This briefing summarizes Amnesty International’s assessment of and concerns about violations of international humanitarian law by Hizbullah in its attacks on northern Israel in July and August 2006.

This report from Human Rights Watch documents what the organization describes as serious violations of international humanitarian law by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in Lebanon between July 12 and July 27, 2006, as well as the July 30 attack in Qana. During this period, the IDF killed an estimated 400 people, the vast majority of them civilians, and that number climbed to over 500 by the time this report went to print.

New York University's Law School issues a research guide on International Health Law, which provides information about general trends in global diseases and their legal implications.

Trial Watch maintains this updated backgrounder and current developments account of the trial of Liberia's alleged genocidal former president Charles Taylor.

Essay by John Bellinger, legal adviser to the U.S. secretary of state, based on a presentation he delivered to the Atlantic Council at a November 2005 workshop regarding Transatlantic Approaches to the International Legal Regime in an Age of Globalization and Terrorism.

China's legal system is developing, but meaningful reform of its authoritarian political system has not yet taken place. What role are law and legal institutions likely to play in China's political reform process? This hearing assessed the state of China's rule of law development and examined the role of legal institutions in political transitions in Taiwan and South Korea to see whether these experiences suggest a path ahead for China.

The report recommends actions needed to ensure that poor people in developing countries have access to existing and new products to diagnose, treat and prevent the diseases which affect them most.

CFR.org’s latest Crisis Guide examines the tragedy in Sudan’s Darfur region. Introduced through a compelling multimedia essay comprised of original and some never-before-seen footage from seven of the world’s leading photojournalists, Crisis Guide: Darfur depicts the human, political, military, and historical realities in the region, and provides links to deeper resources from the Council’s think tank and other organizations around the world.

The new secretary-general of the United Nations should make genocide prevention a centerpiece of his reform agenda, concludes a new Council Special Report. "Ban Ki-moon should take the General Assembly's endorsement of the responsibility to protect as a mandate and mission statement for the UN and build a reform program that is designed to implement it."

CFR Senior Fellow Stewart M. Patrick and Steven Groves of the Heritage Foundation debate the merits of supporting the Responsibility to Protect doctrine.

James Jay Carafano of the Heritage Foundation and Gabor Rona of Human Rights First debate the merits of shutting down the U.S. detention facility at Guantanamo Bay.

David B. Rivkin, a legal expert and author, and Karen J. Greenberg, executive director of NYU’s Center on Law and Security, debate the appropriate venue for prosecuting “enemy combatants.”

Abraham D. Sofaer, a senior fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, and Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, discuss the merits of capital punishment in trying dictators and other war criminals in this CFR Online Debate.

Jeffrey H. Smith and John B. Bellinger III say that because a nuclear-armed Iran is a real threat to the United States, the president does have reason to argue for his constitutional authority to use force against Iran, but legislative approval would give him stronger legal and political ground to do so.

John B. Bellinger III argues that Congress should reconsider the International Criminal Court.

John B. Bellinger III argues that Libyans should be allowed to choose whether they want to try members of the Qaddafi regime in their own courts.