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Research guide Hugo Grotius (1583-1645)

Hugo Grotius (1583-1645) - Research Guide International Law

The Peace Palace Library holds one of the greatest collections in the world of the works of Hugo Grotius (1583-1645), founder of a systematic modern doctrine of international law and universally called the “Father of International Law”. His works also include theological, poetical, historical and philosophical themes. His involvement in the dispute between the Dutch Republic and England over the freedom of the seas led to his views published in “Mare liberum” (1609), still studied by modern researchers of the law of the sea.

Check our Research Guide on Hugo Grotius (1583-1645)

Library blog Natural Disasters and International Law

Natural disasters like the hurricanes Irma and Jose took a deadly path through the Caribbean and Florida, causing widespread destruction. Over the last decade, major natural disasters, including the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2005 hurricane Katrina, the 2010 Haiti earthquake, and the 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami, have focused world attention on the importance of having adequate national legal frameworks in place for disaster prevention and response. Legislation plays a crucial role in promoting and supporting disaster risk reduction as well as in guaranteeing the speed and effectiveness of disaster response. This blog explains in short the role and importance of international disaster response law.

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News and events Security Council Approves Toughest Resolution yet against DPR Korea

11 September 2017 – The Security Council unanimously agreed to impose tighter sanctions on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), imposing limits on oil exports, banning the country’s textile imports and access to gas liquids, and more closely inspecting cargo ships going in and out of its ports. “The proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, as well as their means of delivery, constitutes a threat to international peace and security,” the Council said.
Security Council approves toughest resolution yet against DPR Korea

The initiative of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia to organize an international peace conference at the dawn of the twentieth century came at exactly the right moment. During the First Hague Peace Conference of 1899, 26 countries came together to speak about disarmament and about the possibility of international jurisdiction, which led to the establishment of the Permanent Court of Arbitration. In 1907 a second peace conference was organized in The Hague, in which 44 countries participated. Find out more about the Tsar’s initiative and his relationship with the Peace Palace.

As migration and refugee movements to Europe have gained unprecedented momentum last year and continue to dominate the news, we have created a Library Special on this topic in order to provide you easy access to our collection: a selective bibliography, newsletters, books, articles and online resources.