Legal Framework Index

This page maps each documented incident to the specific international law provisions it may violate. Designed for researchers and attorneys preparing materials for international tribunals.

Classification Summary

Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Article 7Crimes against humanity — murder as part of a widespread or systematic attack against a civilian populationextreme Operation Southern Spear: Lethal Drone Strikes on Caribbean and Pacific Drug Boats (probable)
Article 7(1)(e)Crimes against humanity — imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty in violation of fundamental rules of international lawextreme Torture and Enforced Disappearances at 'Alligator Alcatraz' and Krome Detention Centers (probable)
Article 7(1)(f)Crimes against humanity — tortureextreme Torture and Enforced Disappearances at 'Alligator Alcatraz' and Krome Detention Centers (probable)
Article 7(1)(i)Crimes against humanity — enforced disappearance of personsextreme Torture and Enforced Disappearances at 'Alligator Alcatraz' and Krome Detention Centers (probable)
Article 7(1)(i)Crimes against humanity — enforced disappearance of persons when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack against any civilian populationextreme Forced Disappearances of Salvadoran Deportees in El Salvador's Prison System (probable)
Article 8War crimes — intentionally directing attacks against the civilian populationsevere Repeated US Vetoes of UN Security Council Gaza Ceasefire Resolutions (enabling)
Article 8War crimes — intentionally directing attacks against civilian objects and against the civilian populationextreme US Airstrike Kills 68 African Migrants in Yemen Detention Center (probable)
Article 8(2)(a)(i)Wilful killing of persons protected under the Geneva Conventionsextreme Sinking of IRIS Dena: USS Charlotte Torpedoes Iranian Frigate Off Sri Lanka (probable)
Article 8(2)(b)(iv)Intentionally launching an attack in the knowledge that it will cause incidental loss of life or injury to civilians which would be clearly excessive in relation to the concrete and direct overall military advantage anticipatedextreme Minab School Strike: US Tomahawk Cruise Missile Kills 175-180 Schoolgirls (probable)
Article 8(2)(b)(ix)Intentionally directing attacks against buildings dedicated to education, provided they are not military objectivesextreme Minab School Strike: US Tomahawk Cruise Missile Kills 175-180 Schoolgirls (probable)
Article 8(2)(b)(xii)Declaring that no quarter will be givenextreme Defense Secretary Hegseth Declares 'No Quarter, No Mercy' for Iran (confirmed)
Article 8(2)(b)(xx)War crime: employing weapons, projectiles, material and methods of warfare which cause superfluous injury or unnecessary sufferingextreme US-Supplied White Phosphorus Used Over Lebanese Civilian Areas (probable)
Article 8bisCrime of aggression — the use of armed force by a State against the sovereignty, territorial integrity or political independence of another Stateextreme Operation Absolute Resolve: Unilateral US Military Intervention in Venezuela (probable)

Hague Convention IV

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Article 23(d)It is especially forbidden to declare that no quarter will be givenextreme Defense Secretary Hegseth Declares 'No Quarter, No Mercy' for Iran (confirmed)

Lieber Code (General Order No. 100, 1863)

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Article 61Troops that give no quarter have no right to kill enemies already disabled on the groundextreme Defense Secretary Hegseth Declares 'No Quarter, No Mercy' for Iran (confirmed)

Geneva Conventions

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Protection of persons hors de combat; obligation to accept surrenderextreme Defense Secretary Hegseth Declares 'No Quarter, No Mercy' for Iran (confirmed)
Prohibition on killing shipwrecked persons who have ceased to be combatants or who refrain from hostile actsextreme Operation Southern Spear: Lethal Drone Strikes on Caribbean and Pacific Drug Boats (probable)
Additional Protocol I, Article 35Prohibition on methods or means of warfare which cause superfluous injury or unnecessary sufferingextreme US-Supplied White Phosphorus Used Over Lebanese Civilian Areas (probable)
Additional Protocol I, Article 51Prohibition on indiscriminate attacks that are not directed at a specific military objectiveextreme US-Supplied White Phosphorus Used Over Lebanese Civilian Areas (probable)
Additional Protocol I, Article 54Prohibition on attacking, destroying, or rendering useless objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian populationsevere Intensified Cuba Sanctions Regime: Blackouts, Hospital Shutdowns, and Collective Punishment (potential)
Common Article 1High Contracting Parties undertake to respect and to ensure respect for the present Convention in all circumstancessevere Repeated US Vetoes of UN Security Council Gaza Ceasefire Resolutions (enabling)
Common Article 1Obligation to ensure respect for the conventions in all circumstancesextreme US Arms Transfers to Israel During ICJ Genocide Proceedings (probable)
Common Article 3Prohibition on violence to life and person, including murder, of persons taking no active part in hostilitiesextreme US Airstrike Kills 68 African Migrants in Yemen Detention Center (probable)
Common Article 3Prohibition on violence to life and person of those taking no active part in hostilitiessevere Massive Escalation of US Airstrikes in Somalia with Zero Civilian Accountability (potential)

