Lectures and Seminars Public International Law

Lectures and seminars Public International Law




INHOUDSOPGAVE
LECTURE 1 – INTERNATIONAL LAW AS A SYSTEM............................................................2

LECTURE 2 – GLOBAL PROTECTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS................................................8

SEMINAR 2 – HUMAN RIGHTS...........................................................................................14

LECTURE 3 – THE USE OF FORCE AND COLLECTIVE SECURITY.................................19

SEMINAR 3 – THE USE OF FORCE AND COLLECTIVE SECURITY..................................26

LECTURE 4 – INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW AND INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL
LAW...................................................................................................................................... 31

SEMINAR 4: INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW AND INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL
LAW...................................................................................................................................... 37

LECTURE 5 – PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE LAW OF THE SEA.......42

SEMINAR 5 - PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE LAW OF THE SEA........48

LECTURE 6 – THE GLOBAL ECONOMY.............................................................................53

SEMINAR 6 – THE GLOBAL ECONOMY.............................................................................58

,Lecture 1 – International law as a system
Prof. mr. N. Schrijver


Topics coming weeks:
1. International law as a system
2. Human rights
3. Usa a force and collective security
4. International humanitarian la wand international criminal law
5. Protection of the environment and law of the sea
6. The global economy

International law as a system
We don’t have a world government or a world court, but we are on our way. A global
government has grown quick. International law manifests itselfs in two ways:
- More international law is a normative framework for the management of
international relations/globel legal order. International law is a normative
framework consinsting of international rules for international relations. The
principle is a prohebition on the use of force, another principle is the principle
of respect for human rights. International law is first of all a normative
framework of principels and rules. Some of the you can find in the charter of
the UN or more specific treaties.
- Concrete framework for regulation. We have security counsil resolution either
against states or individuals. We have a binding security counsil, having a
direct effect for example into classes. International law is a very concrete way
to impose essentials.

We can find international law in different sources. Primary sources:
- Treaties
- International Custom (unwritten): were accepted as law before the treaties
came.
- General principles of law: you can find this in every developted legal system.
For example nulla poena beginsel.
Subsidiary sources:
- Judicial decisions and the teachings of the most highly qualified publicists:
decisions of international court of justice or tribunals. The teachings of the
most highly qualified publicists aren’t as important as before anymore. We
have so many treaties that the teachings are hardly to refer to.
This is made in art. 38(1) ICJ Statute.

Additional sources of international law are nowadays the decisions of international
organisations, soft law and unilateral acts and declarations. It can directly have effect
on people in the Netherlands when the have a direct legal effect on someone special.

, Sometimes we have important global converences, the can have huge effects. For
example the International Declaration of Human Rights was accepted in a global
converence. Sometimes when states conduct a specific behavior, that can also be at
the origin of the creation of international law. Don’t forget that treaties are the most
important source of international law.

Treaties
It has to be a treatie in a written form, between states or between states and a
international organisation. It is governed by international law. It doesn’t matter how
we call it, treatie, pact, convention is all the same. If you don’t approve a treatie and
don’t ratify it, you are not bound by it. The consent to be bound is still very important
(Lotus Case). Sometimes customary international law can bound you because it is
customary international law, even if you don’t ratify you will be bound.

There are two elements with customary international law: state practise and what is
your legal opinion about it (opinion iuris). Very often we see leading state practice,
elements:
- Virtually uniform (consistent)
- Extensive and representative (general)
- For a longer period (constant)
We also have the opinio iuris, we believe it is law. Elements:
- Declarations/objections by states
- Decisions …
ZIE SHEET

Subjects of International Law
We have a circle of international law participants, it is important to know who has
rights and who has duties. A person is not the same subject as a state. A state is the
most full set of rights and obligations, it is the original subject of international law.

State:
- A state has te have a population (permanent)
- Defined territory
- Government
- Capacity to enter into relations with other states.
Other subjects are international organisations for example, they don’t have the same
rights as states. They need to have a derived personality. Other subjects are:
- International organisations: ‘implied powers’ doctrine – ICJ reparation for
injuries advisory opinion (1949)
- Individuals
- Peoples
- Multinational corporations
- …
You have rights, but also duties.