1agreement by a state or party to be legally bound
consent
2a formal written agreement between states under international law
treaty
3the principle that treaties must be observed by the parties that signed them
pacta sunt servanda
4violations of legal rules or obligations
breaches of law
5a state or party that has signed a treaty
signatory
6to act in accordance with a rule, decision, or obligation
to comply with
7the conduct of relations between states through negotiation
diplomacy
8to formally confirm and give legal force to a treaty
to ratify
9the origins from which legal rules derive their authority (e.g. treaties, custom, general principles)
sources of law
10binding treaties agreed upon by multiple states
international conventions
11a fundamental norm of international law that cannot be changed or overridden
peremptory rule (jus cogens)
12to resolve a dispute through negotiation or a court decision
to settle
13the provision of the ICJ Statute listing the main and subsidiary sources of international law
Article 38
14a state or authority holding supreme independent power
sovereign
15to formally deliver a court's decision
to render a judgement
16a state that consistently and openly rejects a rule of customary international law from its outset
persistent objector
17to challenge a court's ruling before a higher authority
to appeal a decision
18law derived from consistent and general state practice accepted as legally binding
customary law
19scholarly legal works used as a subsidiary source of international law
writings of highly qualified publicists
20court rulings used as a subsidiary source to identify rules of international law
judicial decisions
21coercive measures such as tariffs, embargoes, or asset freezes applied against a state
sanctions
22the legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case
jurisdiction
23a state that has signed and ratified a treaty and is bound by its obligations
party to a treaty
24legally obligatory; must be complied with
binding
25variations in norms and values between societies, sometimes used to justify non-compliance with international law
cultural differences
26a dispute between two or more states formally brought before the ICJ
contentious case
27the belief that a practice is legally required; one of the two elements of customary international law
opinio juris
28to ensure compliance with legal rules, by compulsion if necessary
to enforce law
29the principal judicial organ of the UN, seated in The Hague, which settles disputes between states
International Court of Justice
30a serious and lasting disagreement between parties, often brought before a court
dispute
31the fundamental political right of a citizen to participate in elections
right to vote
32an international organisation founded in 1945 to promote peace, security, and cooperation among states
United Nations
33the principle that all people are entitled to the same rights and treatment regardless of their background
values of equality
34the safeguarding of individuals or groups from harm, abuse, or violations of their rights
protection
35the condition of being owned and controlled by another person; absolutely prohibited under international law
slavery
36detention of a person without lawful basis or due process; prohibited under the UDHR
arbitrary arrest
37forming a necessary base; of central importance (e.g. fundamental rights)
fundamental
38lasting indefinitely; not subject to rotation (e.g. the five permanent members of the UN Security Council)
permanent
39a 1948 UN document setting out 30 articles of fundamental human rights applicable to all people
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
40collaborative action by states to address shared challenges
cooperation between nations
41to treat a person or group unfairly on the basis of race, gender, religion, or other characteristics
to discriminate against
42the number of provisions contained in the UDHR, covering civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights
30 articles
43breaches of legal rules or human rights obligations
violations
44a state's supreme authority to govern itself without external interference
sovereignty
45the main deliberative body of the UN in which all member states have equal representation
UN General Assembly
46a court or panel that decides cases without bias or favouritism
impartial tribunal
47relating to the governance of a state or the exercise of power
political
48to require a person or institution to explain and take responsibility for their actions
to call someone to account
49the diverse systems of beliefs, practices, and values that can influence the interpretation and application of international norms
cultures / religions
50treatment that causes humiliation or a loss of dignity; prohibited under the UDHR
degrading treatment
51to actively support and advance a cause, right, or principle
to promote
52relating to people; used in the context of human rights, human dignity, and humanitarian law
human
53changing on a scheduled basis (e.g. the 10 non-permanent seats on the UN Security Council)
rotating
54legal or moral entitlements that protect individuals or groups
rights
55the fair and impartial administration of the law
justice
56the social and legal categories of male and female, relevant to equality and non-discrimination law
gender
57the power of a permanent UN Security Council member to block any resolution with a single negative vote
veto
58the legal and moral duty of a state to uphold the rights of its citizens and comply with international obligations
government's responsibility
59the primary judicial organ of the UN; settles legal disputes between states and issues advisory opinions
International Court of Justice
60states that have joined an international organisation such as the UN and are bound by its rules
members
61a prior court decision that must be followed by lower courts in future cases of a similar nature
precedent
62relating to or having the force of law
legal
63relating to the body; used in the context of corporal punishment (e.g. lashing, amputation)
corporal
64the origins of legal rules (e.g. statutes, precedent, custom, religious texts)
sources
65customary practices of a tribe or indigenous community that may form the basis of customary law
tribal traditions
66not connected to or governed by religion
secular
67the ranked structure of courts in which higher courts bind lower courts through precedent
hierarchy of courts
68a matter brought before a court for legal determination
case
69an opposing party in legal proceedings; the basis of the adversarial system used in common law
adversary
70relating to faith or religion; used in the context of religious legal systems such as Sharia or Canon Law
religious
71the principle that like cases should be treated alike; a key advantage of the doctrine of precedent
consistency
72written laws enacted by a legislature; the primary source of law in civil law systems
statutes
73the body of religious law derived from the Qur'an and Hadith that governs conduct in Islamic legal systems
Sharia
74a penalty imposed by a court for a breach of law
punishment
75the formal rules and steps that govern how legal proceedings are conducted
procedure
76a legal system based on Islamic religious law (Sharia), applied in varying degrees across Muslim-majority states
Islamic system
77for a higher court to set aside or reverse a previous court's decision
to overrule
78to compel compliance with a law or court decision
to enforce
79based on long-established practice; used in the context of customary law and customary international law
customary
80the formal decision of a court in a legal case
judgement
81relating to common law; the legal system originating in England based on judicial precedent
common
82to determine the meaning and application of a legal rule or provision
to interpret
83specialised judicial or quasi-judicial bodies that resolve particular categories of dispute
tribunals
84a legal system that combines elements of two or more distinct legal traditions
hybrid
85the elected bodies that enact statutes and create written law
legislatures
86the system of rules that a state recognises as binding on its members
law
87not anticipated; used in the context of situations not covered by existing precedent or statute
unforeseen
88earlier court judgements that form the basis of precedent in common law systems
prior decisions
89relating to civil law; the legal system based on comprehensive written codes rather than judicial precedent
civil