Foundations of International Law
Core instruments and materials for understanding the international legal system, its institutions and the sources of international obligations.
Charter of the United Nations
The founding treaty of the United Nations, including principles concerning international peace, security, cooperation and international law.
Read the official source →International Law and Justice — UN overview
An official overview of international law, multilateral treaties and the role of international legal institutions.
Read the official source →Core international legal documents
UN collection of core documents including the UN Charter, the Statute of the International Court of Justice and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Read the official source →International Human Rights Law
Foundational human-rights instruments and the development of legally binding international human-rights obligations.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
The 1948 declaration setting out a common standard of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Read the official source →Foundation of International Human Rights Law
Official UN educational material explaining how the UDHR, treaties, customary international law and other instruments form the broader human-rights framework.
Read the official source →Human Rights Law
UN overview of international human-rights law and the treaty system supporting implementation and monitoring.
Read the official source →International Humanitarian Law
Rules governing armed conflict and protecting people who are not, or are no longer, taking part in hostilities.
Geneva Conventions and the law
Official ICRC resource covering the Geneva Conventions, Additional Protocols and customary international humanitarian law.
Read the official source →Additional Protocols I and II
Official ICRC material explaining the Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions and their humanitarian protections.
Read the official source →International Criminal Law
Core materials concerning individual responsibility for the most serious international crimes and the operation of international criminal justice.
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court
The founding treaty of the ICC, covering jurisdiction, admissibility, investigations, prosecutions, trials, appeals and other matters.
Read the official source →ICC legal texts and publications
Official ICC collection including the Rome Statute, Rules of Procedure and Evidence, Elements of Crimes and professional conduct materials.
Read the official source →Treaty Law
Materials explaining how international treaties are made, interpreted, applied and recorded.
Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties
The principal multilateral treaty codifying important rules concerning treaties between States.
Read the official source →UN International Law Commission — Law of Treaties
Official UN materials concerning the development and codification of the law of treaties.
Read the official source →International Courts and Tribunals
Official resources for understanding the institutions that apply and interpret international law.
International Court of Justice
The principal judicial organ of the United Nations, dealing with legal disputes between States and advisory opinions.
Read the official source →ICJ Rules of Court
Official rules governing procedure before the International Court of Justice.
Read the official source →International Criminal Court
Official ICC resources concerning its jurisdiction and legal framework.
Read the official source →Educational resource only. The inclusion of an instrument does not mean that every provision is universally binding on every person or State. Users should consult the official source and current legal status, including whether a State is a party, applicable reservations and jurisdictional rules.