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Summary - International law
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Chapter One: United Nations1.1.Introduction United Nations
United Nations Organization, UNO
The UN was established 24th of October 1945. It consists out of 193 member states.
The UN consists out of sovereign states. A state has its territory and own rules. Sovereignty
means you can do and undo whatever you like, you are independent. This sovereignty needs
to be recognised by the others.
If you get recognised, you can make a decision to join or leave the UN. There are no legal
limits when you are sovereign. In real life there are boundaries. If there is conflict between
members, the UN will step in.
Headquarters is in Manhattan, this is not territory of the USA. The headquarter is territory of
the UN itself. Another office is located in Switzerland (Geneva), Kenia (Nairobi) and Austria
(Vienna). They chose these countries because they were neutral at that time.
UN organs:
1. General Assembly
This is the main deliberative assembly composed out of all member states. They meet in
annual regular sessions. Only makes decisions concerning budget and elections.
The General Assembly makes resolutions, non-compulsory recommendations, not ‘rules’.
This is because it consists out of sovereign states. They cannot make rules that bind
everyone, because that would take away their sovereignty.
The General Assembly makes decisions concerning budget and the election of non-
permanent members of the UN. When they vote, they need a majority of 2/3.
The Charter of the UN is the founding document.
We are looking at the relationship between states, the international part ( international
public law). The relationship is public because it about the state. It is international because it
is between states. The individual does not play a role here. You cannot look at the UN the
same way as you look at your government.
That I why you cannot expect much of the UN, they are just organizing sovereign states and
give non-compulsory recommendations.
2. UN Security Council
One exception where the UN can make a binding resolution: the UN security council. They
have the power to make compulsory resolutions. If they don’t follow these resolutions, the
sovereign state will be breaking international law. They are responsible for maintaining peace
and security. These are the only situations in which they are allowed to act.
There is no international army, but the UN can allow blue helmets to interfere with certain
situations.
They pass compulsory resolutions by majority. They have 15 members, if there is a majority
and there is no veto past, you will have a compulsory resolution. Five members (China,
France, UK, USA, Russia) are permanent, the rest is chosen by General Assembly.
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, 3. UN Economic and Social Council
They promote the co-operation between states in economic and social matters. They prepare
conventions and help states find alliances. They coordinate special agencies like UNESCO,
WHO, ILO… There are 54 elected members with a 3-year mandate.
4. International Labour Organization (ILO)
This is a subagency of the UN Economic and Social Council. They deal with labour issues, in
particular international labour standards. It has 185 member states. They prepare
conventions concerning labour issues.
5. UN Secretariat
This is the administrative organ of the UN. The chairperson is UN Secretary General: António
Guterres. He was elected by the General Assembly on recommendation of the Security
Council.
6. International Court of Justice (ICJ)
This court has a very limited power because it only settles disputes between states that
recognise its jurisdiction. The judgement is by relative majority. There are 15 judges, elected
by the General Assembly and enforced by the Security Council.
It is located in The Hague and is called the Peace
Palace.
International Criminal Court (ICC)
ICJ is not to be confused with ICC. The ICC is
no UN organ. It was created 1st of July 2002. It is
also located in The Hague.
The ICC is for war criminals. Not ratified means
that the president (or leader) signed, but did not
present it to the parliament. The parliament is the
organ has makes decisions.
1.2.Protection of Human Right
Subject of Public International Law
The subject of Public International laws, including Human Rights, are sovereign states.
Public law is public because it concerns states (not private, which concerns individuals). It is
international because it concerns the relations between these states.
There are however 3 exceptions that are considered a subject of public international law.
These are the International Committee of the Red Cross, The Holy See and The Sovereign
Military Order of Malta.
NOT individuals
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