As we end 2013 and look forward to 2014, as Editors of IntLawGrrls, we reaffirm our commitment to discussing and exploring developments within international law that form a foundation for a just international society, including in the areas of human rights, trade law, environmental law, refugee and immigration law, international criminal law, etc.

2013 ends with images of Syrian refugee men, women, and children left to languish in camps unable to resettle abroad in spite of the destruction of their nation. Some states have offered generous humanitarian assistance to address this situation. Further, they are cooperating to destroy the chemical weapons. We hope that, in 2014, these states will go a step further and follow the example provided by Sweden which has taken in some 14,700 asylum seekers from Syria and has guaranteed future protection.

We have also witnessed in 2013 the signing of a Global Arms Trade Treaty (ATA) and progress toward its implementation. The ATA creates common standards and rules to improve the control by states of the flow of arms that lead to the carnage that we see in Syria, and so many other states around the world.

In Pope Francis’ words: “The ever-increasing number of interconnections and communications in today’s world makes us powerfully aware of the unity and common destiny of the nations. In the dynamics of history, and in the diversity of ethnic groups, societies and cultures, we see the seeds of a vocation to form a community composed of brothers and sisters who accept and care for one another. But this vocation is still frequently denied and ignored in a world marked by a ‘globalization of indifference’ which makes us slowly inured to the suffering of others and closed in on ourselves.”

The ongoing challenge of the international community is to demonstrate greater consistency in the pursuit of social justice, at home and abroad. Key to attaining this goal is support for sustainable development, human rights, and an international society built on the principle of solidarity, including protection of its most vulnerable communities.

We hope that, through our posts, IntlLawGrrls will continue to engage in exposing the challenges presented by globalization while pointing to the core values which have the potential to support the path towards a more humane world.

Happy New Year!

Cecilia, Andrea, Sital, Elizabeth, Jaya & Milena