The Menorah and The Vatican: Addressing Trends in Cultural Restitution

Almost 200 years since Lord Elgin shipped outcrops of the Acropolis to London, the Parthenon Marbles[1] may soon return to Greece.[2] Such a historic agreement between the Greek government and British Museum illustrates the growing public and political pressure for returning cultural artifacts… Read More

Child Labor in the Cocoa Industry of Western Africa: A Legal Examination of National, Regional, and International Efforts in Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire

In September 2000, an investigative television program revealed disturbing footage of Malian workers on Côte d’Ivoire’s cocoa farms, marking the first time consumers faced the industry’s exploitation, igniting calls for government and corporate action.[1] Together, Ghana and Côte d’ Ivoire, both countries supply about 60-70% of the… Read More

Exclusion on Whose Terms?: The Harm of Upholding Implied Exclusions Under Article 6 of the Convention on the International Sale of Goods

Often hailed as a “worldwide success,” the Convention on the International Sale of Goods (CISG) is among the most widely accepted treaties in international law, with 97 states party to the Agreement.[1] Despite its widespread adoption, contracting parties are not as keen on the treaty, with many… Read More

Corporate Accountability for Severe and Systematic Human Rights Violations: The Role of International Criminalization

Introduction While mandatory human rights due diligence (“MHRDD”) laws represent a step forward, civil liability alone is insufficient to address severe and systematic human rights abuses committed by corporations,[1] particularly in conflict-affected regions.[2] To ensure accountability, criminal liability should complement civil measures,[3]… Read More

The Potential Threats of Euroscepticism in an Evolving World of Food

Europe faces unprecedented pressures to its food ecosystem. With looming environmental threats, Europe needs to adapt in the way it produces food, while simultaneously avoiding risks to public health. The European Union, which has robust, binding food regulations on member states, and is replete with agencies to gather information… Read More

Expanding the Application of the CEDAW Optional Protocol to Further Advance the Working Conditions of Women Around the World

Under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), States are obligated to consistently advocate for women’s employment rights.[1] However, as the issue of sweatshops hampers efforts to protect these rights for women, it is time to allow for an expansion of… Read More

The Need for Standardization in TRIPS Exhaustion Policy for Use of Copyright-Protected Data for TDM

Under TRIPS, the doctrine of exhaustion is applied to patents, pharmaceuticals, and physical goods, but its application to digital material is a legal gray area.[1] The doctrine establishes that ownership of tangible goods is transferred with a single, definitive transaction, and naturally, the new owner… Read More

Crisis on the Essequibo: The Implications of Venezuelan Aggression Towards Guyana as Non-Compliance with ICJ Provisional Measures

A Long-Dormant Territorial Dispute Erupts In 2015, Exxon Mobil Corporation made a significant oil discovery off the coast of Guyana’s Essequibo region.[1] This and subsequent findings would quickly transform Guyana, with a population just over 800,000, into the country with the largest per-capita oil reserves… Read More

The Diminishing Status of the ICCPR in Hong Kong Following the Promulgation of the National Security Law

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which has provided Hong Kong citizens with civil and political rights, has seen it’s normative force decline since the promulgation of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Safeguarding National Security in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region… Read More

The Balancing Act: How the European Union’s Artificial Intelligence Act Properly Frames the Dangers and Benefits of Using Biometric Identification to Combat Human Trafficking

Introduction As technology advances, States must make important decisions about how they want to legislate and regulate the use of Artificial Intelligence (“AI”). In making these decisions, States need to balance their concerns about privacy and data protection[1] with their interests in innovating for the… Read More