International Law Framework and Purpose
📌 International law is a system of rules and treaties regulating how countries interact, covering areas like trade agreements (e.g., the Schengen Convention for borderless travel) and environmental protection.
🏛️ It functions as a framework to avoid chaos and instill minimum standards of humanity between nations, contrasting with domestic law due to the lack of a clear global enforcing body.
🌐 Unlike domestic systems, international law lacks a singular government, global police force, or single court hierarchy; enforcement relies on states largely choosing to recognize and comply with various courts and tribunals.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ)
🏛️ The ICJ, established in 1945, settles disputes between UN member states and issues advisory opinions on questions of international law, such as its ruling that Israel’s occupation of Palestinian territories is unlawful.
⚖️ In the South Africa v. Israel case concerning genocide allegations in Gaza, the ICJ ordered provisional measures, including halting the offensive in Rafah, though compliance is not guaranteed.
🛑 Enforcement of ICJ judgments is complicated; while the UN Security Council can intervene, the five permanent members hold veto power, exemplified by the US vetoing reparations for Nicaragua in the 1980s.
✅ Despite high-profile non-compliance, a judge noted that rulings are complied with immediately in over 90% of cases, citing Uganda’s compliance in paying over $300 million to the DRC after a border dispute ruling.

The International Criminal Court (ICC)
⚖️ The ICC, established in 2002 under the Rome Statute, prosecutes individuals for the four core international crimes: war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide, and the crime of aggression.
🌍 The ICC acts as a court of last resort, intervening only when a state is unable or unwilling to prosecute these serious crimes domestically, building on earlier temporary tribunals like Nuremberg.
📉 To date, only six people have been convicted by the ICC for core crimes, with early cases naturally focusing on Africa because initial investigations stemmed from referrals by the Security Council or African governments themselves.
📍 The ICC can assert jurisdiction over non-member states (like Russia) if the UN Security Council requests it or if the country accepts jurisdiction (as Ukraine did), leading to the most high-profile warrant for Vladimir Putin over the unlawful deportation of children.

Enforcement and Future of International Justice
🚫 While arrest warrants (like Putin's) are valid for life, their execution depends entirely on international cooperation; for instance, Putin was not arrested while traveling to an ICC member state (Mongolia).
🔄 Skepticism remains about immediate enforcement, but the existence of the framework offers a powerful long-term promise; historical parallels (like the prosecution of Nazis decades later) suggest political situations can change, potentially leading to future accountability.
🗣️ A major criticism from those involved in international law is the unwillingness of political leaders to act and fully participate in these systems of international justice, despite public desire for accountability.

Key Points & Insights
➡️ International law is a complex web of treaties and customary standards designed primarily to regulate state interaction and prevent conflict, despite lacking centralized enforcement power.
➡️ Enforcement power is heavily politicized, often blocked by P5 vetoes in the UN Security Council, meaning powerful states can sometimes evade accountability.
➡️ The ICC relies on state cooperation for arrests; even when high-profile warrants like Putin's are issued, their effectiveness depends on future shifts in geopolitical power.
➡️ Public frustration often centers on the gap between international rulings and immediate political action needed to halt violence or secure justice for victims.

📸 Video summarized with SummaryTube.com on Nov 28, 2025, 21:58 UTC