Customary International Humanitarian Law

ArticleProvisionIncidents
ICRC Rule 46: Ordering that no quarter be given is prohibitedextreme Defense Secretary Hegseth Declares 'No Quarter, No Mercy' for Iran (confirmed)
ICRC Rule 109: Search for, collect and evacuate the wounded, sick and shipwreckedextreme Sinking of IRIS Dena: USS Charlotte Torpedoes Iranian Frigate Off Sri Lanka (probable)
Principles of distinction and proportionality -- obligation to distinguish between combatants and civilians and to ensure attacks are proportionatesevere Dismantlement of Pentagon Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Program (enabling)
ICRC Rule 1Principle of distinction: parties must distinguish between civilians and combatantsextreme Trump Threats to Obliterate Iran's Civilian Power Infrastructure (confirmed)
ICRC Rule 7Principle of distinction: parties must distinguish between civilian objects and military objectivesextreme Trump Threats to Obliterate Iran's Civilian Power Infrastructure (confirmed)

Geneva Convention II (Amelioration of the Condition of Wounded, Sick and Shipwrecked Members of Armed Forces at Sea)

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Article 18After each engagement, parties to the conflict shall take all possible measures to search for and collect the shipwrecked, wounded and sickextreme Sinking of IRIS Dena: USS Charlotte Torpedoes Iranian Frigate Off Sri Lanka (probable)

Geneva Convention II

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Article 12Members of the armed forces at sea who are wounded, sick or shipwrecked shall be respected and protected in all circumstancesextreme Sinking of IRIS Dena: USS Charlotte Torpedoes Iranian Frigate Off Sri Lanka (probable)

UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Freedom of navigation and innocent passagesevere Naval Blockade of Venezuelan Oil Exports (potential)
Article 98Duty to render assistance to persons in danger at seaextreme Sinking of IRIS Dena: USS Charlotte Torpedoes Iranian Frigate Off Sri Lanka (probable)

International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS)

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Obligation to render assistance to those in distress at seaextreme Sinking of IRIS Dena: USS Charlotte Torpedoes Iranian Frigate Off Sri Lanka (probable)

Geneva Conventions Protocol I

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Article 54Protection of objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population — including foodstuffsextreme Strait of Hormuz Crisis: Global Energy and Food Security Catastrophe (enabling)

International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Article 11Right to an adequate standard of living, including adequate foodextreme Strait of Hormuz Crisis: Global Energy and Food Security Catastrophe (enabling)
Article 11Right of everyone to an adequate standard of living, including adequate foodsevere Intensified Cuba Sanctions Regime: Blackouts, Hospital Shutdowns, and Collective Punishment (potential)
Article 12Right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental healthsevere Intensified Cuba Sanctions Regime: Blackouts, Hospital Shutdowns, and Collective Punishment (potential)extreme Systematic Dismantlement of USAID and Global Humanitarian Consequences (enabling)
Article 13Right of everyone to educationextreme Systematic Dismantlement of USAID and Global Humanitarian Consequences (enabling)
Article 2(1)Obligation to take steps to the maximum of available resources toward progressive realization of rights, including through international assistance and cooperationextreme Systematic Dismantlement of USAID and Global Humanitarian Consequences (enabling)

UN Convention on the Law of the Sea

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Article 38Right of transit passage through straits used for international navigationextreme Strait of Hormuz Crisis: Global Energy and Food Security Catastrophe (enabling)

Geneva Convention IV (Protection of Civilian Persons)

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Articles 53, 147Prohibition on destruction of civilian property not justified by military necessity; extensive destruction as a grave breachextreme Trump Threats to Obliterate Iran's Civilian Power Infrastructure (confirmed)

