International law

Lecture VI

International law Definition

Body of rules and principles that regulate conduct between states, international organizations, and individuals

Key characteristics

No central legislature, executive, or compulsory court

Based on

State sovereignty and voluntary compliance

Sources 

Treaties, principles, customs, and subsidiary means (Art 38 ICJ) 

No formal hierarchy

Criteria for Statehood (Montevideo convention)

• Defined territory

• Permanent population

• Effective government

• Capacity for international relations

103 UN Charter

IF UN charter obligation conflicts with treaty, charter wins

Gives binding security council decisions superiority over treaties 

Implementation 

Monism 

Dualism 

Monism:

International law directly applies in national system

Dualism

Requires transformation into national law via legislation

Non-Binding sources

Judicial decisions

Teachings of publicists

Treaties

Binding agreement, between states or IO

Pacta Sunt Servanda (Art 26 VCLT)

Cannot defeat object or purpose before ratification

Entry into force: ratification or accession

Customary Law 

Usus: Widespread/ Uniform practice 

Opinio Iuris: Belief in legal obligation 

Ex. Diploatic immunity, Law of the Sea (UNCLO) 

General Principles

Common to many legal systems

Good faith, reparation, abuse of power

Used when no treaty or custom applies

Universal Human Rights

UDHR (1948): Soft law, but foundational

ICCPR, ICESCR: Binding treaties

ad hoc

for this purpose only

pacta sunt servanda

agreements are to be kept

Art 1 UN Charter

Maintain peace, promote human rights, cooperation

Art 2(1) UN Charter

Sovereign equality

2(7) UN Charter

Domestic jurisdiction 

2(3) UN Charter

peaceful disputes resolution

2(4) UN Charter

prohibition use of force

51 UN Charter

right to self defense

7 UN Charter

Organs 

General Assembly

9 UN Charter

Forum for discussion

193 MS, equal representation (18 UN Charter)

Issues non binding declarations and recommendations

Security Council

24 UN Charter: Objectives

23 UN Charter: Composition

25 UN Charter: Binding decisions

27 UN Charter: Voting

33 UN Charter

Calls parties to settle disputes peacefully 

39 UN Charter

Determines threat/aggression and decides measures

41 UN Charter

Imposes non-military measures (sanctions)

42 UN Charter

Authorizes military measures if Art 41 is innsufficent

ICJ

92 UN Charter: Principle judicial organ

ICJ jurisdiction 

36 ICJ Statute: No mandatory jurisdiction 

Can act only if…..

a. both parties voluntary submit case 

b. jurisdiction is provided for in treaties/conventions 

94 UN Charter

States must comply with ICJ judgement!

96 UN Charter

Advisory Role

Can give advice at the request of: 

• Security Council 

• General assembly 

• Other UN bodies 

32 ECHR

Jurisdiction: Court has authority to interpret and apply the onvention in the cases brought to it

34 ECHR

Individual applications to ECtHR

33 ECHR 

Inter-state applications to ECtHR

35 ECHR 

Admissibility: sets the conditions for a case to be heard 

35(1) ECHR

Exhaustion of domestic remedies

Within four months of previous (last) decision

35(2) ECHR

Not anonymous

Not substantially the same as previously examined case

35(3) ECHR

Significant disadvantage- only serious, well founded cases!

ECtHR 

Enforces the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). 

Hears cases where individuals, groups, or states allege violations of rights protected by the Convention 

Time limit application to ECtHR

Art 4 Protocol 15

35(1) ECHR amended

previous six month rule reduced to four months