The ruling is considered the most detailed decision of the United Nations' top court in war compensation and signifies the occupying powers' reparation duties for damages resulting from its direct and indirect actions that violate international law. The judgement is undoubtedly historic and destined to act as a precedent for future cases. It once again establishes the fact that international law matters in situations of interstate armed conflicts.
Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Rajeesh Kumar’s article ‘Explained | Multilateral reforms as a priority in the G-20’ has been published in ‘The Hindu’ on 06 March 2023.
The article analyses should multilateralism be given importance in today’s global order? How can the G-20 help in multilateral reform? Can multiple minilateral groupings become an alternative mode of multilateral cooperation? Why would global powers be averse to the idea of reform in multilateral institutions?
Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr Rajeesh Kumar’s article ‘G20 and Inclusive Green Growth: Can India Take It Forward?’ has been published in the India Foundation Journal, on 31 October 2022.
India’s G20 presidency comes at a critical stage in world affairs, where deep-rooted fault lines emerge, and transformative solutions are needed, says Dr Kumar.
In August 2021, under India’s presidency, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted a statement recognising the importance of technology in peacekeeping. At the high-level Security Council open debate on ‘technology and peacekeeping’, India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar stated that ‘21st-century peacekeeping must be anchored in a strong ecosystem of technology and innovation’.1 In the meeting, UN Secretary-General António Guterres outlined the elements of a digital transformation strategy for peacekeeping.
UNAMID's exit did not emerge from a context of peace or progress towards conflict resolution in Darfur. Instead, the exit decision was essentially the outcome of the reflection that keeping the mission on the ground would not change the situation. Initially, the hybrid peacekeeping model was seen as a paradigm shift in peacekeeping operations, and many hailed it as the future of UN peace operations.
As the emerging Cold War theatrics and veto politics threaten to further paralyse the functioning of UNSC, the Ukraine crisis is unlikely to abate any time soon.
Associate Fellow, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Dr. Rajeesh Kumar’s article ‘The United Nations and the crisis in Yemen’ has been published in ‘The Hindu’ on 26 January, 2022.
Multilateralism Matters: Adoption of the Treaty of the High Seas and its Significance
The adoption of the Treaty of the High Seas by the United Nations represents a significant triumph for multilateralism.