Defending International Law in a Time of Open Disregard

The Union Internationale des Avocats (UIA - International Association of Lawyers) and the UIA - Institute for the Rule of Law (UIA-IROL) state that international law is no longer merely violated; it is increasingly disregarded and openly set aside by those who claim to uphold it.

Recent developments in the Persian Gulf and in Venezuela, as well as ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, expose a disconcerting reality: the law is not only violated but is also increasingly ignored, and at times explicitly dismissed in favor of power and political ambitions.

This marks not only a shift, but a decisive break with the legal order that has sought to govern international relations for decades.

The prohibition of the use of force, enshrined in Article 2(4) of the Charter of the United Nations, is a cornerstone of the international legal order. It admits only narrow exceptions, notably self-defence under Article 51 and actions authorised by the Security Council. Any use of force falling outside this framework — whether by the United States, Israel, the Russian Federation, Iran, or any other State — constitutes a breach of international law.

Similarly, international humanitarian law binds all parties, in all circumstances. Its core principles — distinction, proportionality and precaution — are not optional.

Reports of illegal attacks affecting civilians and civilian infrastructures, including credible allegations concerning the bombing of a girls’ school in Iran, require independent and impartial investigation.

Statements by senior officials, in the U.S and the European Union, among others, including explicit assertions that no quarter would be given or that the constraints of the law of armed conflict should be loosened, are incompatible with the Geneva Conventions and may, if implemented, amount to grave breaches. Human rights law is universal. It applies to all States similarly. It cannot be invoked selectively, nor set aside for reasons of expediency.

International law is weakened not only by unlawful acts, but also by failures to act where the law requires action. The failure to prevent, investigate, or respond to serious violations, as well as silence or inaction in the face of such violations, may itself undermine the rule of law and contribute to impunity.

The UIA and the UIA-IROL are particularly concerned by the growing normalisation of such positions. Statements by political leaders, including in Europe, suggesting that international law is of limited relevance or merely one framework among others, contribute directly to weakening its authority. General affirmations of respect for international law, combined with selective condemnations, are not sufficient to sustain a rules-based order.

Selective application of the law — invoked in Ukraine, violated in Gaza, disregarded in Lebanon, relativised in relation to Iran, and too often met with silence where action is required — undermines its credibility. The rule of law cannot survive such inconsistency.

The UIA and the UIA-IROL recall consistent positions taken in:

• the joint statement issued by UIA and the International Association of Young Lawyers (AIJA) on 24 February 2022 affirming that aggression violates the rule of law and fundamental principles of public international law, and calling for dialogue, diplomacy and the protection of fundamental rights;  
• the statement of the UIA President of 12 October 2023 condemning the attacks by Hamas against Israel and calling for the protection of civilians;  
• the statement of the UIA President of 20 October 2023 calling on Israel to comply with international humanitarian law and condemning all violence against civilians;  
• the joint statement of the UIA President and the UIA-IROL Director General dated 24 June 2025 calling for the respect of the rule of law and international law in face of the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip;  
• the UIA-IROL statement of 14 November 2025 calling for respect for the rule of law and independent investigation in the case of Major General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi;  
• the UIA statement of 7 January 2026 concerning the military intervention in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in January 2026, expressing the concern of the UIA at the use of force and its compatibility with international law;  
• the UIA-IROL statement of 13 February 2026 concerning the repression of lawyers and the erosion of the rule of law in Iran;  
• the UIA statement of 6 March 2026 concerning the attack of the United States and Israel on Iran, expressing grave concern at the use of force and its compatibility with fundamental principles of international law and calling, alongside the Secretary-General of the United Nations, for an immediate cessation of hostilities and de-escalation.

These positions reflect a single and constant principle: the law binds all, or it binds no one.

In this context, the UIA and the UIA-IROL state clearly:

• There is no lawful basis for the use of force outside the framework of the United Nations Charter;  
• There is no lawful conduct of hostilities that permits the targeting of civilians or the disregard of humanitarian protections;  
• There is no credible defence of human rights where those rights are applied selectively;
• And there is no rule of law without accountability.

Accordingly, the UIA and the UIA-IROL call for:

•  An immediate cessation of hostilities by all parties;  
• Full compliance with the Charter of the United Nations and the obligation to resolve disputes by peaceful means, including through the relevant United Nations resolutions, notably Resolutions 1696, 1737, 1747, 1803, 1835, 1929 and 2231 concerning the Iranian nuclear program, and Resolution 1701 concerning Israel and Lebanon;  
• The establishment of independent and impartial investigative mechanisms, including in relation to alleged attacks on civilian targets in Iran and other reported violations of international humanitarian law;  
• Full compliance with UN Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2803, on the Gaza ceasefire;  
• Effective action by States and relevant international institutions to prevent, investigate, and respond to serious violations of international law, including where silence or inaction has contributed to impunity;  
• Full respect for human rights, both domestically and internationally.

The UIA and the UIA-IROL further urge all States involved in violations of international law — including the Russian Federation in Ukraine, and the United States, Israel, and Iran concerning the use of force in the Middle East — to cease such actions and fulfill their obligations under international law.

The rule of law is not an abstract principle. It is the condition for peace and stability. Its erosion, whether through violations, silence or justification, places all societies at risk.

Lawyers must not stay indifferent to this erosion. They have a duty to speak clearly, consistently, and without compromise.

Fernando Hernández Gómez
President of the UIA

Martin Pradel
Director General of the UIA-IROL