This article takes out some of the magic out of the concept “jus cogens”, defined as peremptory norms of international law from which no derogation is permitted. Scholars have not come to terms what precisely is included under the umbrella of “jus cogens”. There is, however, wide consensus that slavery, torture and genocide are activities that cannot be justified under any circumstance. In other words, states are not permitted to derogate from the ban on such practices. The author of the article, Andrea Bianchi, is Professor of international law at the Graduate Institute of International and Developent Studies, Geneva and the Catholic University, Milan. The article appeared in the EJIL Vol. 19 No. 3 (2008)

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