Why Focus on International Law?

For the past several years, the world has witnessed a major shift in war and conflict. Non-governmental terrorist regimes such as Al Qaeda, Boko Haram, and ISIS have strained the traditional notions of warfare and battlefield strategy and have left the international community searching for a response under existing frameworks of international law. Beyond international conflict, these regimes have committed unimaginable atrocities and crimes upon civilians and noncombatants that range from rape, mass murder, sex and drug trade, suicide bombings and beheadings. Proposals on how the international community should respond have ranged from economic stimulus to a declaration of war. Today we seek to answer two questions: (1) What is the impact of terrorist regimes on international law and; (2) what should be the global response? We will analyze these questions from the standpoint of International Humanitarian law and International Human Rights law to determine how our existing international law frameworks can be adapted to account for a new international crisis. We also seek to answer these questions under a Christian worldview, knowing that all are created in the image of God and knowing that the biblical worldview must undergird any successful global response.”