International Law
Charter of the United Nations
Introduction The Charter of the United Nations is the founding treaty of the United Nations, signed in San Francisco on 26 June 1945 and entering into force on 24 October 1945. It is the principal …
Diplomatic Immunity
Introduction Diplomatic immunity is a principle of international law that grants diplomats and their premises immunity from the jurisdiction of the receiving state. Codified in the Vienna Convention …
Extradition Law and Practice
Introduction Extradition is the formal process by which one state surrenders a person located within its territory to another state for criminal prosecution or the enforcement of a criminal sentence. …
Geneva Conventions
Introduction The Geneva Conventions are the core instruments of international humanitarian law (IHL), governing the conduct of armed conflict. The four conventions of 12 August 1949—now ratified by …
Humanitarian Intervention and the Responsibility to Protect
Introduction The doctrine of humanitarian intervention—the use of force by one or more states to protect foreign nationals from mass atrocities—has been one of the most contested issues in …
International Court of Justice
Introduction The International Court of Justice (ICJ), seated at the Peace Palace in The Hague, is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. Established by the UN Charter and the ICJ …
International Criminal Court
Introduction The International Criminal Court (ICC), established by the Rome Statute of 17 July 1998 (entering into force 1 July 2002), is the first permanent international tribunal with jurisdiction …
International Criminal Justice
Introduction International criminal justice seeks to hold individuals accountable for the most serious crimes under international law: genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and aggression. …
International Environmental Law
Introduction International environmental law governs the protection of the global environment, addressing transboundary pollution, climate change, biodiversity loss, ozone depletion, hazardous waste, …
International Law of the Sea
Introduction The international law of the sea governs the rights and duties of states in maritime spaces, the delimitation of maritime boundaries, the exploitation of marine resources, and the …
State Sovereignty in International Law
Introduction State sovereignty is the foundational principle of international law. It denotes the legal personality and supreme authority of the state within its territory and its independence in …
The Use of Force in International Law
Introduction The regulation of the use of force in international law is one of the most fundamental and contested areas of the international legal order. The UN Charter, adopted in 1945, established a …
Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties
Introduction The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (VCLT), concluded on 23 May 1969 and entering into force on 27 January 1980, is the “treaty on treaties”—the primary instrument …
World Trade Organization
Introduction The World Trade Organization (WTO), established on 1 January 1995 as the successor to the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), is the international organization regulating trade …