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This forum brings together reflections from international human rights law, international law, and international political sociology to examine the symbolic—and often “paradoxical”—power and limitations of international law. To what extent can it compel different voices—state officials, judges, or activists—to speak or act in particular ways? What is its capacity to resolve disputes, enact justice, equality, and peace, serve as a safety net for victims, and establish conditions for peaceful international relations, as its proponents claim? Finally, can the symbolic force of international law be described as “compelling,” “constraining,” or “coercive”? As the debate between William Schabas and Alain Pellet appended to this forum suggests, semantic issues—particularly those arising from translation—are closely tied to symbolic power relations.