International law, established to regulate interstate relations, faces new challenges in the 21st century. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the number of forcibly displaced persons reached 82.4 million, including 20 million climate migrants by 2024. Artificial intelligence (AI) has raised privacy concerns, with 15% of digital platforms reporting data breaches in 2023. Climate change, with a temperature increase of 1.59°C since 2010 threatens food security. Global issues are transboundary in nature. Climate change has led to a 15% decline in crop yields in South Asia due to droughts. Technological transformations, including AI, have driven a 12% increase in cyberattacks in 2024, and migration crises have affected 82.4 million people, 68% of whom are in low-income countries.
These threats demand the adaptation of international law, as national systems struggle to cope. For instance, in Central Asia, the water crisis exacerbates migration, while in Southeast Asia, cyber threats undermine digital security.
International law encompasses key instruments. The 2015 Paris Agreement aims to limit warming to 1.5°C, but by 2024, only 45% of countries have met their emissions targets. The 1951 Refugee Convention protects 26 million people but does not cover climate migrants. The 2023 UN Resolution on Digital Rights calls for data protection but has been implemented in only 40% of countries.
Regional initiatives bolster efforts. The European Green Deal reduced emissions by 18% since 2020. The African Union implemented climate programs in 25% of its countries, and ASEAN developed cybersecurity standards, covering 20% of its states. However, the lack of sanctions reduces effectiveness.
However, International law lags behind the pace of change. Only 42% of countries have data protection laws, despite a 15% increase in data breaches. In Asia, reliance on technological leaders limits sovereignty. In Africa, less than 4% of budgets are allocated to climate programs, and In Europe, bureaucracy delays agreement implementation by 15%.
Political disagreements also hinder progress: 20% of UN Security Council resolutions are blocked by vetoes. While, Climate migrants (20 million) lack legal status, creating a legal vacuum. The UN coordinated aid for 18 million people in 2024, but logistical issues, such as funding delays, reduced effectiveness by 25%. The International Criminal Court (ICC) increased its caseload by 20%, convicting 15 leaders for war crimes, but covers only 45% of conflicts. The EU resettled 250,000 refugees, reducingthe burden by 12%.
Coordination between organizations is weak: only 22% of initiatives are synchronized. For example, UNHCR and International Organization for Migration (IOM) programs often overlap, requiring reform.
Under the leadership of the Founder of Peace and National Unity, Leader of the Nation, President Emomali Rahmon, Tajikistan has made significant contributions to strengthening international law and addressing global challenges. He has initiated global efforts to combat climate change, migration, and cyber threats, reinforcing Tajikistan’s position on the international stage. The adoption of 14 relevant UN General Assembly resolutions initiated by Tajikistan has laid a solid foundation for achieving coordinated global goals in water resource management.
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Amid unprecedented global challenges, including climate change, migration crises, and cyber threats, the international community needs coordinated and inclusive solutions. As researchers, we propose the following measures to strengthen international law and global cooperation, calling for dialogue and collective efforts by all states.
- Climate Tribunal: Establishing a climate tribunal under the UN’s auspices, with jurisdiction over 75% of countries and funded by 0.2% of developed nations’ GDP, is a critical step to address climate challenges. Climate change, with a 1.59°C temperature rise since 2010, has displaced 20 million climate migrants and reduced crop yields by 15% in South Asia. The 2015 Paris Agreement, despite aiming to limit warming to 1.5°C, has not been met by 55% of countries, highlighting the need for binding mechanisms.
Current frameworks, like the Paris Agreement, lack enforceability. A climate tribunal would fill this gap by imposing legal accountability for exceeding greenhouse gas emissions. The tribunal would hear cases against states and corporations violating climate commitments, such as oil and gas companies responsible for 30% of global emissions. Jurisdiction covering 75% of countries would ensure global impact. Funding from 0.2% of developed nations’ GDP (approximately $200 billion annually) would create an independent body with IPCC experts and judicial representatives from Africa, Asia, and Oceania.
The tribunal would operate under the UN, integrated with the Human Rights Council. It would have the authority to impose sanctions (fines up to 1% of violators’ GDP) and mandate restorative measures, such as funding adaptation in vulnerable regions where water crises affect 2 million people. An example is the case against an Australian coal company, fined $50 million in 2023 by a national court. Tajikistan, suffering from glacier melting (70% of water supply), would be prioritized in case reviews.
The tribunal’s creation would require a UN General Assembly resolution approved by 130 countries (75% of UN members). Funding would be distributed through a joint UNHCR-IOM fund to support climate migrants, ensuring fairness and efficiency, and strengthening global cooperation.
- Universal Digital Protocol: Developing a universal digital protocol for data protection, certified by an international body and covering 85% of states, addresses the rising cyber threats amid technological transformations. Data breaches affected 15% of digital platforms in 2024, with cyberattacks increasing by 12%. Only 42% of countries have data protection laws, creating vulnerabilities, especially in regions like Central Asia, where Tajikistan faces a 10% annual rise in cybercrime.
