Goettingen Journal of International Law (GoJIL)

🌎 Article Spotlight: Thomas Buergenthal’s Legacy in Human Rights We are pleased to present Professor Dr. Dr. h.c. Kai Ambos' insightful article "Thomas Buergenthal and the Americas: A Comprehensive Contribution to Human Rights Protection" in the latest issue of the Goettingen Journal of International Law. In it, Professor Ambos explores Buergenthal’s profound influence on the Inter-American Human Rights System. Ambos sheds light on Buergenthal’s proactive role as one of the first judges at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) and his impactful work with the Truth Commission for El Salvador. The article reveals how Buergenthal's strategic-progressive approach balanced ambitious human rights aspirations with the complex political realities of his time – offering invaluable lessons for today’s human rights challenges. 🎓 Professor Kai Ambos is a leading scholar in criminal law, international law, and comparative law at the Georg-August University in Göttingen. 📖 This article is a must-read for those passionate about international human rights law, legal history, and the evolution of regional human rights institutions! 👉 Read the full article here: [https://lnkd.in/ey9y-Yni] #HumanRights #IACtHR #InternationalLaw #ThomasBuergenthal #GoJIL #LegalResearch

⏳ Last Call: GoJIL Student Essay Competition 2025! ⏳ The Goettingen Journal of International Law (GoJIL) is still accepting submissions for its Student Essay Competition on: 🌍 “The UN Mechanisms in Times of Global Crisis” 🌍 This is a great chance to explore the role of the UN in addressing global challenges like pandemics, climate change, armed conflict, and economic crises. Share your insights on past successes, failures, and future improvements! 📅 Deadline: 28th February 2025 – Don't miss out! 🔗 More info: https://lnkd.in/dzSuXtsh #LastCall #GoJIL #InternationalLaw #UN #GlobalGovernance #StudentEssayCompetition

⚖️ Featured Article: Rethinking Social Justice in EU Law What does "social justice" truly mean within the European Union’s legal framework? In her article "Capabilitarian Social Justice in the EU: Care, Dependency, and the Conception of the Person," published in the Goettingen Journal of International Law, Elisabeth (Flips) Schöyen critically examines the EU’s commitment to social justice through the lens of Martha Nussbaum’s capabilities approach. Schöyen argues that while the EU formally upholds social justice, its legal framework often fails to account for care, vulnerability, and dependency – traits essential to human dignity. Focusing on how EU law constructs the legal identity of disabled persons, the article reveals a bias toward economic productivity, overlooking those who do not fit into traditional workforce models. By contrasting this with Nussbaum’s more inclusive understanding of personhood, Schöyen challenges the EU’s approach and offers insights into how legal frameworks could be more just and humane. 🎓 Elisabeth Schöyen is a PhD researcher at the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence and a lecturer in EU law at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. 📖 A must-read for anyone interested in social justice, EU law, and legal philosophy! 👉 Read the full article here: [https://lnkd.in/e6cEc4Ux] #EULaw #SocialJustice #DisabilityRights #HumanDignity #LegalTheory #GoJIL

⚖️ Featured Article: Rethinking Social Justice in EU Law What does "social justice" truly mean within the European Union’s legal framework? In her article "Capabilitarian Social Justice in the EU: Care, Dependency, and the Conception of the Person," published in the Goettingen Journal of International Law, Elisabeth (Flips) Schöyen critically examines the EU’s commitment to social justice through the lens of Martha Nussbaum’s capabilities approach. Schöyen argues that while the EU formally upholds social justice, its legal framework often fails to account for care, vulnerability, and dependency – traits essential to human dignity. Focusing on how EU law constructs the legal identity of disabled persons, the article reveals a bias toward economic productivity, overlooking those who do not fit into traditional workforce models. By contrasting this with Nussbaum’s more inclusive understanding of personhood, Schöyen challenges the EU’s approach and offers insights into how legal frameworks could be more just and humane. 🎓 Elisabeth Schöyen is a PhD researcher at the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence and a lecturer in EU law at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. 📖 A must-read for anyone interested in social justice, EU law, and legal philosophy! 👉 Read the full article here: [https://lnkd.in/e6cEc4Ux] #EULaw #SocialJustice #DisabilityRights #HumanDignity #LegalTheory #GoJIL

Meet this year's team!

🔍 Exploring Methodological Pluralism in EU Prison Policy How effective is the EU’s legal framework in ensuring fair detention conditions across its Member States? In their article "To Err Twice: Methodological Pluralism Through the Lens of EU Prison Policy," published in the Goettingen Journal of International Law, Christos Papachristopoulos and Denise Di Nica critically assess the EU’s approach to regulating prison standards. The authors argue that the principle of mutual trust—central to EU judicial cooperation—relies on the assumption of equivalent human rights protection across all Member States, including in detention settings. However, stark disparities in prison conditions reveal that this trust often operates as a legal fiction. While legal harmonization is frequently proposed as a solution, Papachristopoulos and Di Nica caution against relying solely on doctrinal approaches. Instead, they advocate for a multidisciplinary perspective that integrates legal, political, and administrative insights to address the complexities of EU prison policy more effectively. 🎓 Christos Papachristopoulos is a PhD candidate at the University of Birmingham and an Assistant Professor at Oxford Brookes School of Law. 🎓 Denise Di Nica holds an LL.M. in Public International Law from Leiden University. 📖 A must-read for those interested in EU law, criminal justice, and human rights. 👉 Read the full article here: [https://lnkd.in/e8mZjUQr] #EULaw #HumanRights #PrisonPolicy #MutualTrust #LegalResearch #GoJIL

