Resources: Syria and International Law

The Oxford Public International Law Platform has an index of discussions on the international law aspects relating to Syria, covering debates in blogs and newspaper articles. Click here to go to the website.

See below for a quick preview of the topics as of 15/10/2013.

I. Overviews of Legal Issues II. Analyses of Scope and Meaning of UN Charter Article 2(4) Prohibition of the Use of Force A) Legality of Arming Rebels B) Purpose of Force – Reprisals vs Restoration of Peace C) Meaning of “Territorial Integrity and Political Independence” D) Chapter VII Authorization E)”Uniting for Peace” Resolution as a Way Round UNSC Deadlock III. Legality of Possible Grounds for Intervention: A) Humanitarian Intervention Doctrines B) Responsibility to Protect C) Intervention to Support Self-determination D) Intervention to Counter Use or Proliferation of WMD IV. Precedents A) Kosovo B) Libya C) Others V. Article 51 Self-Defence A) “Armed Attack” B) Anticipatory self-defence VI. Progressive Development of Law on the Use of Force VII. International Criminal Law A) Crimes B) Jurisdiction of the ICC VIII. International Human Rights Obligations and Remedies

The platform also has new map which looks at a number of issues surrounding the prosecution of heads of state and other senior officials at the ICC. The huge advantage is that certain OUP materials on the ICC are freely available.