Additional Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Article 51Protection of the civilian population; prohibition on indiscriminate attacksextreme Minab School Strike: US Tomahawk Cruise Missile Kills 175-180 Schoolgirls (probable)
Article 52Prohibition on attacks against civilian objects; civilian objects shall not be the object of attack or reprisalsextreme Trump Threats to Obliterate Iran's Civilian Power Infrastructure (confirmed)
Article 52General protection of civilian objects; schools are prima facie civilian objectsextreme Minab School Strike: US Tomahawk Cruise Missile Kills 175-180 Schoolgirls (probable)
Article 54Prohibition on attacking objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian populationextreme Trump Threats to Obliterate Iran's Civilian Power Infrastructure (confirmed)
Article 56Protection of works and installations containing dangerous forces (dams, dykes, nuclear electrical generating stations)extreme Trump Threats to Obliterate Iran's Civilian Power Infrastructure (confirmed)
Articles 51, 57Protection of civilian population and precautionary measures in attacksevere Dismantlement of Pentagon Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Program (enabling)

Rome Statute

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Independence and integrity of the ICC as an international judicial body; while the US is not a party, sanctions interfere with treaty obligations of ICC member statessevere Executive Order Sanctioning International Criminal Court Officials (enabling)
Article 25(3)(c)Aiding, abetting, or otherwise assisting in commission of a crime within ICC jurisdictionextreme US Arms Transfers to Israel During ICJ Genocide Proceedings (probable)
Article 8(2)(b)(ii)War crime: intentionally directing attacks against civilian objectsextreme Trump Threats to Obliterate Iran's Civilian Power Infrastructure (confirmed)
Article 8(2)(b)(iv)War crime: intentionally launching attacks knowing they will cause incidental loss of civilian life clearly excessive in relation to military advantageextreme Trump Threats to Obliterate Iran's Civilian Power Infrastructure (confirmed)
Article 8(2)(b)(iv)War crime to launch an attack in the knowledge that it will cause incidental loss of civilian life clearly excessive in relation to the military advantage anticipatedsevere Dismantlement of Pentagon Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Program (enabling)
Article 8bisCrime of aggression: use of armed force by a state not in conformity with the Charter of the United Nationsextreme Trump Threats to Obliterate Iran's Civilian Power Infrastructure (confirmed)
Article 8bisCrime of aggression -- use of armed force against the sovereignty, territorial integrity, or political independence of another statemajor Military and Economic Threats Against Greenland and Panama Canal Sovereignty (potential)

UN Charter

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Undermining the international rules-based order and multilateral institutionssevere Executive Order Sanctioning International Criminal Court Officials (enabling)
Article 1(2)Principle of self-determination of peoplesmajor Military and Economic Threats Against Greenland and Panama Canal Sovereignty (potential)
Article 2(1)Sovereign equality of all member statesmajor Colombia Deportation Standoff: Economic Coercion via Tariff Threats
Article 2(4)Prohibition on the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any stateextreme Trump Threats to Obliterate Iran's Civilian Power Infrastructure (confirmed)major Colombia Deportation Standoff: Economic Coercion via Tariff Threats major Military and Economic Threats Against Greenland and Panama Canal Sovereignty (potential)severe Naval Blockade of Venezuelan Oil Exports (potential)
Article 2(4)Prohibition on the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any stateextreme Minab School Strike: US Tomahawk Cruise Missile Kills 175-180 Schoolgirls (probable)
Article 2(4)All Members shall refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any stateextreme Operation Absolute Resolve: Unilateral US Military Intervention in Venezuela (probable)
Article 24Security Council members have primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and securitysevere Repeated US Vetoes of UN Security Council Gaza Ceasefire Resolutions (enabling)
Article 39Only the Security Council may determine the existence of a threat to peace and decide on enforcement measuresextreme Operation Absolute Resolve: Unilateral US Military Intervention in Venezuela (probable)
Article 39-41Unilateral coercive measures that cause humanitarian harm may violate the UN Charter when imposed outside of Security Council authorizationsevere Intensified Cuba Sanctions Regime: Blackouts, Hospital Shutdowns, and Collective Punishment (potential)
Article 51Self-defense applies only in response to an armed attack; Venezuela had not attacked the United Statesextreme Operation Absolute Resolve: Unilateral US Military Intervention in Venezuela (probable)
Articles 100, 105Independence of UN personnel and privileges and immunities necessary for the exercise of their functionssevere Sanctions Against UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine (enabling)
Articles 55-56Obligation to promote higher standards of living, solutions to health problems, and universal respect for human rights through international cooperationextreme Systematic Dismantlement of USAID and Global Humanitarian Consequences (enabling)

Geneva Convention IV

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Obligation to take constant care to spare civilians and civilian objects in military operationssevere Dismantlement of Pentagon Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Program (enabling)
Articles 18, 24, 50Protection of civilians, especially children; prohibition on attacking civilian objectsextreme Minab School Strike: US Tomahawk Cruise Missile Kills 175-180 Schoolgirls (probable)

