and F1 presence in Saudi Arabia and the impact on human rights in an article by F1Maximaal.nl (15 March 2023)
  • In an article by RTL Nieuws, Daniela Heerdt discusses why excluding Russian athletes from the Olympic Games is not so easy (16 February 2023). 
  • Berenice Boutin is interviewed about 'Preparing for the military deployment of AI' by the Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (Dutch Research Council, NWO) (7 February 2023).
  • Christophe Paulussen is quoted by Euractiv on the repatriation of children from jihadists camps in Syria in EU states reluctant to repatriate women, children still in Syria (6 February 2023)
  • Lee Hyun Woo refers to a 2016 Asser Institute publication on drone use in his 'News in War History' article about the history of drone use in Asia Economy news, Zum news, Daum news. (5 February 2023).
  • In the episode 'Impact of art - How can art influence international law?' in the Amsterdam Law Hub podcast series, Asser Institute researcher Sofia Stolk talks about the role of art in international law (18 January 2023).
  • In the episode ‘Qatar’s World Cup – a complex field in human rights’ by podcast series NOVA BHRE, Asser Institute's Dr Antoine Duval reflects upon human rights issues in Qatar’s World Cup (18 January 2023).
  • In a Humanity Hub news piece, Asser Institute researcher Daniela Heerdt analyses whether and how the World Cup changed the situation on the ground for workers in Qatar (10 January 2023).
  • Zurek, T.& Mohajeri Parizi, M. Kwik, J. & van Engers, T. in article ‘Können autonome Waffensysteme humanitäres Völkerrecht anwenden?’, Tagespiegel (20 December 2022)
  • In the Volkskrant, Asser researcher Daniela Heerdt discusses the possibility of the World Cup in Qatar being the last major sports tournament in a controversial country (16 December 2022).
  • On the House of Wisdom podcast episode 13, Asser researcher Rumyana van Ark discusses the importance of the European Court of Human Rights (7 December 2022).
  • Victoria Kerr, associate fellow of the Asser Institute, says to news agency AFP that it would be costly to establish a special court or tribunal for Russia's war crimes. The article appears in Le Monde, Barron's, Justiceinfo.net, Expatica, Newswav and Ansar News (5 December 2022). 
  • In the podcast "Conversations: Globalization and Law", Antoine Duval speaks about sports law, the World Cup and human rights (december 2022)
    León Castellanos-Jankiewicz has been interviewed on 'Demanda de México por tráfico de armas podría llegar a Corte Suprema de EU: experto', by Milenio (27 November 2022)
  • An article for Dutch daily newspaper nederlandsdagblad covers Asser researcher Daniela Heerdt’s opinion on human rights violations and FIFA’s handling of human rights during the World Cup 2022 in Doha, Qatar (24 November 2022).
  • Daniela Heerdt, the Asser Institute sport and human rights researcher, is featured in an article from a Belgian newspaper De Morgen, addressing FIFA prohibiting football players from wearing OneLove rainbow armbands in the field which was a part of their LGBT+ rights advocating performance (23 November 2022).
  • In an interview with Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant, Asser researcher Daniela Heerdt discusses Fifa’s banning of OneLove rainbow armbands at the World Cup. Heerdt is in Qatar to investigate the handling of human rights during the World Cup 2022 (23 November 2022).
  • In an article for Dutch newspaper Reformatorisch dagblad, Asser Institute sport and human rights researcher Daniela Heerdt shares her perspectives on possible boycott measures against the Qatar World Cup (19 November 2022).
  • Of the 2.9 million people in Qatar, about 90 per cent are migrants, and of the workforce as much as 94.2 per cent, write Dutch newspapers Eindhoven’s Dagblad. “The Asser Institute, an expert in international law, states in a report that migrants in Qatar are "exploited", and that there is "extreme inequality" between a "small middle class" and "a huge reserve army of impoverished migrant workers".” The article is republished in AD, Amersfoortse Courant, BN/De Stem, Provinciale Zeeuwse Courant, Utrechts Nieuwsblad, Brabants Dagblad, Rotterdams Dagblad, De Dortenaar, Rivierenland, De Stentor, AD Groene Hart, De Gelderlander, and AD Haagsche Courant (17 November).
  • Daniela Heerdt, sport and human rights expert at the Asser Institute, talks to Dutch newspaper Trouw about the human rights situation in Qatar's hosting of the FIFA World Cup. 'More than ever, this World Cup is about human rights. FIFA and other sports organisations are feeling the pressure', she says (16 November 2022).   
  • Victoria Kerr examined the impact of Russia's war in Ukraine on international law in one of the Clingendael Spectator Q&A series (26 October 2022)
  • Antoine Duval mentioned in ‘ À un mois du Mondial, le Qatar sous une pression inédite’, Le Télégramme (20 Octobre 2022).
  • UNESCO reflects on the 'Second Forum of Legal Actors on Freedom of Expression and Safety of Journalists', co-organised by the Asser Institute, UNESCO and Free Press Unlimited, and praises the successful gathering of judges, prosecutors, lawyers, academics and representatives of legal institutions (11 October, 2022).
