Lecturer: Miljen Matijašević
G10, room 6/I, Tue 15:30-16:30
e-mail: miljen.matijasevic@gmail.com
Session 10, 23 Dec 2014
1.
Revision of the last session
2.
The United Nations
The Legal Character of
International Law
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
What are some of the areas that public international law
regulates?
What are the primary sources of PIL?
What is the difference between a treaty and a
convention?
What does it mean to: adopt, sign, ratify, and accede to
a treaty?
What do you know about the principles concerning the
conclusion of treaties from the Vienna Convention?
What do you know about the composition and
jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice?
Unit 26
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international organisation facilitating cooperation in international law, prevention of
war, promoting human rights, economic and
social development, social progress and
world peace
founded on 24 October 1945 with the
ratification of the Charter of the United
Nations, signed at the UN Conference in
Internation Organization in San Francisco
(June 1945)
The League of Nations
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founded immediately after WW1
headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland
main aim – to prevent another world war
in addition: promoted social and economic
progress, global health, suppression of drug
and human trafficking
The League of Nations
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had no military forces, used arbitration and
negotiation instead
at its peak had 58 member countries (the USA
never a member)
disintegrated as WW2 started
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193 member states (nearly all sovereign
nations of the world)
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headquarters: New York City, NY, USA
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offices also in Geneva, Vienna, Nairobi
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to keep peace throughout the world
to develop friendly relations between nations
to work together to help people live better
lives, to eliminate poverty, disease and
illiteracy in the world, to stop environmental
destruction and to encourage respect for
each other's rights and freedoms
to be a centre for helping nations achieve
these aims
2000 United Nations Publications
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all Member States have sovereign equality
all Member States must obey the Charter
countries must try to settle their differences
by peaceful means
countries must avoid using force or
threatening to use force
the UN may not interfere in the domestic
affairs of any country
countries should try to assist the United
Nations
2000 United Nations Publications
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six official languages:
◦ English
◦ French
◦ Arabic
◦ Chinese
◦ Russian
◦ Spanish
consists of six principal organs:
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General Assembly
Security Council
Economic and Social Council
Secretariat
International Court of Justice (in The Hague)
Trusteeship Council (inactive)
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also: specialised institutions
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specialised agencies:
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World Health Organisation (WHO)
Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)
World Bank
United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
International Monetary Fund (IMF)
UN’s Children Fund (UNICEF)
etc.
General Assembly
General Assembly
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main deliberative, policymaking and
representative body of the UN
a forum of multilateral discussion under the
Charter
meets in yearly sessions (Sep-Dec)
one state – one vote
resolutions of the UN not binding on the
members, except budgetary matters
Security Council
Security Council
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body in charge of maintaining world peace
and security
five permanent members: China, France,
Russia, the UK and the USA (veto power)
ten non-permanent members (voted for twoyear terms)
power to issue binding decisions that
Member States have agreed to abide by in the
Charter
Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
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promotes intrenational economic and social
co-operation and development
has 54 members voted by the General
Council for a three-year term
meets once a year
co-ordinates special bodies
meets with representatives of IMF and WB
Secretariat
 carries out day-to-day work of the
organisation
 provides services for UN bodies
◦ carries out studies, gathers information
◦ implements programmes and policies (e.g.
peacekeeping operations)
◦ helps resolve international disputes
◦ organises conferences
◦ translates documents
◦ acts as a PR for the UN
Secretariat
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headed by Secretary-General
currently: Ban Ki-moon (took over from Kofi
Annan in 2007)
chief officer of the UN
can draw the attention of the Security Council
to “any matter which in his opinion may
threaten the maintenance of international
peace and security”, under the UN Charter
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not a homogenous body
usually slow decision-making process,
particularly in the area of peacekeeping and
international relations
long time to achieve consensus
both global and national interests considered
treaties often abided by owing to pressure
from the media and the public
Thank you for your attention!