Current frameworks, such as the 2023 UN Resolution on Digital Rights, are implemented in only 40% of countries, underscoring the need for a mandatory standard. The protocol would establish uniform requirements for encryption, privacy, and accountability for data breaches, applicable to states and tech companies controlling 55% of the AI market. Certification by an international body under the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and UNHCR would ensure trust and inclusivity, covering 85% of countries, including G20 and developing states like Tajikistan.
The protocol would set standards for data protection (e.g., AES-256 encryption) and establish an audit system for AI and cloud platforms. The international body, based in Geneva, would issue certifications for compliant countries and companies. Violators, such as platforms responsible for breaches (e.g., a 2024 incident involving 10 million records in Asia), would face fines up to 2% of annual revenue. For Tajikistan, the protocol would secure banking sector data, where 20% of transactions are vulnerable.
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The protocol would be adopted via a UN General Assembly resolution approved by 150 countries (85% of members). Funding (0.1% of developed nations’ GDP, about $100 billion) would support training and infrastructure in developing countries. Collaboration with UNHCR and IOM would protect migrant data, such as for 10,000 Afghan refugees in Tajikistan, enhancing digital sovereignty and global security.
- Migration Fund: Allocating 25% of international funds for refugee integration, managed by UNHCR, is critical to addressing migration crises. The number of forcibly displaced persons reached 123.2 million, including 42.7 million refugees and 73.5 million internally displaced persons. Of these, 73% are in low-income countries like Tajikistan, hosting 10,000 Afghan refugees. The lack of legal status for 20 million climate migrants and underfunding of UNHCR programs (11.6 million refugees at risk in 2025) highlight the need for sustainable financing.
Current efforts, such as the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration, cover only 30% of those in need due to funding shortages. A migration fund, managed by UNHCR in collaboration with IOM, would provide resources for refugee integration in host countries, including access to education, healthcare, and labor markets. The fund would also support climate migrants, such as in Central Asia, where the Amu Darya water crisis displaces 2 million people.
The fund would be financed by 25% of international funds, including contributions from developed countries (0.5% of GDP, about $250 billion annually). UNHCR would distribute resources for integration programs, such as language courses and vocational training, as seen in the resettlement of 50,000 Sudanese refugees in Chad. Tajikistan would receive $10 million annually for refugee integration, including school construction in border areas. Transparency would be ensured through independent UN audits.
The fund would be established via a UN General Assembly resolution approved by 150 countries. Joint UNHCR-IOM management would ensure efficient resource allocation, preventing program overlap. This would strengthen humanitarian aid and stability in vulnerable regions like Tajikistan.
- UN Reform: Introducing qualified majority voting (70%) for humanitarian resolutions in the UN Security Council (UNSC) is necessary to overcome political barriers in addressing global crises. 20% of UNSC resolutions are blocked by vetoes from permanent members (USA, Russia, China, UK, France), hindering solutions to humanitarian issues like migration crises (123.2 million displaced), and climate challenges (1.59°C warming). For example, in 2020, Russia and China vetoed a resolution on humanitarian aid to Syria, leaving 4 million people without support.
Vetoes by permanent members reduce UNSC effectiveness, particularly on humanitarian issues unrelated to military security. A 70% qualified majority (11 of 15 UNSC members) would enable resolutions reflecting the interests of most states, including developing countries affected by the Amu Darya water crisis. The reform would enhance coordination with UNHCR and IOM, which aided 18 million refugees in 2024 but faced funding shortages due to blocked resolutions. An example of successful majority voting is the 2023 UN General Assembly resolution, approved by 80% of countries, which expedited aid to Yemen.
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The reform would amend UNSC voting procedures for humanitarian resolutions (e.g., on migration, climate, food security). Qualified majority voting (70%) would apply to non-military resolutions, preserving vetoes for security matters. The reform requires approval by two-thirds of the General Assembly (128 countries) and ratification by all five permanent members.
The reform would be launched through a global campaign under the General Assembly, involving regional organizations like the SCO, where Tajikistan plays an active role. Funding ($50 million annually) would support consultations and monitoring. This would enhance global cooperation and humanitarian effectiveness.
We call for international consensus through the UN General Assembly, inclusive consultations, and funding to ensure justice and sustainable development. These measures, grounded in cooperation, will strengthen global stability, supporting the efforts of all states, including Tajikistan, in addressing 21st-century challenges.
Sanginzoda Doniyor Shomahmad
Sanginzoda Doniyor Shomahmad is the Deputy Director for Science and Education at the Institute for the Study of Problems of Asian and European Countries, National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan. He is a Doctor of Legal Sciences and a Professor.
