International law Flashcards
What is international law?
International law is the body of law that governs the relationship between nation-states.
What does international law provide?
International law provides mechanisms for the maintenance of peace and security and the reduction of conflict.
What does international law cover?
International law covers fundamental human rights making it illegal to do such things as torture or commit genocide
What does international law rely on?
International law relies on countries consenting to cooperate in the enforcement of these laws
What is a nation-state?
A nation-state in the legal sense is an independent entity that is recognised by other nation-states on an international basis.
What must a nation-state have?
A defined territory, a permanent population an effective government and the capacity to enter into international negotiations.
What is meant by the term state sovereignty?
State sovereignty means that the state has the authority to make laws for it population and the power to enforce laws.
What are sources of international law?
- Treaties-Bilateral and multi-lateral2. Declarations3. Customary international law4. Legal decisions 5. Legal writings
What is a treaty?
A treaty is a voluntary agreement between nations and may cover any sphere of international relations between the parties. Parties who have signed the agreement abide to be bound by the conditions and rules established in the agreement.
What are the two types of treaties?
Bilateral treaties and Multilateral treaties
What is a bilateral treaty?
these are between two nations
What is a multilateral treaty?
treaties between two or more countries
What does ratify mean?
When a nation signs a treaty and agrees to be bound by it is said to ‘ratify’ it ( in Australia, we must then pass enabling legislation to incorporate the provisions of the treaty into our legal system
What are declarations?
These state the parties’ position on particular issues but do not impose legally binding provisions that must be followed. An example of this is the Universal declarations of human rights, which was signed following the events of the Holocaust in WW1
What was the declaration of human right the foundation for?
The declaration is the foundation for two binding UN human rights covenants (treaties)-The international covenant on civil and political rights and the international covenant on economic, social and cultural rights.