Law of International Organizations Flashcards

Flashcards on Law of International Organizations, covering definitions, classifications, memberships, decisions, financing, legal personality, and key international bodies.

International Organization (IO)

An organization established by a treaty or other instruments governed by international law and possessing its own international legal personality. May include as members, in addition to States, other entities.

Universal International Organizations

Organizations where every state might be the member.

Regional International Organizations

Organizations where only states of a specific geographic region may become members.

Open International Organizations

Organizations open to all states without any conditions for membership.

Conditional Membership Organizations

Organizations that require some preconditions which must be fulfilled before a state can join.

Intergovernmental Organizations

Organizations where members are states represented by their governments.

Mixed Organizations

Organizations made up of mixed members, including states and other international organizations.

Non-governmental Organizations

Organizations created by individuals or private persons.

General Aims Organizations

Organizations with general aims to maintain international cooperation at any level.

Special Aims Organizations

Organizations with special aims such as labor, defense, economy, human rights, or political cooperation.

Binding Decision Organizations

Organizations that have the power to take decisions binding the member states (legal acts).

Non-Binding Decision Organizations

Organizations where the power to take decisions is not binding (political).

Supranational Organizations

Organizations whose organs have special competencies to act in the name of member states.

Harmonizing Organizations

Organizations that harmonize cooperation between member states and often only recommend actions without the power to enforce them.

Associate Membership

States which for some reason cannot be full members, usually with limited activity but still receiving support and bound by part of the legal order.

Observer Status

States or other entities recognized by an IO that may participate in the work of the IO but without voting rights.

Principle of Attributed Powers

The principle that IOs may only exercise the powers that have been given to them, either when they were created or subsequently.

Unanimity Voting

A voting procedure where all members must agree to a decision.

Consensus Voting

A voting procedure where there is no formal vote, but members discuss the problem until they reach a common position.

Majority Voting

A voting procedure where a decision is made based on a proportion of the votes.

Internal Rules of IO

Internal guidelines and policies that govern how an IO functions, including decision-making, elections, and financial regulations.

External Rules of IO

Rules that regulate an IO’s interactions with member states, other IOs, and non-state actors, often derived from international agreements and customary law.

Assessed Contributions

Mandatory contributions from member states that form a main source of funding for IOs.

Voluntary Donations

Donations to IOs that are not mandatory and can come from various sources.

Budget of International Organizations

A formal document outlining expected revenues and expenditures for a set period, detailing how an IO will fund its operations.

Legal Personality of IO in International Law

The condition where an IO has rights and obligations under international law, including the power to conclude treaties, establish diplomatic relations, and bring claims.

Capacity to Create International Norms by IO

The power of some IOs to create binding norms or issue non-binding recommendations, dependent on treaty powers, implied powers, and state consent.

Status of Headquarters of International Organizations

Agreements between IOs and host states defining the status of the headquarters, including inviolability of premises and immunity from local jurisdiction.

Staff of International Organizations

Individuals working for international organizations who must act independently, uphold neutrality, and maintain competence.

International Responsibility of IO

The situation where an IO can be held accountable for violating international law, similar to a state.

Shared Responsibility of the IO

When both an IO and its member states share responsibility for a wrongful act.

Legal Status of IO in National Law

The recognition granted to IOs by member states, allowing them to possess property and enter contracts under national law.

Personality of IO vis-à-vis Non-member State

The respect given to an IO’s status by non-member states, often based on customary international law or agreements.

Legal Immunity of IO

Protection from internal legal procedures granted to IOs, limited to their function, allowing them to operate independently.

Partner of External Relations of IO

Include Member States, Host States, Non-Member States, Other International Organizations and Non-State Actors.

Instruments of External Relations of IO

Legal tools IOs use to manage and formalize their external partnerships including treaties, agreements and legal frameworks.

Diplomatic Relations Provided by IO

IOs right to send representatives or missions abroad and receive representatives from States, Other IOs and Non-state entities.

Goals of the United Nations (UN)

Maintain international peace and security, Develop friendly relations among nations, Achieve international cooperation and Promote and encourage respect for human rights.

Principles of the UN

Sovereign equality, Peaceful dispute settlement, Non-intervention, Ban on use of force, Cooperation with the UN and Collective security.

United Nations Structure

General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council, International Court of Justice, Secretariat and Trusteeship Council.

Goals of the World Bank Group (WBG)

Reduce poverty, Support economic development, Fund infrastructure Encourage private investment.

Structure of the World Bank Group (WBG)

IBRD (International Bank for Reconstruction and Development), IDA (International Development Association), IFC (International Finance Corporation), MIGA (Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency) and ICSID (International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes).

Goals of the International Labour Organization (ILO)

Promote social justice in the workplace, Protect workers’ rights, Encourage decent employment conditions worldwide.

Principles of the International Labour Organization (ILO)

Freedom of association (join unions), Elimination of forced labor, Elimination of child labor and No workplace discrimination.

Specialized Agencies of the UN

WHO (World Health Organization) , FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization), UNESCO, ICAO, IMO, WMO, WIPO, IFAD and ILO.

Goals of the World Trade Organization (WTO)

Remove trade barriers, Help countries settle trade disputes, Enforce trade rules fairly and Promote stable and predictable global trade.

Core Principles of the World Trade Organization (WTO)

Non-discrimination, Fair competitions, Transparency and Trade liberalization.

Goals of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)

Guarantee the security of its members through collective defense, Deter threats from non-member countries and Cooperate on military planning and crisis response.

NATO – Article 5 (Collective Defense)

An attack on one member is considered an attack on all.