Human Rights Fundamentals

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948): a foundational document enshrining fundamental rights and freedoms
International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) and International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966): two core treaties that elaborate on human rights
Human rights are categorized into:
- Civil and political rights (e.g., life, liberty, freedom of speech)
- Economic, social and cultural rights (e.g., education, healthcare, labor rights)
Key human rights principles:
- Non-discrimination
- Equality
- Universality
- Indivisibility
Human rights mechanisms:
- United Nations Human Rights Council
- Special Procedures (e.g., Special Rapporteurs)
- Treaty bodies (e.g., Human Rights Committee)

International Court of Justice (ICJ):
- Primary judicial organ of the United Nations
- Adjudicates disputes between states
- Provides advisory opinions on international law
International Criminal Court (ICC):
- Prosecutes individuals for international crimes (e.g., genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity)
- Has jurisdiction over crimes committed after 2002
Other international courts:
- International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea
- International Criminal Tribunals (e.g., ICTY, ICTR)

Definition: the international legal obligation of a state to make reparation for a breach of an international obligation
Key principles:
- The responsibility of a state is engaged when an internationally wrongful act is committed
- The state must make full reparation for the injury caused
- The responsibility of a state is not limited to its own acts, but also extends to acts of its organs and agents
The International Law Commission's Articles on State Responsibility (2001) provide a comprehensive framework for state responsibility

Definition: a written agreement between states governed by international law
Types of treaties:
- Bilateral treaties (between two states)
- Multilateral treaties (between multiple states)
- Law-making treaties (create new international law)
Key characteristics:
- Treaties are binding on the parties
- Treaties must be interpreted in good faith
- Treaties can be amended or terminated
Examples of significant treaties:
- Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969)
- Geneva Conventions (1949)

Definition: the body of law that deals with the prosecution of individuals for international crimes
Key principles:
- Nullum crimen sine lege (no crime without a law)
- Nulla poena sine lege (no punishment without a law)
- The principle of legality (no retrospective application of criminal law)
International crimes:
- Genocide
- War crimes
- Crimes against humanity
- Aggression
Modes of liability:
- Direct responsibility
- Indirect responsibility (e.g., command responsibility)
- Joint criminal enterprise

Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) is a foundational document that enshrines fundamental rights and freedoms.
Two core treaties that elaborate on human rights are the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966).
Human rights are categorized into civil and political rights, and economic, social and cultural rights.
Civil and political rights include the right to life, liberty, and freedom of speech.
Economic, social and cultural rights include the right to education, healthcare, and labor rights.
Key human rights principles include non-discrimination, equality, universality, and indivisibility.
The United Nations Human Rights Council, Special Procedures, and Treaty bodies are human rights mechanisms.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations.
The ICJ adjudicates disputes between states and provides advisory opinions on international law.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutes individuals for international crimes, such as genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.
The ICC has jurisdiction over crimes committed after 2002.
Other international courts include the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and International Criminal Tribunals.

State responsibility is the international legal obligation of a state to make reparation for a breach of an international obligation.
The responsibility of a state is engaged when an internationally wrongful act is committed.
The state must make full reparation for the injury caused.
The responsibility of a state is not limited to its own acts, but also extends to acts of its organs and agents.
The International Law Commission's Articles on State Responsibility (2001) provide a comprehensive framework for state responsibility.

A treaty is a written agreement between states governed by international law.
Bilateral treaties are between two states, while multilateral treaties are between multiple states.
Law-making treaties create new international law.
Treaties are binding on the parties and must be interpreted in good faith.
Treaties can be amended or terminated.
Examples of significant treaties include the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969) and the Geneva Conventions (1949).

International criminal law is the body of law that deals with the prosecution of individuals for international crimes.
The principle of nullum crimen sine lege (no crime without a law) applies to international criminal law.
The principle of nulla poena sine lege (no punishment without a law) also applies.
The principle of legality (no retrospective application of criminal law) is a key principle of international criminal law.
International crimes include genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and aggression.
Modes of liability include direct responsibility, indirect responsibility, and joint criminal enterprise.