Legal Definitions - conventional international law

Conventional international law refers to the body of legal rules and principles that arise directly from formal, written agreements between countries. These agreements, often called treaties, conventions, or pacts, are voluntarily entered into by sovereign states. When countries sign and ratify these documents, they explicitly agree to be bound by the rules and obligations set forth within them. This form of international law is distinct from customary international law, which develops from the consistent practices of states over time, or general principles of law recognized by nations.

Here are some examples illustrating conventional international law:

• The Paris Agreement on Climate Change: Adopted in 2015, this landmark international treaty commits signatory countries to specific goals for limiting global warming, such as keeping the increase in global average temperature to well below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. Countries that have ratified this agreement are legally bound by its provisions regarding emissions reductions, climate finance, and transparency in reporting.

  This illustrates conventional international law because it is a formal, written treaty that states voluntarily joined. By ratifying it, they expressly recognized and agreed to be bound by its provisions regarding climate action, making its rules part of their international legal obligations.

• World Trade Organization (WTO) Agreements: The foundational agreements of the WTO, such as the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and the General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), establish a comprehensive set of rules for international trade. Member countries agree to principles like non-discrimination, transparency, and the reduction of trade barriers in their commercial policies.

  These WTO agreements are a collection of treaties that create a framework for global commerce. When a country joins the WTO, it accepts these agreements, thereby becoming legally bound by the conventional international law they establish concerning trade practices, tariffs, and dispute resolution mechanisms.

• The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC): This human rights treaty, widely ratified by nations worldwide, sets out the civil, political, economic, social, health, and cultural rights of children. States that ratify the UNCRC commit to upholding these rights for all children within their jurisdiction, including ensuring access to education, healthcare, and protection from exploitation.

  The UNCRC is a multilateral convention, meaning it's a treaty signed by many nations. By ratifying it, countries formally agree to incorporate its principles into their national laws and policies, making the rights outlined within it a part of their obligations under conventional international law.