🔍 Exploring Methodological Pluralism in EU Prison Policy How effective is the EU’s legal framework in ensuring fair detention conditions across its Member States? In their article "To Err Twice: Methodological Pluralism Through the Lens of EU Prison Policy," published in the Goettingen Journal of International Law, Christos Papachristopoulos and Denise Di Nica critically assess the EU’s approach to regulating prison standards. The authors argue that the principle of mutual trust—central to EU judicial cooperation—relies on the assumption of equivalent human rights protection across all Member States, including in detention settings. However, stark disparities in prison conditions reveal that this trust often operates as a legal fiction. While legal harmonization is frequently proposed as a solution, Papachristopoulos and Di Nica caution against relying solely on doctrinal approaches. Instead, they advocate for a multidisciplinary perspective that integrates legal, political, and administrative insights to address the complexities of EU prison policy more effectively. 🎓 Christos Papachristopoulos is a PhD candidate at the University of Birmingham and an Assistant Professor at Oxford Brookes School of Law. 🎓 Denise Di Nica holds an LL.M. in Public International Law from Leiden University. 📖 A must-read for those interested in EU law, criminal justice, and human rights. 👉 Read the full article here: [https://lnkd.in/e8mZjUQr] #EULaw #HumanRights #PrisonPolicy #MutualTrust #LegalResearch #GoJIL

Last week, we held the formal opening ceremony of our new master degree program, the Göttingen Master in International Law (GOMIL). We were honored that the German judge at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) , Prof. Georg Nolte, enriched the ceremony with his key note and discussion with Dean Prof. Andreas L. Paulus about current challenges to the International Court of Justice. After a welcoming address by the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen's Vice President for Equal Opportunities, Diversity and International Affairs, Prof. Inge Hanewinkel, GOMIL-coordinator, Prof. Peter-Tobias Stoll, introduced the program and subsequently gave the floor to the students, who reflected on their motivation to have joined the program, as well as challenges and successes they encountered during the winter semester. Prof. Kai Ambos closed the opening ceremony with concluding remarks by referring the relevance of international law. Since 2024 we have been offering students from all over the world a special, fee-financed program consisting of lectures, tutorials and colloquia. The students come from countries including Brazil, Malaysia, Rwanda, Turkey, Germany, Pakistan and China. The study program covers international law with its various sub-areas from human rights to international criminal, environmental and economic law, and the functioning of international courts. More information about the program and how to apply: https://lnkd.in/grmwm5XD

📚 Featured Article: Behavioral Economics and EU Law We’re delighted to present an engaging article by Dr Sebastian J Kasper in the latest issue of the Goettingen Journal of International Law. The article "Regulating Uncertainty: On the Regulation of Human Behavior and its Interpretation by the Court of Justice of the European Union" examines how behavioral economic insights can enhance the interpretation and application of EU law. Dr. Kasper explores the challenges of regulating human behavior, particularly since the regulatory effects are uncertain, and highlights how findings from behavioral economics — based on bounded rationality and prospect theory — offer valuable tools for effective interpretation of EU legislation. By analyzing EU legal acts like MiFID II and the Taxonomy Regulation, he demonstrates the potential for integrating these insights into judicial methodology while addressing obstacles to their application. 🎓 Dr. Kasper is a postdoctoral researcher and lecturer at the University of Passau and an articled clerk at the Munich Higher Regional Court. 📖 This thought-provoking article is essential for anyone intrigued by the intersection of law, economics, and human behavior. 👉 Read more here: [https://lnkd.in/eDxd2DFx] #BehavioralEconomics #EULaw #HumanBehavior #LegalInterpretation #GoJIL #LegalResearch

🌊New Article Spotlight: The Montreux Convention and International Peace We are pleased to introduce an article from our latest issue: "The Montreux Convention and its Importance for International Peace and Security”, by Ioannis Antonopoulos. Antonopoulos analyses the pivotal role of the 1936 Montreux Convention in regulating passage through the Turkish Straits and ensuring regional stability. The article provides a detailed overview of the Convention’s legal framework, its historical application in events such as WWII and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and its significance in maintaining a delicate balance between national interests and international peace. It also highlights Türkiye’s unique position in leveraging this treaty to assert its geopolitical influence. 🎓 Ioannis Antonopoulos is pursuing his LL.M. in international law at Democritus University of Thrace (DUTH). 📖 This article offers valuable insights into the intersection of maritime law, geopolitics, and international security. Don’t miss it! 👉 Read the full article here: [https://lnkd.in/eqgzScsZ] #MontreuxConvention #MaritimeLaw #InternationalRelations #Geopolitics #GoJIL #LegalResearch