Public International Law and Human Rights
Sources and Subjects of International Law
Article 38(1) of the Statute of the International Court of Justice lists the sources: treaties, custom, general principles of law, and judicial decisions and writings as subsidiary means. Know the elements of customary international law (state practice and opinio juris) and the doctrine of jus cogens. Subjects include states, international organisations and, increasingly, individuals.
Statehood and Jurisdiction
Study the Montevideo criteria for statehood: permanent population, defined territory, government, and capacity to enter into relations with other states. Know the modes of acquiring territory, recognition (de facto and de jure), sovereignty, and the jurisdictional principles (territorial, nationality, protective, universal).
Law of the Sea, Treaties and Responsibility
Revise the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (territorial sea, contiguous zone, exclusive economic zone), the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (formation, interpretation, termination), and state responsibility for internationally wrongful acts.
Human Rights
Know the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the ICCPR and ICESCR, and the regional instruments. Understand the difference between civil and political rights and economic, social and cultural rights, and the concept of derogation in times of emergency.
Traps
Examiners test whether a UDHR provision is legally binding (it is a declaration, though much is now customary), the difference between signature and ratification of a treaty, and the effect of a reservation. Another trap is confusing the territorial sea (12 nautical miles) with the exclusive economic zone (200 nautical miles).
Rule of Thumb
For any international law question, identify the source (treaty, custom, general principle), the subject bound, and the consequence of breach. For human rights, identify the instrument and whether the right is derogable.