  • The Supreme Court of Paraguay looks back on the participation of judge Vivian López in the recent Forum of Legal Actors on the defence of freedom of expression, a three-day event co-organised by the Asser Institute, UNESCO and Free Press Unlimited. In The Hague, López shared best practices with other judges, public prosecutors and legal experts on the protection of this fundamental right. The judge concluded that "only with the guarantee of the exercise of freedom of expression, of the press and access to information, will democracy in our country be consolidated". (6 October 2022)
  • In its coalition agreement, The Hague Municipality draws up its plans to grow and renew its position as a facilitator of international education. Academic institutes like the Asser Institute, the International Institute of Social Studies and the Academy of International law already receive talent from all over the globe. (p. 20, in Dutch).
  • On AiR podcast, Asser researcher Taylor Woodcock discusses the implications of the development and use of military applications of AI for the international legal obligations applicable in armed conflict under international humanitarian law and international human rights law (2 October 2022).
  • In two blogposts for OpinioJuris, Zsófia Baumann, outlines criticisms directed at the Global Counter Terrorism Forum (GCTF), concerning its procedures, the alleged lack of human rights compliant approaches and accountability in its Framework Documents, and the concrete language they use. The post also lists recommendations to address these challenges. The post argues that it is possible for the GCTF to adapt and become more inclusive and human rights compliant while preserving its informal nature and consensus-based decision making. (September 26 2022).
  • In Foreign Affairs, Nader Nadery, an honorary senior fellow at the Asser Institute in the Netherlands and former Peace Negotiator for the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, emphasises the importance of the U.S. government adopting a tough approach to the Taliban's human rights violations (September 19 2022).
  • In an episode of the interview series Battlegrounds (Hoover Institution), Asser Institute Fellow Nader Nadery looks back on the dire situation in Afghanistan, a year after Kabul fell to the Taliban. In the interview Nadery discusses human rights law and explains what might be done to foster peace and protect innocent citizens.
  • Leon Castellanos-Janckiewizc was quoted by AlJazeera on the historic lawsuit that Mexico is pursuing in the Massachusetts District Court against ten US gun manufacturers and distributors. The lawsuit, 'Mexico vs Smith & Wesson et al', seeks damages from the companies for negligence leading to Mexico’s shocking rate of gun homicides and other gun violence, which is largely attributable to guns sold in the US and trafficked over the border (18 August 2022).
  • Leon Castellanos-Janckiewizc was quoted by News Express Nigeria on the historic lawsuit that Mexico is pursuing in the Massachusetts District Court against ten US gun manufacturers and distributors. The lawsuit, 'Mexico vs Smith & Wesson et al', seeks damages from the companies for negligence leading to Mexico’s shocking rate of gun homicides and other gun violence, which is largely attributable to guns sold in the US and trafficked over the border (18 August 2022).
  • In an article for The Sun, Nader Nadery, an honorary senior fellow at the Asser Institute, discusses the Taliban’s business relationship with Russia (17 August 2022). 
  • ICC marks 20th birthday with Ukraine in sights, Agence France Presse (AFP) quotes Asser Institute researcher Victoria Kerr on the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) legacy and contributions (1 July 2022). The article is republished in the International Business Times, Digital Journal, MSN South Africa, the Manila Standard, CapitalFM Kenya, and ABC Nyheter. (1 July 2022).
  • Antoine Duval mentioned in ‘A scandal is necessary to force CAS reform’, Play The Game (30 June 2022).
  • Agence France Presse (AFP) interviews Victoria Kerr on the ICC's legacy in the article ‘Ukraine gives ICC new purpose after 20 troubled years’ on the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) 20th anniversary and involvement with the Ukrainian. The article is republished in the International Business Times News, the Digital Journal, the Manila Standard, MSN South Africa and the Deccan Herald (26 June 2022).
  • 'In order for it to make sense for the owners, the clubs in the network have an important role because they are necessary to be able to capitalise on the investment in the players', Antoine Duval commented on Politiken Torsdag on how the Danish football club plays a role in a hidden network that imports underage players from Africa (29 May 2022). 
  • Asser researchers Eva Kassoti and Narin Idriz, project leaders of the Global Europe project, interviewed Annual T.M.C. Asser Lecture speaker Prof. Brigid Laffan for international law blog OpinioJuris on Europe’s role in the world within increasingly hardening geopolitics (18 May 2022).
  • Sofia Stalk has been interviewed by New Books Network Podcast about the monograph ‘The Opening Statement of the Prosecution in International Criminal Trial: A Solemn Tale of Horror’ (Routledge) (13 May 2022).  
  • In a new blog post for international law blog OpinioJuris, Asser Institute intern Florent Beurret discusses Russia’s latest (ab)use of the veto in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. (6 May 2022) “It is clear that we should strive towards a UNSC that upholds its responsibility to maintain international peace and security by ending or preventing violations of jus cogens, including when the P5 are responsible for such violations. At the very least, before thinking of formal implementation of veto limits, we owe it to the people of Ukraine to name and shame Russia for its total disregard of international law and its latest (ab)use of the veto.”