International law

• Basics 


  Set of rules and customs that governs relationship between states. It is also how countries interact with each other and intervenes in how a government interacts with its citizens and other people within the state
• Domestic law


  Laws specific to one nation or state
• International law


  Set of rules and customs that governs the relationship between countries
• Sources of international law

  agreements: treaties, ratify, conventions, protocols, covenants, acts
• Sources of international law

  Customary practices: countries may choose to engage in practices they feel ethically bound to follow in the case of written agreements (ex: Diplomatic Immunity)
• Sources of international law

  general principles of law: recognized by civilized nations. This can be vague, misinterpreted, or problematic and who determines what is civilized?
• Sources of international law

  judicial decisions and teachings: from international court of justice or domestic courts
• Problems with international law

  1)no single universal governing authority to create and enforce laws 2)relies on the consent of countries to agree with it

  3)no global police force to enforce control or the adherence to penalties
• Concepts 


  Sovereignty: states have exclusive power and jurisdiction over their territory and population and are free to enter/not enter into relationships with others
• Concepts


  Diplomatic immunity: specialized staff working on behalf of one nation in another. Intended to prevent the arbitrary harassment of diplomets
• Concepts


  Extradition: handing over of an accused person from one domestic state to another

  can be denied if: accused has already been convicted/served a penalty, accused has been acquitted, concerns about fairness o the trial the accused would face
• The United Nations


  International organization made up of independent states

  -countries are a apart of it

  -promote human rights, maintain international peace, reduce poverty and injustice
• Non-government organization


  NGOs

  -helps with mistakes and issues with human rights

  -exerts pressure from governments with campaigns

  -organizations set up by individuals and groups
• Intergovernmental organization


  GOs

  -set up by governments

  -aim to do similar things with NGOs
• International humanitarian law


  Humanitarian law conduct and obligations of nations engaged in warfare in terms of how states act towards another and how they act with civilians
• International humanitarian law


  Humanitarian law also is designed to save lives and lift suffering during armed conflict (ex: Geneva Conventions)
• Geneva Conventions


  Series of treaties that have been signed by most countries. This provides protection for individuals who are outside the fight and restricts methods of warfare
• Core crimes


  genocide: planned killing with the intent to destroy national, ethical, racial or religious groups

  actus rea: physical or biological destruction

  mens rea: specific intent to destroy the group in whole/part
• Core crimes


  crimes against humanity: violence that is committed as part of a full-scale or systematic attack on civilian population (murder, torture, rape, enslavement, forced disappearance, extermination)
• Core crimes


  war crimes: serious breaches and serious violations of law. Context of armed conflict, outlined in geneva conventions, inhumane treatment
• Core crimes


  crimes of aggression: planning, prep, initiation o execution by a person in position of control to direct an act of aggression which constitutes a violation of the Charter/UN
• Terrorism


  Pre 9/11: attention was drawn to terrorism due to 9/11. Made attacks of terrorism seem more prevalent in America + Canada (ex: Disaster Air India)
• Terrorism


  Post 9/11: Canada had no anti-terrorism laws. The Anti-Terrorism Act was enforced in December 4, 2001. It defined terrorism and created new categories of crime
• International Criminal Court


  ICC
• International Court of Justice

  ICJ