Studied by 8 people
law bruh
Foreign policy
Actions incited by one nation in determining their diplomatic dealings with other countries
Countries showing off who they are with their actions (ex. resume)
United Nations
largest intergovernmental organization in the world
purposes are to…
maintain international peace and security
develop friendly relations among nations
achieve international cooperation while promoting human rights & freedoms
serve as a centre for harmonising the actions of nations
Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948
international document by the United Nations General Assembly
outlines the rights and freedoms of all human beings
doesn’t force anyone to follow
State
A country or nation considered an organized political community under one government…
elected gov
set boundaries
population
power with other states
Jurisdiction
The power or authority to do something, such as make laws
Non-governmental organization (NGO)
Organizations set up by individuals or groups that advocate for social justice and act as an intermediary between state- dominated international legal systems and individuals.
NGOs work to influence government policies at national and international levels
Intergovernmental Organizations (IGO)
states working together to serve a particular purpose
Established by treaty/agreement or region
to achieve economic prosperity, promote legal interests, improve development
(UN or World trade organization)
Bilateral agreement/treaty
A treaty agreement made between two countries
Multilateral treaty
A treaty agreement made between three or more countries
International law
A set of rules and customs that govern the relationships between countries, known as states and how they interact w each other
Domestic law
The internal or national laws and legal system of a country, including laws made at the state, provincial, regional or local level. Domestic law is also referred to as “national law.”
Laws only apply within that country’s boundaries
Genocide
The mass killing of human beings, especially a targeted group, such as people of a particular ethnicity, race, religion or nationality
“is characterized by the specific intent to destroy in whole or in part a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group by killing its members by other means.”
Ex indigenous in canada, holocaust
Crimes of Aggression
It is the use of armed force by a state against the sovereignty, integrity, or independence of another state”
Ex russia vs ukraine (attacking ukraine bc dont want them to make political decision to join NATO)
Crimes against humanity
A legal term defined in the Rome Statute76 as widespread or systematic offences that constitute a serious attack on human dignity or grave humiliation or degradation of one or more human beings
“which are serious violations committed as a part of a large-scale attack against any civilian population”
rape, murder, torture
War Crimes
“which are grave breaches of the Geneva conventions in the context of armed conflict and include, for instance, the use of child soldiers; the killing or torture of persons such as civilians or prisoners of war; intentionally directing attacks against hospitals, historic monuments, or buildings dedicated to religion, education, art, science or charitable purposes.”
Ex: Isis in syria (except child soldiers)
League of Nations
Goals:
Improve international organization, to preserve and prevent another war from occurring
Created an outline for international diplomacy
States maintain international diplomatic representation and followed a scale for escalating responses for conflict
Failed:
**Mainly bc WWII occurred
America was the strongest power after and didn’t support
lacked political will to enforce sanctions
no unamity to enforce serious decisions
no collective military force
Organ of UN 1:
General Assembly
2/3ds required for important decisions
GA hall in New York
Compromises of all ember states
Debate issues of global concern
Can not make legally binding decisions
Organ of UN 2:
Trusteeship Council
Supervision for 11 trust territories
discuss matters related to the territories that have not yet reached a final status
established to oversee the administration of trust territories placed under the UN's care after WWII (which are now independant)
Organ of UN 3:
Social and Economic Council
54 member states elected by the General Assembly
three-year terms
promoting economic and social, environmental issues (sustainability)
Sustainable innovative development
Organ of UN 4:
Secretariat
Secretary general (appointed by general assembly) + thousands of int UN staff (working worldwide missions & duties)
Organ of UN 5:
Security Council
Power to declare/approve war
5 permanent members 10 temporary members
settle disputes peacefully
recommend settlement terms
cases can resort to sanctions or force to restore int peace
presidency changes monthly
Organ of UN 6:
International Court of Justice
aka world court
main judicial organ of the UN
Peace Palace in Hague, Netherlands
IS Part of UN
2 main jobs:
settle legal disputes submitted to it by states that have agreed to jurisdiction
provide advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by international agencies (just advice)
International Criminal Court
Investigates and, where warranted, tries individuals charges with the gravest crimes of concern to the international community: genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and the crime of aggression
Not part of UN
Countries independently join ICC (so must be crimes committed by state that accepted ICC as a body)
Doesn’t replace national court - only when they’re not willing or doing fairly
Punish: genocide, crime against humanity, war crimes, aggression
*US, Russia, China not agree to courts jurisdiction
Sanctions
a penalty for violation of the law or offering a reward for its observance
A punitive act taken by one nation against another nation that has violated a treaty
Can be towards an entire country or individuals/groups
Attempt to change an actor’s behaviour OR to put a stop to their actions
Mediation
Method of settling disputes outside court
provide confidential, faster, cheaper option than going to court
Involves both sides meeting with each other accompanied by an independent judge, who helps resolve an issue peacefully
(Greece and Turkey ie. Cyprus, Aegean Sea)
Motions of censure
formal and public condemnation of an individual's transgressions
War and Armed Conflict
Use of violence to achieve legal or political ends.
(India/ Pakistan war over Kashmir)
Embargos
A trade restriction, typically adopted by a government, a group of countries or an international organisation as an economic sanction
by a government/group of countries/international organisation
Ex. UN punishing South Africa for its policies of apartheid (racial segregation), the UN GA did an oil-embargo against South Africa on November 20, 1987 (had the support of 130 countries)
Darfur
genocide against Darfur’s men, women, children who were raped, murdered, and tortured
2.2 million out of 6 million residence were affected bc of violence
Targeted the non-Arab mostly black population of Darfur
Heavy rain and insecurity has interfered with humanitarian assistance
UN World Food Program provided food to nearly 940,000 people in Darfur
US imposed sanctions
Sudan
Gov funded rebel groups to commit genocide on Darfur black civilians
Kony 2012
Film of the attempt to make Ugandan cult leader, war criminal, and ICC fugitive Joseph Kony globally known to have him arrested by the end of 2012
Arbitration
Agreeance by both parties to leave decisions in the hands of independent body (ICJ)
Romeo Dallaire
appointed Force Commander of the United Nations Assistance Mission in Rwanda prior to and during the 1994 genocide
advocate for human rights: war-affected children, women, Canadian First Nations, and military veterans
Rwanda
The UN was slow to react and was a huge lack of organisational will to fully intervene
From April through June 1994, the U.N. estimates that 800,000 Rwandans were brutally slaughtered by fellow citizens in a state-led genocide targeting the Tutsi ethnic group.
About 75% of the Tutsi population was killed
Tutsi/ Hutus
Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda
Hutu ethnic majority in the east-central African nation of Rwanda
they murdered as many as 800,000 Tutsi minority (75%)
By the time the UN force arrived in full the genocide had been over for months
Geneva Convention
regulates the conduct of armed conflict and seeks to limit its effects
series of treaties on the treatment of civilians, prisoners of war and soldiers that don’t fight anymore
Rome Statute
First international criminal law instrument that recognises forms of sexual violence, such as rape, sexual slavery, enforced prostitution, and enforced sterilization, as distinct war crimes
the duty of every State to exercise its criminal jurisdiction over those responsible for international crimes.
4 UN main purposes
to maintain international peace and security
to develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples
to cooperate in solving international economic, social, cultural and humanitarian problems and in promoting respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms
to be a centre for harmonising the actions of nations in attaining these common ends
Note
Flashcard