International law is a field of jurisprudence that has traditionally covered the sphere of relations between states. However, now it extends to relations between different countries, as well as to those who are their citizens. Moreover, it is even applicable to relationships between individuals. It depends on the exact areas in which the agreements are concluded, according to which this agreement is valid, for example: maritime, diplomatic, environmental, human rights and so on.
As a rule, states are guided by a principle called “general international law”. This concept includes customs and practice, as well as universal norms recognized by civilized nations as law. This also includes legal opinions and theories of the most qualified experts in this field. These principles apply to all states, even to those that are not members of the agreements where these rules are contained.
Customary international law
This is the source of all treaties between countries, as well as covenants and conventions. It consists of international rules taken from the practice of different states and considered as law (opinio juris). Countries around the world themselves create this right through their actions or reactions to the actions of others. How does this happen? When they assess any actions as legal or not, they themselves develop customary international law. This happens even when, in practice, governments and countries themselves violate these rules. For example, the prohibition of torture. Everyone knows that people are tormented and knocked out of them testimonies in different countries. But the fact that there is not a single state where such behavior would be legal supports the legal force of this prohibition. Some norms of general international law are so important that no country can evade them or limit their operation under any circumstances. These standards are known as jus cogens and are found in the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties.
Contemporary international human rights law
This area of world law relates to the protection of the freedoms and dignity of all people: women, children and men. It obliges states to respect and protect human rights, and to ensure their practice. Traditionally, this area of international treaties was considered only in a rather narrow context. It was believed that it was about protecting the individual from state encroachment. However, it has recently been recognized that the government has a duty to intervene if private individuals act in a way that could violate the rights of others. What is its action based on? The source of this form of international law is treaties, for example, various UN conventions and an authoritative interpretation of such agreements.
International humanitarian law
Known as the “laws of war," it is applied to situations of external and internal armed conflict. It defines standards of conduct for combatants (active participants in battles) and their leaders. In a broader sense of the word, it limits the methods and methods of warfare, and also protects the sick, wounded, prisoners, civilians. Some acts are prohibited by international humanitarian law . Their violation is a war crime.
International criminal law is currently being developed . It acts both in contractual relations and in the field of customs and helps to hold the most malicious human rights violators accountable. It is a good model for reforming national legislation.