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International and Foreign Law

International Law Reporter

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International and foreign law guide

This guide will introduce you to the major online and print sources for researching and understanding international and foreign law. For more information on legal research, including Australian law, use our Law Subject Guide.

Information Advisors are available to assist you with your research. To speak to an advisor visit the Law Library Information Desk, book an appointment, email law.library@anu.edu.au or call 02 6125 4013.

More detailed information on ANU Library resources and services is available from the ANU Library website.

For foreign law resources click the tab below to access resources for AsiaCanadaChinaEuropeJapanNew Zealand, PacificUnited Kingdom and the United States.

Sources of international law

International law, also known as 'public international law', is the system of law that imposes rights and obligations on States in their dealings with each other. 

The Peace Palace houses the International Court of Justice (the principal judicial body of the United Nations), the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the Hague Academy of International Law and the extensive Peace Palace Library. As such it is often called the seat of international law.

Article 38 (1) of the Statute of the International Court of Justice lists the formal sources of international law as:
  1. International treaties and conventions
  2. Customary international law
  3. General principles of law
  4. Judicial decisions and teachings of the most highly qualified publicists as a means of identification of the law.

Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands)

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