Charter of the Organization of American States

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Article 19No State or group of States has the right to intervene, directly or indirectly, for any reason whatever, in the internal or external affairs of any other Stateextreme Operation Absolute Resolve: Unilateral US Military Intervention in Venezuela (probable)

US War Powers Resolution

ArticleProvisionIncidents
50 U.S.C. 1541-1548Congressional authorization required for introduction of US Armed Forces into hostilitiesextreme Operation Absolute Resolve: Unilateral US Military Intervention in Venezuela (probable)

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Article 10All persons deprived of liberty shall be treated with humanity and respect for inherent dignityextreme Torture and Enforced Disappearances at 'Alligator Alcatraz' and Krome Detention Centers (probable)
Article 10All persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of the human personextreme Guantanamo Bay Immigrant Detention: Solitary Confinement and Torture Conditions (probable)
Article 10All persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated with humanity and respect for inherent dignitycritical Record ICE Detention Deaths and Medical Care Payment Halt (enabling)
Article 13Aliens lawfully in territory may only be expelled pursuant to a decision reached in accordance with lawsevere Third-Country Deportations to Rwanda, Ghana, and South Sudan (potential)
Article 13Procedural protections for aliens facing expulsioncritical Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act to Accelerate Venezuelan Deportations (potential)
Article 13Procedural protections for aliens facing expulsion — may only be expelled pursuant to decision reached in accordance with lawcritical Kilmar Abrego Garcia Deported to El Salvador Despite Withholding Order (probable)
Article 14Right to due processextreme Operation Southern Spear: Lethal Drone Strikes on Caribbean and Pacific Drug Boats (probable)
Article 14Right to a fair hearing by an independent and impartial tribunalsevere Systematic Attacks on Judicial Independence and Defiance of Court Orders (enabling)
Article 14Right to due process and fair hearingextreme Secret Deportation of 260+ Venezuelans to CECOT Mega-Prison (probable)
Article 14Right to fair trial and due processextreme Secret $6 Million Contract to Outsource Detention to El Salvador's CECOT (probable)
Article 14Right to a fair hearing by an independent tribunalcritical Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act to Accelerate Venezuelan Deportations (potential)
Article 17No one shall be subjected to arbitrary or unlawful interference with their privacy; everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interferencesevere DOGE Unauthorized Access to Treasury, OPM, and Social Security Databases
Article 19Right to freedom of expression, including the right to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kindssevere Mass Student Visa Revocations Targeting Pro-Palestine Protesters
Article 19Right to freedom of expression — whistleblower protections derive from this rightsevere Schedule F Reclassification: Mass Removal of Civil Service Protections
Article 2(3)Right to an effective remedysevere Systematic Attacks on Judicial Independence and Defiance of Court Orders (enabling)
Article 2(3)Obligation to ensure effective remedies for rights violations — elimination of oversight bodies undermines the domestic accountability mechanisms required by this provisionsevere Mass Firing of Inspectors General Across Federal Government (enabling)
Article 21Right of peaceful assemblysevere Mass Student Visa Revocations Targeting Pro-Palestine Protesters
Article 24(3)Every child has the right to acquire a nationalitymajor Executive Order Attempting to Restrict Fourteenth Amendment Birthright Citizenship (potential)
Article 25Right to take part in public affairs and to have access, on general terms of equality, to public servicesevere Schedule F Reclassification: Mass Removal of Civil Service Protections
Article 25Right to take part in the conduct of public affairs and to genuine periodic elections — pardoning those who violently disrupted the peaceful transfer of power undermines the democratic governance this provision protectssevere Blanket Clemency for January 6 Defendants, Including Violent Offenders (enabling)
Article 26Prohibition on discrimination; equal protection of the lawsevere Mass Student Visa Revocations Targeting Pro-Palestine Protesters
Article 6Right to life; no arbitrary deprivation of lifeextreme Operation Southern Spear: Lethal Drone Strikes on Caribbean and Pacific Drug Boats (probable)extreme US Airstrike Kills 68 African Migrants in Yemen Detention Center (probable)severe Massive Escalation of US Airstrikes in Somalia with Zero Civilian Accountability (potential)
Article 6Right to life — obligation to protectsevere Repeated US Vetoes of UN Security Council Gaza Ceasefire Resolutions (enabling)
Article 6Inherent right to life; obligation of the state to protect this rightcritical Record ICE Detention Deaths and Medical Care Payment Halt (enabling)
Article 7No one shall be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishmentextreme Torture and Enforced Disappearances at 'Alligator Alcatraz' and Krome Detention Centers (probable)
Article 7Prohibition on torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatmentextreme Secret Deportation of 260+ Venezuelans to CECOT Mega-Prison (probable)
Article 7No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatmentextreme Forced Disappearances of Salvadoran Deportees in El Salvador's Prison System (probable)
Article 7No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishmentextreme Secret $6 Million Contract to Outsource Detention to El Salvador's CECOT (probable)extreme Guantanamo Bay Immigrant Detention: Solitary Confinement and Torture Conditions (probable)
Article 7Prohibition on cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment -- denial of medical care and placement at risk of violence in detentionmajor Executive Orders Targeting Transgender Rights and Gender Identity Recognition (potential)
Article 9Right to liberty and security of person; prohibition on arbitrary detentionextreme Torture and Enforced Disappearances at 'Alligator Alcatraz' and Krome Detention Centers (probable)extreme Secret Deportation of 260+ Venezuelans to CECOT Mega-Prison (probable)critical Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act to Accelerate Venezuelan Deportations (potential)critical Kilmar Abrego Garcia Deported to El Salvador Despite Withholding Order (probable)
Article 9Right to liberty — no arbitrary detention; right to challenge lawfulness of detentionextreme Forced Disappearances of Salvadoran Deportees in El Salvador's Prison System (probable)
Article 9Right to liberty and security of person; no arbitrary detentionextreme Secret $6 Million Contract to Outsource Detention to El Salvador's CECOT (probable)
Articles 2, 26Non-discrimination and equal protection of the lawmajor Executive Orders Targeting Transgender Rights and Gender Identity Recognition (potential)
Articles 9, 13Right to liberty, procedural protections for aliens facing expulsionsevere Termination of Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelan Nationals (potential)

