polls exam 1.2

international law

an agreement created by the consent of two or more nations to act in a certain way

international act

can declare a custom or convention that can become international law if other countries agree to those standards

sovereignty

idea that a state has absolute control over its law making, including its indepedance and freedom from external interferance in its own affairs

intervention

upon certain circumstances, the international community or other states can undermine the sovereignty of a state if they are acting in self defence or upholding human rights of people living in another country

venezuela

in early 2026, trump launched a military attack against venezuela, capturing the president and his wife to face US charges while taking control of oil control over the nation

venezuela pro

some frame this as a necessary humanitarian step following years of failed democracy, ending of human right violations, releasing political prisoners and neutralising regional security threats

venezuela con

violation of sovereignty where foreign control of venezuela's government and oil undermine self-determination suggesting that this intervention was for US economic and strategic interest than for humanitarian motives

icc purpose

investigate, persecute and hold individuals accountable for humanity's worst crimes and to help prevent them from happening again

icc pro

Thomas Lubanga

Lubanga

delivered ICC's first persecution and he was able to have a fair trial and be convicted of his crimes of conscripting child soldiers

icc con

Putin

Putin

until he steps foot into a country under ICC, they won't be able to arrest them because the ICC depends on these states and they don't go unpunished if they don't arres the people, because in Putin's case, people don't want to become enemies with Russia and are scared of his powers

process of ratification

signature, international ratification, domestic ratification

signature

when Australia expresses its intention to be bound by the treaty at a later date where it becomes signatory to the treaty

international ratification

confirming the expectation that the laws will be implemented and the country can be held accountable

domestic ratification

changes to domestic laws to reflect the international treaty signed with the Houses of Parliament

process of ratification summary

Australia takes key ideas and intentions to form an international treaty where they create laws in Australia based on the treaty or they take part of the treaty and ammend current laws

geneva convention (1949)

sets mandatory legal standards for humane treatment during armed conflicts

geneva convention example

prohibits targeting citizens and medics must be protected

UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (1994)

establishes binding rules for maritime zones and environmental pollution

UN Convention on the Law of the Sea example

defines territorial seas and mandate that state control pollution

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948)

sets out the fundamental human rights to be universally protected

Universal Declaration of Human Rights example

prohibits slavery, establishes that all human beings are born free

treaty bodies

committees of independent experts in international law that monitors if treaties are being upheld or not in the state

enforcement of treaties

countries are held accountable to the treaties they have signed up to by specialised treaty bodies that regularly review reports from countries on their progress

enforcement of treaties example

UN has a series of treaty bodies that are responsible for reporting on Human Rights in signatory countries

middle power

in between great and small powers; possess significant influence but lack overarching military and geopolitical dominance

middle power features

strong and sustainable economies with large growth and growing populations

australia middle power

provides foreign aid and regional influence to other countries

australia middle power example

MH17 case where aus played a key role in investigations through collective action