Notes + working group effects week 8 Public International Law

CLASS 7 – PEACE AND SECURITY

Overview Literature:
Henriksen, Chapter 13
Cases:
- ICJ, Nicaragua Case (Merits).
- ICJ, Wall Advisory Opinion Other materials:
- UN Charter;
- Knowledge clips class 7;
- BBC news article: “Qasem Soleimani: US kills top Iranian general in Baghdad air
strike;”
- New York Times news article: “As Tensions With Iran Escalated, Trump Opted for
Most Extreme Measure;”
- BBC article: “Iran attack: US troops targeted with ballistic missiles;”
- US letter to the UN Security council of 8 January 2020
- Iran letter to the UN Security council of 8 January 2020

Learning objectives: At the end of this class, students:
- Are able to mention where the prohibition on the use of force can be found;
- Can mention and describe the two exceptions to the prohibition on the use of
force;
- Can name the criteria for the use of self-defence and apply these to a case;
- Can explain what is meant with ‘collective self-defence;’
- Can explain the role of the UN Security Council in maintaining peace and
security;
- Understand the difference between measures authorised under articles 40, 41
and 42 of the UN Charter
- Understand the controversies surrounding the use of force in certain
circumstances

, Notes
For exam: use the IRAC-method!

Peace and security  coexistence

Jus ad bellum v jus in bello
- Jus ad bellum (law on the use of force): law governing whether/when states
can use force
- Jus in bello (law of armed conflict or international humanitarian law): law
governing how force is used
This week is about jus ad bellum

The principle of non-intervention
- Force = the use of armed measures
- Force is not non-armed means of coercion (sanctions, diplomatic measures,
political interference)
 potential violation of principle of intervention: coercive interference in the
state’s international affairs

Prohibition on the use of force
- Rule: use of force is prohibited under international law
- Source:
 Article 2(4) UN Charter
 Customary international law (Nicaragua paras 188-190)
 UN Charter and customary international law are not identical on all points
 But ‘both the charter and the customary international law flow from a
common fundamental principle outlawing the use of force in international
relations’ (Nicaragua, para 181)

Prohibition on the use of force  art. 2(4) UN Charter
Exceptions:
1. Right to self-defence  art. 51 UN Charter + customary international law
Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of individual or
collective self-defence if an armed attack occurs against a Member of the
United Nations, until the Security Council has taken the measures necessary to
maintain international peace and security.
Measures taken by Member in the exercise of this right of self-defence shall be
immediately reported to the Security Council.
Right to individual self-defence and right to collective self-defence
Customary international law: force used in self-defence must be necessary
and proportionate (Nicaragua para 194)
Conditions to invoke individual self-defence: UNC + CIL (Nicaragua paras 191,
194, 195, 200)
- Self-defence must be a reaction to an armed attack
 Scale
 Timing
 Object
 Perpetrator
- Use of force must be necessary  necessary, no other option?
And proportionate  extent of the use of force, amount of force
- Use of force must be reported to the UNSC
Conditions to invoke collective self-defence: UNC + CIL (Nicaragua paras 195,
199)
- Victim state must declare itself under armed attack