Pentagon Law of War Manual

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Protection of shipwrecked personsextreme Operation Southern Spear: Lethal Drone Strikes on Caribbean and Pacific Drug Boats (probable)

UN Principles on the Effective Prevention and Investigation of Extra-legal, Arbitrary and Summary Executions

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Prohibition on extrajudicial killingsextreme Operation Southern Spear: Lethal Drone Strikes on Caribbean and Pacific Drug Boats (probable)
States must conduct thorough, prompt, and impartial investigations into all suspected extralegal executionssevere Massive Escalation of US Airstrikes in Somalia with Zero Civilian Accountability (potential)

Convention Against Torture

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Article 1Definition and absolute prohibition of torture — severe pain or suffering intentionally inflicted by or at the instigation of a public officialextreme Torture and Enforced Disappearances at 'Alligator Alcatraz' and Krome Detention Centers (probable)
Article 12Obligation to ensure prompt and impartial investigation of acts of torture — removal of internal watchdogs degrades this investigative capacitysevere Mass Firing of Inspectors General Across Federal Government (enabling)
Article 16Prohibition on cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishmentextreme Torture and Enforced Disappearances at 'Alligator Alcatraz' and Krome Detention Centers (probable)extreme Secret Deportation of 260+ Venezuelans to CECOT Mega-Prison (probable)major Executive Orders Targeting Transgender Rights and Gender Identity Recognition (potential)
Article 16Prohibition on cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment -- prolonged separation of children from parentssevere Family Separations and Prolonged Child Detention Under Immigration Enforcement
Article 3Absolute prohibition on transfer to countries where there is substantial risk of torture (non-refoulement)extreme Secret Deportation of 260+ Venezuelans to CECOT Mega-Prison (probable)
Article 3Non-refoulement — no State shall deport a person to a State where there are substantial grounds for believing they would be subjected to tortureextreme Forced Disappearances of Salvadoran Deportees in El Salvador's Prison System (probable)
Article 3Non-refoulement -- deportation of Guevara to country where he faced threats for journalismsevere Systematic Attacks on Press Freedom: Journalist Arrests, Detention, and Deportation (potential)
Article 3Non-refoulement — prohibition on return to countries where individuals face risk of torturesevere Termination of Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelan Nationals (potential)
Article 3Non-refoulement — absolute prohibition on return to countries where there is risk of torturecritical Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act to Accelerate Venezuelan Deportations (potential)
Article 3Non-refoulement — absolute prohibition on transfer to a country where there are substantial grounds for believing the person would be in danger of being subjected to torturecritical Kilmar Abrego Garcia Deported to El Salvador Despite Withholding Order (probable)

