INTERNATIONAL LAW 1 - SOURCES OF
INTERNATIONAL LAW Precise exam
answers with expert verification
According to Article 38(1) of the Statute of the International Court of Justice, what are
the sources of IL? - ANSWER-1. International Conventions (Treaties)
2. Custom
3. The "general principles of international law"
4. Judicial decisions and the teachings of the most highly qualified publicists of the
various nations
H/w, Court can substitute itself as a law-creating agency if the parties agree to it through
a treaty (art. 38(2)).
How does Fitzmaurice criticise the concept of treaties as a source of IL? - ANSWER-
Not laws but obligations. They may be instruments in which the law is stated and
evidence of what it is, but they are not themselves the law. Formally, they are not a
source of law but only evidence of it. Even where treaties lead to the emergence of a
general rule this is true, because the parties to it are merely compelled to apply it by
antecedent general law which gives them an obligation to apply treaties, and later if the
rule passes into law it is clearly custom or practice.
What are the two elements required for the creation of Customary International Law?
Which case confirms this? - ANSWER-Confirmed in the Legality of the Threat or Use of
Nuclear Weapons case.
(1) Is there a 'general practice' of states (the 'objective' element)?
(2) If so, is it 'accepted as law' (referred to as opinio juris—the 'subjective' element).
How did the North Sea Continental Shelf case elaborate on this? - ANSWER-Question:
Was there a rule of customary international law applicable to the delimitation of the
North Sea Continental Shelf as between the states concerned?
, Judgement: Agreed to draw/did draw the boundaries concerned according to the
principle of equidistance - there is no evidence they acted because they felt legally
compelled to draw them in this way by reason of a rule of customary law. Thus the
Geneva Convention was not declaratory of a mandatory rule of customary law requiring
the use of the equidistance principle.
1. Acts concerned amount to a settled practice.
2. Acts must be carried out in way that they are evidence of a belief that this practice is
rendered obligatory by the existence of a rule of law requiring it. Must feel that they are
conforming to a legal obligation
What does the LEGAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE SEPARATION OF THE CHAGOS
ARCHIPELAGO case say on the evolution of CIL? - ANSWER-Facts: Looking at when
the right to self-determination crystallized as a customary rule binding on all states. In
doing so, Court determined the nature, content and scope of the right to self-
determination from 1946 onwards, both in UN practice and by the administering Power
itself. Concluded that states have consistently emphasized that respect for the territorial
integrity of a non-self-governing territory is a key element of the exercise of the right to
self-determination under international law.
Significance:
The Court notes that state practice and opinion juris are consolidated and confirmed
gradually over time. Thus this will not prevent the court from considering the evolution of
the law particularly when customary rules are at issue.
Consider requirement (1) - What is state practice?
Step 1: How do we identify state practice? - ANSWER-Acts by any Organ of the state
that evidences its views about CIL:
o E.g. internal government acts, national legislation, decisions of courts etc.
o Are claims and statements included? = CONTENTIOUS:
INTERNATIONAL LAW Precise exam
answers with expert verification
According to Article 38(1) of the Statute of the International Court of Justice, what are
the sources of IL? - ANSWER-1. International Conventions (Treaties)
2. Custom
3. The "general principles of international law"
4. Judicial decisions and the teachings of the most highly qualified publicists of the
various nations
H/w, Court can substitute itself as a law-creating agency if the parties agree to it through
a treaty (art. 38(2)).
How does Fitzmaurice criticise the concept of treaties as a source of IL? - ANSWER-
Not laws but obligations. They may be instruments in which the law is stated and
evidence of what it is, but they are not themselves the law. Formally, they are not a
source of law but only evidence of it. Even where treaties lead to the emergence of a
general rule this is true, because the parties to it are merely compelled to apply it by
antecedent general law which gives them an obligation to apply treaties, and later if the
rule passes into law it is clearly custom or practice.
What are the two elements required for the creation of Customary International Law?
Which case confirms this? - ANSWER-Confirmed in the Legality of the Threat or Use of
Nuclear Weapons case.
(1) Is there a 'general practice' of states (the 'objective' element)?
(2) If so, is it 'accepted as law' (referred to as opinio juris—the 'subjective' element).
How did the North Sea Continental Shelf case elaborate on this? - ANSWER-Question:
Was there a rule of customary international law applicable to the delimitation of the
North Sea Continental Shelf as between the states concerned?
, Judgement: Agreed to draw/did draw the boundaries concerned according to the
principle of equidistance - there is no evidence they acted because they felt legally
compelled to draw them in this way by reason of a rule of customary law. Thus the
Geneva Convention was not declaratory of a mandatory rule of customary law requiring
the use of the equidistance principle.
1. Acts concerned amount to a settled practice.
2. Acts must be carried out in way that they are evidence of a belief that this practice is
rendered obligatory by the existence of a rule of law requiring it. Must feel that they are
conforming to a legal obligation
What does the LEGAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE SEPARATION OF THE CHAGOS
ARCHIPELAGO case say on the evolution of CIL? - ANSWER-Facts: Looking at when
the right to self-determination crystallized as a customary rule binding on all states. In
doing so, Court determined the nature, content and scope of the right to self-
determination from 1946 onwards, both in UN practice and by the administering Power
itself. Concluded that states have consistently emphasized that respect for the territorial
integrity of a non-self-governing territory is a key element of the exercise of the right to
self-determination under international law.
Significance:
The Court notes that state practice and opinion juris are consolidated and confirmed
gradually over time. Thus this will not prevent the court from considering the evolution of
the law particularly when customary rules are at issue.
Consider requirement (1) - What is state practice?
Step 1: How do we identify state practice? - ANSWER-Acts by any Organ of the state
that evidences its views about CIL:
o E.g. internal government acts, national legislation, decisions of courts etc.
o Are claims and statements included? = CONTENTIOUS:
