1. Announcements2. Current Events3. Introduction to International Law4. Mock Trial Peer Evaluation5. Continue A Few Good Men

Wednesday, May 15th

Bangladesh Disaster: 1100 deceased

Canada to skip disarmament talks

International Law

Wednesday, May 15th

International vs Domestic Law Key difference is the International Law is

voluntary – only those countries that agree to be bound by international treaties and conventions are subject to them

Why?

Challenges of International Law Differing cultures, morals, beliefs Differing domestic laws that may be

incompatible with one another• Recall the UDHR (Universal Declaration of

Human Rights) Countries unwilling to give up sovereignty

• See recent example of American refusal to ratify the U.N. Convention on the Rights of Persons With Disabilities (which was based on the Americans With Disabilities Act, and would have required no changes to American law)

• Also refused to ratify the Convention on the Rights of the Child (just them and Somalia!)

What’s lacking

No one universal legislative body to make laws

No single court to determine penalties No global police force to enforce laws

and penalties

Administering International Law The United Nations The International Criminal Court The International Court of Justice Various international tribunals INTERPOL

Formal Agreements

Bilateral or multilateral treaties, protocols, covenants, and acts

Ex: NAFTA, the Geneva Convention, Kyoto Protocol, the Ottawa Convention, etc.

Each country ratifies the treaty according to their own legal requirements

Ratification may require a change in domestic law

Enforcing Agreements

The UN can issue sanctions to influence countries

The International Court at the Hague has no real enforcement powers

Its rulings don’t even really create precedents

They are said to have a “persuasive value”

Case in Point US violation of Geneva Convention in

Guantanamo Bay China’s violations of the International

Covenant on Civil and Political Rights US refusal to abide by rulings of NAFTA

and WTO tribunals in the Softwood Lumber dispute

Canada’s refusal to abide by the terms of the Kyoto Protocol

Readings

Principles of International Law Read pages 466 – 474 and answer Q#1 –

4 on page 474