International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Prohibition on secret detention without notice to families or lawyerscritical Kilmar Abrego Garcia Deported to El Salvador Despite Withholding Order (probable)
Article 2Prohibition on enforced disappearance: deprivation of liberty with concealment of fate or whereaboutsextreme Torture and Enforced Disappearances at 'Alligator Alcatraz' and Krome Detention Centers (probable)
Article 2Prohibition on enforced disappearance, defined as deprivation of liberty with concealment of fate or whereaboutsextreme Secret Deportation of 260+ Venezuelans to CECOT Mega-Prison (probable)
Article 2Enforced disappearance is the arrest, detention, or abduction of persons by agents of the State, followed by a refusal to acknowledge the deprivation of liberty or the fate or whereabouts of the personextreme Forced Disappearances of Salvadoran Deportees in El Salvador's Prison System (probable)

UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Nelson Mandela Rules)

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Rules 1, 43-46Basic standards for treatment of prisoners including prohibition on indefinite solitary confinementextreme Secret Deportation of 260+ Venezuelans to CECOT Mega-Prison (probable)
Rules 43-46Prohibition on prolonged solitary confinement (exceeding 15 consecutive days) and on indefinite solitary confinement; both constitute tortureextreme Torture and Enforced Disappearances at 'Alligator Alcatraz' and Krome Detention Centers (probable)

Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Article 1The Contracting Parties confirm that genocide is a crime under international law which they undertake to prevent and to punishsevere Repeated US Vetoes of UN Security Council Gaza Ceasefire Resolutions (enabling)

UN Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Article 33Non-refoulement: prohibition on expulsion or return to a country where life or freedom would be threatenedsevere Third-Country Deportations to Rwanda, Ghana, and South Sudan (potential)

UN Convention Against Torture

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Article 1Prohibition of torture, including severe suffering inflicted with the consent or acquiescence of a public officialextreme Secret $6 Million Contract to Outsource Detention to El Salvador's CECOT (probable)
Article 1Prohibition of torture, including severe physical or mental suffering intentionally inflicted by a public officialextreme Guantanamo Bay Immigrant Detention: Solitary Confinement and Torture Conditions (probable)
Article 16Obligation to prevent cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment in territory under state jurisdictioncritical Record ICE Detention Deaths and Medical Care Payment Halt (enabling)
Article 3No state shall expel a person to another state where there are substantial grounds for believing they would be in danger of being subjected to torturesevere Third-Country Deportations to Rwanda, Ghana, and South Sudan (potential)
Article 3No state shall expel, return, or extradite a person to another state where there are substantial grounds for believing they would be in danger of being subjected to tortureextreme Secret $6 Million Contract to Outsource Detention to El Salvador's CECOT (probable)

UDHR

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Article 12No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with their privacy; everyone has the right to protection of the law against such interferencesevere DOGE Unauthorized Access to Treasury, OPM, and Social Security Databases
Article 13Right to leave any country, including one's own, and to return to one's countrymajor Colombia Deportation Standoff: Economic Coercion via Tariff Threats
Article 14Right to seek and enjoy asylum from persecutionsevere Third-Country Deportations to Rwanda, Ghana, and South Sudan (potential)severe Indefinite Suspension of US Refugee Admissions Program and Record-Low Resettlement Cap
Article 16(3)The family is the natural and fundamental group unit of society and is entitled to protectionsevere Family Separations and Prolonged Child Detention Under Immigration Enforcement
Article 19Right to freedom of opinion and expressionsevere Mass Student Visa Revocations Targeting Pro-Palestine Protesters
Article 19Freedom of opinion and expressionsevere Systematic Attacks on Press Freedom: Journalist Arrests, Detention, and Deportation (potential)severe Deportation Proceedings Against Mahmoud Khalil for Pro-Palestine Protest Activity
Article 20Right to freedom of peaceful assembly and associationsevere Mass Student Visa Revocations Targeting Pro-Palestine Protesters
Article 20Freedom of peaceful assembly and associationsevere Deportation Proceedings Against Mahmoud Khalil for Pro-Palestine Protest Activity
Article 25Right to a standard of living adequate for health and well-being, including food, medical care, and necessary social servicessevere Intensified Cuba Sanctions Regime: Blackouts, Hospital Shutdowns, and Collective Punishment (potential)
Article 5No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishmentextreme Guantanamo Bay Immigrant Detention: Solitary Confinement and Torture Conditions (probable)

Protocol I Additional to the Geneva Conventions

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Article 51Prohibition on indiscriminate attacks that are not directed at a specific military objectiveextreme US Airstrike Kills 68 African Migrants in Yemen Detention Center (probable)
Article 57Obligation to take all feasible precautions to avoid or minimize civilian casualtiesextreme US Airstrike Kills 68 African Migrants in Yemen Detention Center (probable)
Article 57Obligation to take constant care to spare civilians and take all feasible precautionssevere Massive Escalation of US Airstrikes in Somalia with Zero Civilian Accountability (potential)

