PS531, The International Law of Human Rights
Fall Semester 2004
Study Guide for Week 4
The Basics of International Law
Reading Assignment:
Mark W. Janus, An Introduction to International Law (Third Edition, 1999), pp. 9-66 (electronic reserves)
United Nations, Treaty Reference Guide (available on-line) - offers definitions of key terms pertaining to international law)
Websites to browse:
Fletcher School Multilaterals Project (texts of treaties on human rights and useful links at the end)
Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties
This week's session will be more of a lecture format than the others. We will begin, however, with a 10 item multiple-choice quiz on the basics of international law as a starting point for our consideration of the topic. It is merely an exercise and will not count in any way toward your grade. We will focus on three types of international law (a) customary law, (b) treaty law, and (c) resolutions as "soft" law.
Here are some questions to consider in working on the reading assignment.
1. What are treaties?
2. What is the process by which treaties are developed, adopted and eventually become recognized as international law?
3. How are treaties implemented and enforced?
4. What is international customary law?
5. What are the commonly accepted indications of the existence of international customary law?
6. What other sources of international law (other that treaties and custom) are mentioned by Janus?