International law is the set of rules, agreements, and treaties that are binding between countries.
When sovereign states enter into agreements that are binding and enforceable, it’s called international law.
Countries come together to make binding rules that they believe benefit their citizens.
International laws promote peace, justice, common interests, and trade.
International laws apply to governments.
It’s up to each state government to implement and follow international laws.
A country’s laws apply to citizens and other people who are present in the country.
However, it’s up to the country’s governing authority to apply international law and keep their agreements with the other countries that are involved.
What Does International Law Involve?
International law might address and regulate any of the following issues:
- Human rights
- Treatment of refugees
- Prosecution for international crimes
- Arms agreements and controls
- How states can claim new territories
- Regulating common spaces like water and outer space
- Trade between states
- Preventing war
- When it’s okay for a state to use force
- Fair treatment of prisoners
- Preserving the environment
International Law and State Sovereignty
One of the complex issues in international law is the issue of sovereignty.
That’s the idea that the state is supreme and that a state isn’t subject to the rules of any other country or body.
It’s the idea that one country can’t tell another country what to do.
State sovereignty is a relatively new concept in history that rose as more governments organized themselves into states in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Because of the notion of state sovereignty, international law may only be as effective as the extent of the country’s true, honest participation in making and following the international laws and treaties that they agree to.
To the extent that a state may halfheartedly participate in an international agreement only with the hope of making other countries happy, enforcing international law can be a challenge.
Some countries might claim to follow an agreement while skirting the rules, and others might not even try to hide their failure to follow the international agreements to which they’re a party.
International leaders, philosophers, and politicians continue to debate the authority and enforceability of international law in light of modern state sovereignty.
Sources of International Law
International law generally comes from three sources: treaties, customs, and general principles of law.
Treaties are express agreements that countries enter into voluntarily.
They’re written agreements.
The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties of 1969 calls for the interpretation of treaties based on the plain language of the words in the treaties.
The context of the words and the presumption of good faith and good intentions can also play a role in interpreting a treaty.
The United States signed the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties in 1970.
Customs are common practices between countries.
They’re common practices that are so expected and consistent that countries operate with the belief that the custom is legally required and binding.
Examples of customary law are the prohibitions of a state using or condoning genocide or slavery.
Generally, as long as a state doesn’t object to customary law, it applies to that state.
Finally, principles of law are general rules of law that develop over time.
Principles of law are an understanding of how the law should work based on past rulings.
In addition to looking at past rulings, international courts can also look to judicial opinions for help identifying and interpreting international law.
Just like other judicial bodies look to case law and scholarly treaties, international courts and others interpreting international law may look to these sources for authorities on interpreting international law.
International Tribunals
International tribunals exist to hear and adjudicate disputes and violations of international law.
There are several international tribunals with varying authority.
Notable international courts include the United Nations Security Council and the International Criminal Court.
Some international courts exist on a permanent basis.
In other cases, member states set up a tribunal for a limited period of time to resolve a certain issue or conflict.
A court might be set up to hear disputes surrounding a limited subject such as nuclear activity.
In other cases, a court might have general jurisdiction to hear any kind of international issue or human rights abuse.
United Nations Security Council
The purpose of the United Nations Security Council is to keep the peace between nations.
If they believe a nation has violated an international agreement or otherwise acted improperly, they have the power to authorize sanctions.
The Security Council is a part of the United Nations.
In its charter, the United Nations states that its purpose is to help each country find justice in international relations.
International Criminal Court
The International Criminal Court (ICC) sits in the Netherlands.
It’s a forum for the prosecution of war crimes, genocide, and crimes against humanity.
The ICC has been in existence since 2002.
It hears cases that are referred by countries that don’t want to prosecute a case domestically.
The United Nations Security Council can also refer cases.
Court procedures are a mixture of criminal and civil law.
A person who’s accused has many of the same rights that a person has when they’re accused of a crime in the United States.
They have a right to a trial and the right to the assistance of counsel.
A defendant is presumed innocent until they’re proven guilty.
Prosecutors must prove the guilt of the accused beyond a reasonable doubt.
The primary purpose of the ICC is to prosecute national leaders for serious violations of human rights.
More than 100 countries are party to the ICC. However, the United States, Israel, and Russia are not parties.
The ICC can impose prison time.
They don’t have the authority to give anyone the death penalty.
Who Practices International Law?
International lawyers are skilled writers, speakers, and negotiators.
They appear as representatives of their countries.
They work on behalf of elected officials in order to help them understand their country’s rights, duties, and options.
International lawyers work to help elected leaders put their ideas and plans in writing.
Private charities might also employ international lawyers.
These lawyers might work on a case-by-case basis on behalf of individuals who are detained or who are treated wrongfully in another country.
International lawyers who work for private agencies might also work to raise awareness of human rights abuses in order to put public pressure on a foreign government.
If you practice international law, you can expect to do a lot of traveling.
Schedules also tend to be unpredictable, as international disagreements don’t always happen according to a set schedule.
International lawyers should be fluent in multiple languages.
They should enjoy frequent travel.
It’s common for cases to take years to move through an international court.
International lawyers should enjoy working on cases that are lengthy and detailed.
The practice of international law is often the focus of a lawyer’s entire career.
Why Become an International Lawyer?
International lawyers have the opportunity to make an impact in the world.
International treaties and agreements have the potential to do tremendous good.
They can help improve and increase trade between nations.
They can help prevent wars.
International lawyers can create agreements that prevent and end slavery.
When wars occur, international rules for war can decrease suffering for civilians and prisoners of war.
For lawyers who want to do tremendous good on an international scale, international law may be a good fit.
International law is also a good fit for lawyers who want a challenge.
With public officials and courts interpreting laws based on their plain meaning and with state sovereignty a pervasive question in all international agreements, the work of an international lawyer must be precise.
Agreements must be carefully drafted.
If words have a different meaning in another language, an international lawyer needs to take this into account and draft an effective agreement.
International lawyers must also approach their interactions with the representatives of other nations carefully.
Their work is about international relations as well as peace and human rights.
For lawyers with the skills and ambition to take on all of these challenges, international law offers the opportunity for a rewarding career.
International law plays a crucial role in addressing global challenges such as climate change, armed conflicts, and refugee crises, making it a field that holds great potential for positive impact.
Success in international law often requires a deep understanding of legal principles, geopolitics, and international relations, making it a fascinating and challenging career choice.
One of the exciting aspects of international law is its capacity to influence global politics, promoting peace, cooperation, and justice among nations.
International lawyers work on a wide range of issues, from human rights and diplomatic negotiations to trade agreements and environmental treaties.