Universal Declaration of Human Rights

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Article 10Right to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunalsevere Systematic Attacks on Judicial Independence and Defiance of Court Orders (enabling)
Article 14Right to seek and enjoy asylumcritical Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act to Accelerate Venezuelan Deportations (potential)
Article 15Right to a nationality; prohibition on arbitrary deprivation of nationalitymajor Executive Order Attempting to Restrict Fourteenth Amendment Birthright Citizenship (potential)
Article 2Non-discriminationmajor Executive Orders Targeting Transgender Rights and Gender Identity Recognition (potential)
Article 21Right to take part in the government of one's country; the will of the people as the basis of governmental authoritysevere Blanket Clemency for January 6 Defendants, Including Violent Offenders (enabling)
Article 25Right to a standard of living adequate for health and well-being, including medical careextreme Systematic Dismantlement of USAID and Global Humanitarian Consequences (enabling)
Article 8Right to effective remedy by competent national tribunalssevere Systematic Attacks on Judicial Independence and Defiance of Court Orders (enabling)

UN Basic Principles on the Independence of the Judiciary

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Guarantee of judicial independence from executive interferencesevere Systematic Attacks on Judicial Independence and Defiance of Court Orders (enabling)

Inter-American Convention to Prevent and Punish Torture

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Article 3State responsibility for torture committed by public servantsextreme Secret Deportation of 260+ Venezuelans to CECOT Mega-Prison (probable)

Arms Trade Treaty norms

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Obligation to assess risk of arms being used in violations of international humanitarian lawsevere Dismantlement of Pentagon Civilian Harm Mitigation and Response Program (enabling)

UN Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (Mandela Rules)

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Rule 24Provision of health-care services is a State responsibility; prisoners should enjoy the same standards of health care available in the communitycritical Record ICE Detention Deaths and Medical Care Payment Halt (enabling)
Rule 44Prolonged solitary confinement in excess of 15 consecutive days constitutes torture or cruel treatmentextreme Guantanamo Bay Immigrant Detention: Solitary Confinement and Torture Conditions (probable)

OAS Charter

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Article 19No state may use or encourage the use of coercive measures of an economic or political character in order to force the sovereign will of another Statemajor Colombia Deportation Standoff: Economic Coercion via Tariff Threats

ILO Convention 151

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Protection of public employees against acts of anti-union discrimination and interference by public authoritiessevere Schedule F Reclassification: Mass Removal of Civil Service Protections

Convention on the Rights of the Child

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Article 24Right to the highest attainable standard of health and access to healthcareextreme Systematic Dismantlement of USAID and Global Humanitarian Consequences (enabling)
Article 6Right to life, survival, and developmentextreme Systematic Dismantlement of USAID and Global Humanitarian Consequences (enabling)
Article 7Right to acquire a nationality from birthmajor Executive Order Attempting to Restrict Fourteenth Amendment Birthright Citizenship (potential)
Articles 3, 9, 37Best interests of the child; right not to be separated from parents against their will; protection from arbitrary detentionsevere Family Separations and Prolonged Child Detention Under Immigration Enforcement

Genocide Convention

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Article IObligation to prevent and punish genocideextreme US Arms Transfers to Israel During ICJ Genocide Proceedings (probable)
Article III(e)Complicity in genocideextreme US Arms Transfers to Israel During ICJ Genocide Proceedings (probable)

Arms Trade Treaty

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Article 6States shall not authorize transfer of arms if they have knowledge the arms would be used in attacks directed against civilians or civilian objectsextreme US-Supplied White Phosphorus Used Over Lebanese Civilian Areas (probable)
Article 6(3)Prohibition on transfers where knowledge exists they will be used in genocide or Geneva Convention violationsextreme US Arms Transfers to Israel During ICJ Genocide Proceedings (probable)

US Leahy Law

ArticleProvisionIncidents
22 U.S.C. 2378dProhibition on assistance to foreign security force units credibly implicated in gross human rights violationsextreme US Arms Transfers to Israel During ICJ Genocide Proceedings (probable)

Protocol III to the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Article 2Prohibition on making civilians the object of attack by incendiary weapons, and on using air-delivered incendiary weapons against military targets within concentrations of civiliansextreme US-Supplied White Phosphorus Used Over Lebanese Civilian Areas (probable)

