Oppenheim's International Law: United Nations

by Higgins, Rosalyn; Webb, Philippa; Akande, Dapo; Sivakumaran, Sandesh; Sloan, James

• ISBN13: 9780198808312
• ISBN10: 0198808313
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2017-12-12
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

The United Nations, whose specialized agencies were the subject of an Appendix to the 1958 edition of Oppenheim's International Law: Peace, has expanded beyond all recognition since its founding in 1945.This volume represents a study that is entirely new, but prepared in the way that has become so familiar over succeeding editions of Oppenheim.

An authoritative and comprehensive study of the United Nations' legal practice, this volume covers the formal structures of the UN as it has expanded over the years, and all that this complex organization does. All substantive issues are addressed in separate sections, including among others, the responsibilities of the UN, financing, immunities, human rights, preventing armed conflicts and peacekeeping, and judicial matters.

In examining the evolving structures and ever expanding work of the United Nations, this volume follows the long-held tradition of Oppenheim by presenting facts uncoloured by personal opinion, in a succinct text that also offers in the footnotes a wealth of information and ideas to be explored. It is book that, while making all necessary reference to the Charter, the Statute of the International Court of Justice, and other legal instruments, tells of the realities of the legal issues as they arise in the day to day practice of the United Nations.

Missions to the UN, Ministries of Foreign Affairs, practitioners of international law, academics, and students will all find this book to be vital in their understanding of the workings of the legal practice of the UN.

Research for this publication was made possible by The Balzan Prize, which was awarded to Rosalyn Higgins in 2007 by the International Balzan Foundation.

Author Biography

Rosalyn Higgins, Former President of the International Court of Justice, ,Philippa Webb, Reader in Public International Law, King's College London; Barrister, 20 Essex Street, ,Dapo Akande, Professor of Public International Law, St Peter's College and the University of Oxford,Sandesh Sivakumaran, Professor of Public International Law, University of Oxford, University of Nottingham,James Sloan, Professor of International Law, University of Glasgow

Dame Rosalyn Higgins DBE QC was a Judge at the International Court of Justice from 1995 to 2009, and served as its President from 2006-2009. Before being elected to the Court, she was Professor of International Law at the London School of Economics.


Dr Philippa Webb is Reader in Public International Law at King's College London. She is also a practising barrister at 20 Essex Street.

Professor Dapo Akande is Professor of Public International Law at the University of Oxford and Co-Director of the Oxford Institute for Ethics, Law, and Armed Conflict and the Oxford Martin Programme on Human Rights for Future Generations.

Professor Sandesh Sivakumaran is Professor of Public International Law at the University of Nottingham and a non-resident research fellow at the United States Naval War College Stockton Center for International Law.

Professor James Sloan is Professor of International Law at the University of Glasgow, and he has held various posts at the UN and at international criminal tribunals.

Table of Contents

Part 1: Introduction
1. Introduction
Part 2: The United Nations: What It Is
2. Introduction to Principal Organs and the Functioning of the General Assembly
3. The Functioning of the Security Council
4. Trusteeship Council
5. The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
6. Subsidiary Organs
7. United Nations Specialized Agencies
8. Membership of the United Nations
9. Powers
10. Voting
11. The Legal Personality of the United Nations
12. The United Nations and International Law
13. Responsibility of the United Nations
14. The Financing of the United Nations
15. The United Nations Secretariat and Secretary-General
16. United Nations Immunities
Part 3: The United Nations: What It Does
17. Improving Social Conditions
18. Improving Economic Wellbeing
19. Democratic Governance
20. Election Assistance
21. Disaster Relief
22. Promotion of Human Rights
23. Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
24. Protecting the Environment
25. Promotion of International Law
26. Keeping the Peace
27. Peacekeeping and other Peace Operations
28. Peaceful Settlement of Disputes
Part 4: Adjudication Within The United Nations System
29. The United Nations Compensation Commission
30. Criminal Tribunals within the United Nations Family
31. Criminal Tribunals Established By, or in Relationship With, the UN