International law
This page highlights some of the current parliamentary material available on international law. This includes select committee reports, briefing papers on current legislation and other subjects produced by the parliamentary research services, and the latest Early Day Motions put down by MPs.
Standard Notes
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 03.05.2012 | Bangladesh: the International Crimes Tribunal |
| The Government of Bangladesh has re-established a long dormant International Crimes Tribunal to try people for alleged 'international crimes' committed during the 1971 war of independence. Eight men, all senior figures in opposition parties, currently face trial. While steps have been taken to strengthen the rules of procedure of the Tribunal, there are criticisms that the process still falls short of interntional standards. | |
| 30.04.2012 | The UK and Reform of the European Court of Human Rights |
| The UK holds the Chairmanship of the Council of Europe until mid-May 2012. The UK has Government supported proposals to reform the European Court of Human Rights contained in the Interlaken and Izmir Declarations and has proposed in the draft Brighton Declaration that more account be taken of the principles of subsidiarity and the margin of appreciation. | |
| 03.04.2012 | The Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union: views in other EU Member States |
| This Note looks briefly at views on the Treaty on Stability, Coordination and Governance in the Economic and Monetary Union in the other EU Member States, the US, China and Russia. | |
| 15.03.2012 | Is it legal to use force against Iran? |
| The answer to this question depends largely on your view of whether Iran is about to use nuclear weapons. | |
| 28.02.2012 | Preventing and prosecuting piracy at sea: legal issues |
| The resurgence in piracy at sea, particularly hijackings off the coast of Somalia, has prompted a range of efforts to tackle it. These throw up a series of legal issues including the use of force by governments and private armed security guards, and transferring of suspects for trial or imprisonment. Library Standard Notes covering related issues include: Piracy at sea: overview and policy responses; Somalia: recent political, security and humanitarian developments; and Does Somali piracy have any 'developmental effects'?. |
Research Papers
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 20.03.2009 | Geneva Conventions and United Nations Personnel (Protocols) Bill [HL] (Bill 69 of 2008-09) |
| This short Bill is intended to amend two UK Acts to enable the Government to ratify two international agreements protecting military medical personnel and humanitarian workers. In line with the protocols, the Bill would firstly sanction and protect the 'red crystal' as a new symbol to protect humanitarian personnel in armed conflict instead of (or in addition to) the existing red cross or red crescent; and secondly extend the definition of protected UN workers to include those delivering humanitarian, political or development assistance in peacebuilding operations and those delivering emergency humanitarian protection. | |
| 17.06.2008 | Reinventing humanitarian intervention: Two cheers for the Responsibility to Protect? |
| Reinventing humanitarian intervention: Two cheers for the Responsibility to Protect? House of Commons Library Research Paper 08/55. | |
| 22.07.2004 | Iraq:legal issues at the handover |
| Iraq: legal issues at the handover. House of Commons Library Research Paper 04/59. | |
| 02.06.2003 | Iraq: Law of Occupation |
| Iraq: law of occupation. House of Commons Library Research Paper 03/51. | |
| 13.03.2003 | Iraq: Developments since UN Security Council Resolution 1441 |
| Iraq: developments since UN Security Council Resolution 1441. House of Commons Library Research Paper 03/22 |
Early Day Motions
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 23.11.2011 | AMENDMENT OF THE ROME STATUTE OF THE INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT |
| That this House notes the amendment to the 1998 Rome Statute for the International Criminal Court (ICC) adopted on 12 June 2010 in Kampala defining the Crime of Aggression; further ... | |
| 14.12.2010 | DETENTION OF PALESTINIAN CHILDREN IN ISRAEL |
| That this House notes with grave concern that every year Israel prosecutes an average of 700 Palestinian children from the occupied West Bank in military courts; further notes that ... | |
| 02.06.2010 | ISRAEL AND GAZA FLOTILLA |
| That this House is appalled by the loss of life associated with Israel's attack on the flotilla of ships carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza; notes that UK and other nationals have been ... | |
| 24.03.2010 | INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL COURT AND THE UN SECURITY COUNCIL |
| That this House notes the forthcoming meeting of the Assembly of States Parties to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in May 2010 in Kampala to reach an international agreement ... | |
| 18.01.2010 | CHANGES TO LEGISLATION ON UNIVERSAL JURISDICTION |
| That this House opposes any proposed changes to UK legislation on universal jurisdiction that would compromise the UK's obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention to seek out and ... |
Lords Library Notes
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| 19.03.2012 | Question for Short Debate on 26 March: Joseph Kony and the Lord's Resistance Army |
| This Library Note provides background information on steps to bring to trial Joseph Kony and other leaders of the Lord's Resistance Army. | |
| 23.01.2009 | Geneva Conventions and United Nations Personnel (Protocols) Bill [HL]. LLN 2009/001 |
| Geneva Conventions and United Nations Personnel (Protocols) Bill [HL]. House of Lords Library Note 2009/001 |