ICCPR

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Article 12Freedom of movementsevere Military Deployments at US-Mexico Border in Violation of Posse Comitatus Act
Article 13Procedural protections for aliens, including the right to challenge expulsionsevere Indefinite Suspension of US Refugee Admissions Program and Record-Low Resettlement Cap
Article 13Aliens lawfully in territory can only be expelled pursuant to law with procedural safeguardssevere Deportation Proceedings Against Mahmoud Khalil for Pro-Palestine Protest Activity
Article 19Freedom of expression, including the right to seek, receive, and impart informationsevere Systematic Attacks on Press Freedom: Journalist Arrests, Detention, and Deportation (potential)
Article 19Freedom of expressionsevere Deportation Proceedings Against Mahmoud Khalil for Pro-Palestine Protest Activity
Article 21Right of peaceful assemblysevere Deportation Proceedings Against Mahmoud Khalil for Pro-Palestine Protest Activity
Article 26Equal protection of the law without discriminationsevere Military Deployments at US-Mexico Border in Violation of Posse Comitatus Act
Article 9Right to liberty and security of personsevere Military Deployments at US-Mexico Border in Violation of Posse Comitatus Act
Articles 23, 24Family protection; rights of children to protection without discriminationsevere Family Separations and Prolonged Child Detention Under Immigration Enforcement

Inter-American Convention on Human Rights

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Article 13Freedom of thought and expressionsevere Systematic Attacks on Press Freedom: Journalist Arrests, Detention, and Deportation (potential)
Article 17Right to familysevere Family Separations and Prolonged Child Detention Under Immigration Enforcement

Torrijos-Carter Treaties (1977)

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Recognized Panama's sovereignty over the Canal Zone; any US military action would violate the treaty frameworkmajor Military and Economic Threats Against Greenland and Panama Canal Sovereignty (potential)

Customary international law

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Prohibition on obstruction of international justice and intimidation of judicial officialssevere Executive Order Sanctioning International Criminal Court Officials (enabling)
Blockades are acts of war requiring formal declaration and are subject to the laws of armed conflictsevere Naval Blockade of Venezuelan Oil Exports (potential)

First Amendment (US Constitution)

ArticleProvisionIncidents
ACLU successfully argued sanctions prevent Americans from communicating with the ICCsevere Executive Order Sanctioning International Criminal Court Officials (enabling)

War Powers Resolution

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Congressional authorization required for sustained military operationssevere Naval Blockade of Venezuelan Oil Exports (potential)

Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Obligation to grant nationality to persons born in territory who would otherwise be statelessmajor Executive Order Attempting to Restrict Fourteenth Amendment Birthright Citizenship (potential)
Prohibition on rendering persons effectively stateless through mass status revocationsevere Termination of Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelan Nationals (potential)

1951 Refugee Convention

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Article 33Non-refoulement -- prohibition on returning refugees to territories where their life or freedom would be threatenedsevere Indefinite Suspension of US Refugee Admissions Program and Record-Low Resettlement Cap
Article 33Non-refoulementsevere Termination of Temporary Protected Status for Venezuelan Nationals (potential)critical Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act to Accelerate Venezuelan Deportations (potential)
Article 33Non-refoulement — prohibition on return to territories where life or freedom would be threatenedcritical Kilmar Abrego Garcia Deported to El Salvador Despite Withholding Order (probable)

1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Extends Refugee Convention obligations to all refugees regardless of date or origin of flightsevere Indefinite Suspension of US Refugee Admissions Program and Record-Low Resettlement Cap

International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Article 5Prohibition on racial discrimination in the right to leave and return to one's country and to nationality -- relevant to racially discriminatory allocation of refugee slotssevere Indefinite Suspension of US Refugee Admissions Program and Record-Low Resettlement Cap

UN Convention Against Corruption

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Obligation to maintain effective, independent anti-corruption bodiessevere Mass Firing of Inspectors General Across Federal Government (enabling)

Posse Comitatus Act

ArticleProvisionIncidents
18 USC 1385Prohibition on use of the military for civilian law enforcementsevere Military Deployments at US-Mexico Border in Violation of Posse Comitatus Act

Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations (1946)

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Functional immunity of experts on mission for the United Nationssevere Sanctions Against UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine (enabling)

UN General Assembly Resolution 60/251

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Establishing the Human Rights Council and its Special Procedures mandate holderssevere Sanctions Against UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine (enabling)

Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Obligation not to defeat the object and purpose of treatiessevere Sanctions Against UN Special Rapporteur on Palestine (enabling)

Yogyakarta Principles

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Application of international human rights law to sexual orientation and gender identitymajor Executive Orders Targeting Transgender Rights and Gender Identity Recognition (potential)

Inter-American Democratic Charter

ArticleProvisionIncidents
Commitment to democratic governance and the peaceful transfer of powersevere Blanket Clemency for January 6 Defendants, Including Violent Offenders (enabling)

Data Exports

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