Independent Reports
Letter to the UN Working Group on Transnational Corporations
By Tenley Roberson and Dave-Inder Comar
In July 2026, JAI responded to guidance on the right of Indigenous Peoples to free, prior and informed consent in the context of business activities issued by the Working Group on the issue of human rights and transnational corporations and other business enterprises. JAI had significant concerns related to a paragraph in the guidance that was inconsistent with the fundamental right of self-determination of Indigenous Peoples. JAI urged the Working Group to strike any language that questioned the right of Indigenous Peoples to self-determination in the context of business projects impacting their lands, territories, and resources.
“Paragraph 11 is dangerous to Indigenous Peoples and to Indigenous defenders, whose lawful and categorical denials of particular projects will be resisted with this language, transforming a protective legal framework into a tool for pressuring communities to eventually say yes.”
Global Tipping Points Conference 2025
By Dave-Inder Comar, Yannick Doyle, Allison Hodge, and Ștefan Tunaru
In June 2025, JAI held a workshop at the Global Tipping Points conference held by the University of Exeter. This report summarizes the workshop and key takeaways.
“Adaptation to a tipped climate system may exceed the resources available to many societies, leading to significant and systemic loss and damage. Therefore, mitigation measures must be fully deployed to minimize anticipated loss and damage from tipping points.”
Climate Change and Human Rights
By Ole ter Wey; edited by Dave Inder Comar and Viveka Teotonio Pereira Patel
“There is an increasing recognition from human rights institutions that human rights can only be guaranteed if climate action from governments is forthcoming, and pursued with the utmost care, speed, and efficacy.”
Summary of Changes: Comparing AR6 and SR1.5
By Ole ter Wey; edited by Dave Inder Comar
Read JAI’s report on what’s new in AR6 (2021) in comparison to SR1.5 (2018)
“The mean global temperature will likely exceed warming of 1.5°C as compared to pre-industrial times in less than 20 years. This holds true for all five scenarios in AR6, including the very low carbon emission scenario. Concurrently, the frequency of extreme weather events such as storm surges, droughts and storms will also increase.”
Climate Change and Small Island Developing States: Adverse Impacts and Legal Frameworks
By Katie Frake; edited by Dave-Inder Comar
Read JAI’s report on how climate change is affecting small island countries, particularly in the Pacific.
“It is with the utmost urgency that we carve out more legal pathways to assist those suffering because of climate change and to slow down the heating of our Earth, not just for islands and coastal nations, but for the sake of all of humanity.”
Dull Revenge: The Trial of Saddam Hussein as a Failure of International Law
By Katie Frake; edited by Dave Inder Comar
Read JAI’s report on how the international community failed to uphold the rule of law with the trial, conviction, and hanging of Saddam Hussein.
“The Dujail Trial leaves an uneasy feeling about the use and abuse of international law and war crimes tribunals in general. What does international law mean, or law in general, when it can be summarily ignored or rewritten in order to ‘legitimately’ kill one’s enemies? What is the purpose of law when power trumps accountability to justice?”