While “impactful” can be subjective, here are ten recent international legal cases that have had significant consequences and attracted worldwide attention:
1. The South China Sea Arbitration (2016): The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled against China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea, strengthening the claims of other countries and undermining China’s expansive maritime claims.
2. Case Concerning Rohingya Genocide (2019): The International Court of Justice (ICJ) started hearing a case against Myanmar, accusing it of committing genocide against the Rohingya Muslim minority. This case drew international attention to the Rohingya crisis and highlighted the importance of accountability for mass atrocities.
3. Google v. CNIL (2014): The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that individuals have the “right to be forgotten” on search engines, allowing them to request deletion of certain personal information from search engine results. This decision impacted internet privacy and content regulation worldwide.
4. Ratko Mladić Trial (2017): The International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia found Bosnian Serb General Ratko Mladić guilty of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed during the Bosnian War. This case contributed to justice and accountability for the war crimes committed during the conflict.
5. Case Concerning Avena and Other Mexican Nationals (2004): The International Court of Justice ruled that the United States violated the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations by failing to provide legal aid to foreign nationals arrested in the U.S. This decision impacted consular rights and protection worldwide.
6. Dominic Ongwen Trial (2021): The International Criminal Court convicted Joseph Kony’s former child soldier and top lieutenant, Dominic Ongwen, for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Uganda. This case addressed issues of child soldier recruitment and accountability for war crimes.
7. Brexit and Miller/Miller II (2017): The UK Supreme Court ruled in two key cases that triggered the process of Brexit, asserting parliamentary sovereignty by requiring Parliament’s approval for triggering Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. These rulings significantly influenced the constitutional process of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union.
8. Whaling in the Antarctic (2014): The International Court of Justice ruled that Japan’s whaling program in the Southern Ocean was not conducted for scientific purposes, leading to a temporary halt in Japanese whaling activities. This case had consequences for environmental conservation and whaling practices.
9. Airbus-Boeing Trade Dispute (2019): The World Trade Organization (WTO) authorized the United States to impose tariffs on European Union goods due to subsidies given to Airbus, while also ruling in favor of the EU’s right to impose tariffs on U.S. goods for subsidies granted to Boeing. This trade dispute has impacted transatlantic trade relations.
10. Case Concerning Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Bosnia and Herzegovina v. Serbia and Montenegro) (2007): The International Court of Justice cleared Serbia of direct responsibility for genocide during the Bosnian War but held it responsible for failing to prevent and punish genocide. This case contributed to clarifying the obligations and liability of states in preventing genocide.
These cases are just a selection, and the impact of legal cases can vary depending on one’s perspective and interests.
