Legal research guide: Public International Law: What is PIL?
What is public international law?
"A body of legal rules that apply between sovereign states and other entities having international personality. Public international law, sometimes referred to as the 'law of nations', differs from private international law which deals with the different municipal laws of different countries. Topics of public international law include: law of the sea; law of treaties; state jurisdiction; customary law; and the law of the (INT) Charter of the United Nations 1945. Through this body of law an attempt is made to clarify and codify the common interests of humanity. It is in practice identified and determined by its authoritative source: (INT) Statute of the International Court of Justice 1945 art 38."
Research Guides
- Peace Palace LibraryThe Peace Palace Library Staff has prepared a collection of Peace Palace Library Research Guides that introduce the researcher to the main topics of international law.
- Access to OUP resources on Refugee LawFree international law resources from Oxford University Press relating to migrants and refugees.
Useful links to assist with your public international law research
- Official Documents of the UNODS is the UN's Official Document System.
- International Law CommissionUse the Research Guide to locate documentation, reports, texts and instruments etc.
- ASIL Electronic Resource Guide for International LawThis electronic resource guide, often called the ERG, has been published online by ASIL since 1997
- Avalon Project, Yale UniversityFor historical materials
- International and Foreign Law Research (GlobaLex)Research guides for many international and foreign law topics, written by experts in the field.
- EUR-LexThis multilingual database, created by the EU institutions, contains case law, legislation, bills and a vast array of other information.
- Audiovisual Library of International LawRun by the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs the Audiovisual Library aims to provide free, scholarly resources to students and practitioners around the world
- Customary International Humanitarian Law database from the International Committee of the Red CrossRules and practice in humanitarian law
- United Nations Digital LibraryProvides access to UN documents, maps, speeches, voting data and speeches.
- SHERLOCContains information regarding the implementation of the United Nations Convention against Transnational Organised Crime.
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