1. Organisations
Involved in
International
Law
Sources of Contemporary
Australian Law

2. The United Nations
 Started in 1945
 51 initial members
 193 members
today
 Aimed to be a
“forum for nations
in dispute with
each other”
 Didn’t allow for
domestic disputes
(ie: civil war)

3. Courts and Tribunals
International Court of
Justice
War Crimes Tribunals International Criminal
Court
• Fixed court, in the
Hague,
Netherlands
• Set up on an ad
hoc basis (when
they need to)
• Has existed since
2002
• Won’t hear a case
unless both parties
agree to be bound
by the decision
• Nuremburg
(Germany) was the
first, post WWII
• Rwanda (appeals)
• Fmr Yugoslavia (20)
• 122 member-states
• All trials have
focused on
Africans
Eg: East Timor v
Australia re: oil fields
and spying
Investigate genocide,
crimes against
humanity, war crimes,
breaches of Geneva
Convention
Targets individuals
who have committed
crimes against
humanity, war crimes
and genocide

4. Intergovernmental
Organisations (IGOs)
 Organisations which represent the
governments of their members
EG:
 United Nations
 European Union (EU)
 ASEAN
 IGOs have their own rules for membership
and sanctions against those who don’t
comply

5. Non-government
Organisations
 Limited Status
 cannot enforce sanctions
 can apply pressure on governments
through lobbying, education programs, aid
etc
EG:
 Amnesty International
 Greenpeace
 Sea Shepherd

6. Relevance to Australia?
 We have played an active role since the
UN was formed
 We are a member-nation of many organs,
and have been active in peace-keeping
 UN treaties have an impact on our
domestic legislation
 It’s not all smooth-sailing; we have been
at odds with the UN on a range of issues
 Asylum seekers
 Indigenous issues
 East Timor / oil