April 28, 2025

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Media

Climate action is a legal obligation

Following the landmark climate ruling out of the European Court of Human Rights, it was a pleasure to discuss climate and human rights with Sara Schonhardt at ClimateWire for Politico. You can read her article here. … Read more >>

ICC Charges Against Russian Officers

I spoke to the NYT about the conduct of hostilities charges being brought against Russian officers in Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. The court has pursued war crimes charges, but that is not all: “They’ve pulled them together into a charge of crimes against humanity, making the point that they don’t think that this is just individual bad acts,” said Rebecca Hamilton, a law professor at American University. Because that particular crime requires that the attacks be connected to a state policy, “The crimes against humanity charge says, ‘No, this was part of a systematic plan by the … Read more >>

ICJ provisional measures in South Africa v. Israel

Shortly after the International Court of Justice handed down its provisional measures order in South Africa v. Israel, I spoke - along with Professor Steve Ratner, to Andrea Mitchell on MSNBC.  For extended reactions, see our compilation of expert views over at Just Security. … Read more >>

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Fighting for Darfur

Fighting for Darfur Book Cover As the first genocide of the twenty-first century, Darfur became the test case for what the United States and the international community would do to uphold the mantra of “never again.” This is the story of the individuals who organized protest marches, lobbied government officials, and raised funds in the belief that the outcry they created would force world powers to save the millions still at risk. Hamilton details how advocacy for Darfur was an exuberant, multi-billion dollar effort, and then does what no one has to date: takes us inside policy black-box, and onto the camps of Darfur, to document the actual impact of the citizen outcry. Fast paced and original, Fighting for Darfur weaves a gripping story that both dramatizes our moral dilemma and shows the promise and perils of citizen engagement in a new era of global compassion.
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Reviews

Jody Williams on Fighting for Darfur

“A masterful feat of original research and reporting, Fighting for Darfur is an authoritative account of the impact of the first sustained citizens’ movement against genocide. With Hamilton’s fierce determination to get beyond self-congratulatory slogans and taken-for-granted assumptions about what is required to save lives at risk, she provides insights that will be invaluable for concerned citizens, human rights advocates and policymakers alike for years and years to come. Essential reading for anyone who wants to help build a better world.”
— Jody Williams, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, founding coordinator of the International Campaign to Ban Landmines

Gareth Evans on Fighting for Darfur

“Rebecca Hamilton captures brilliantly the passion and commitment of the Save Darfur movement, but is also cool and clear-headed about what went wrong. She is especially strong on the ever-present risk for any mass campaign organization of over-simplifying multi-dimensional and ever-changing situations. Complex solutions for complex problems don’t make good bumper stickers, and getting what you wish for doesn’t always address the real issues. This is ‘lessons learned’ writing at its best, compelling reading for policymakers, community activists and anyone anywhere ashamed at our inability to stop mass atrocity crimes, and determined to make the now almost universally accepted responsibility to protect principle a universal reality on the ground.”
— Gareth Evans, Foreign Minister of Australia 1988-96; Co-Chair, International Commission on Intervention and State Sovereignty 2000-01; and author of The Responsibility to Protect: Ending Mass Atrocity Crimes Once and for All

Jon Sawyer on Fighting for Darfur

“Fighting for Darfur is the story of missed opportunities and unintended consequences. It’s also a timely call for more realistic and more effective approaches – by policy makers and citizen activists alike—as Sudan enters a turbulent transition that threatens the people of Darfur and beyond.”
–Jon Sawyer, Executive Director, Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting