ANGELES UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION SCHOOL OF LAW

PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW

SECOND SEMESTER 2017-18
DR. JOSEPH EMMANUEL L. ANGELES

COURSE OUTLINE*

References:
J.G. BERNAS, S.J., INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC INTERNATIONAL LAW (2009)
SHAW, INTERNATIONAL LAW

I. THE NATURE OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

BERNAS, ch. 1-2
SHAW, ch. 1-2
A. What is international law?
1. As distinguished from private international law
B. Development of the Law of Nations
C. International Law as Law
D. The main characteristics of international law
1. The Westphalian system
a. The principle of non-intervention
UN Charter, Art. 2(4) and 2(7)
UNGA Resolution 2625 (1970), Declaration of Principles of International Law
Concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation Among States in Accordance
with the Charter of the United Nations
2. The central role of the State
3. Decentralized system

II. SOURCES OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

BERNAS, ch. 2
SHAW, ch. 3
Article 38 and 59, Statute of the International Court of Justice (ICJ)
A. Customary international law

* Adapted from the Course Outline of Prof. Chet Tan, Jr. (used with permission)
 Fisheries Case (United Kingdom v. Norway), 1951 I.C.J. 116
1. The two classical elements
a. The material element: practice
i. Conduct that constitutes practice
ii. How many States?
iii. For how long?
iv. States specifically concerned
b. The psychological element: opinio juris
i. Nature: opinion or commitment
ii. Possible manifestations
2. The persistent objector
Fisheries Case (United Kingdom v. Norway), 1951 I.C.J. 116
3. The codification of international law
4. The influence of treaties on customary law
B. General principles of law
1. The Martens clause
2. The tendency towards “general international law”
C. Equity
D. Unilateral acts
Nuclear Tests Case (Australia v. France) (1975)
E. Subsidiary sources
1. Jurisprudence
2. Writings of publicists
F. “Soft law”
Pharmaceutical and Health Care Association of the Philippines v. Duque, 535 SCRA
265 (2007)
1. Resolutions adopted by international organizations
2. Non-binding agreements
G. Hierarchy of norms: jus cogens
Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969), Art. 53-54
Michael Byers, Conceptualizing the Relationship between Jus Cogens and Erga Omnes
Rules, Nordic Journal of International Law 66: 211–239, 1997
Genocide Convention Case (Bosnia and Herzegovina v. Yugoslavia) (Preliminary
 Objections) (1996)

III. INTERNATIONAL LAW AND MUNICIPAL LAW

BERNAS, ch. 4
SHAW, ch. 4
CONST., Art. II, Sec. 2
CONST., Art. XII, Sec. 21
CONST., Art. XVIII, Sec. 25
A. Role of municipal law in respect of international law
B. Position of international law in municipal law
In re Garcia, 2 SCRA 984
Nicolas v. Romulo, G.R. No 175888, Feb. 11, 2009
Pimentel v. Exec. Secretary, G.R. No. 158088, 462 SCRA 622
Bayan Muna v. Secretary Romulo, G.R. No. 159618, February 1, 2011
1. Monism and dualism
a. Monism
i. Treaties are not directly applicable
a. Become domestic law through transformation
b. Help construe domestic law
ii. Customary law is part of municipal law
b. Dualism
i. Self-executing treaties and customary law are part of municipal law
ii. Other treaty-based rules need implementing legislation
iii. The hierarchy of international law in municipal law
2. Direct application or necessity to transform
3. Self-executing rules and rules that need legislation for application

IV. THE SUBJECTS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

BERNAS, ch. 5-6
SHAW, ch. 5
A. States
1. Definition
a. Components
 i. Population
ii. Territory
The Island of Las Palmas Case, 2 Report of International Arbitration Awards
839 (1928)
a. The right to self-determination
UN Charter, Art. 2(4) and 2(7)
UNGA Resolution 2625 (1970), Declaration of Principles of International
Law Concerning Friendly Relations and Cooperation Among States in
Accordance with the Charter of the United Nations
UNGA Resolution 1514 (1960), Declaration on the Granting of
Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples
General Comment No. 12, Self-Determination
iii. Government
b. State sovereignty
UN Charter, Art. 2(4), 2(7)
i. The right to self-determination
c. Recognition
2. State jurisdiction
a. Territorial jurisdiction
i. The exclusions that result from territorial jurisdiction
ii. Obligations that are derived from territorial jurisdiction
iii. Defining and delimitating State territory
b. Personal jurisdiction
i. Nationality of individuals
ii. Nationality of corporations
iii. The nationality of certain properties
c. State continuity
i. Change of government
ii. Recognition of governments
iii. Insurrectional movements
d. State succession
B. International organizations
Reparation for Injuries Suffered in the Service of the United Nations, ICJ Reports
1. Contractual conception and institutional conception
 2. Creation
3. Structure
4. Legal status
5. Powers
6. The United Nations
SHAW, ch. 22
a. Objectives and principles
b. Legal nature
c. Members
d. The main organs, their system and their jurisdiction
i. General Assembly
ii. Security Council
iii. Economic and Social Council
iv. International Court of Justice
e. Collective security and peacekeeping
i. Security Council enforcement measures
ii. Economic sanctions and IHL
C. Other subjects of international law
1. Individuals
2. Companies
3. Insurgents
4. The Holy See
5. The International Committee of the Red Cross

V. TERRITORY
A. Territory
BERNAS, ch. 7
SHAW, ch. 10
Const, Art. I.
Treaty on the Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of
Outer-Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies
Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects Convention (1972)
Registration of Objects in Space Convention (1974)
 Moon Treaty (1979)
The Island of Las Palmas Case, 2 Report of International Arbitration Awards 839 (1928)
The Clipperton Island Case
Case Concerning the Legal Status of Eastern Greenland
B. The Law of The Sea
BERNAS, ch. 8
SHAW, ch. 11
R.A. 3046, as amended by R.A. 5446
R.A. 9522
Presidential Decree No. 1596
United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
San Francisco Peace Treaty of 1951
Treaty of Paris
Treaty of Washington
1. Baselines
Anglo-Norwegian Fisheries Case (1951)
Magallona v. Executive Secretary
2. Territorial Sea
UNCLOS, Art. 2, 3 and 14
3. Archipelagic State
UNCLOS, Art. 121
4. Archipelagic Waters
UNCLOS, Art. 49(1)
5. Internal waters
6. Contiguous zone
UNCLOS, Art. 33
7. Exclusive Economic Zone
UNCLOS, Art. 56-57
Philippines v. China, PCA Case No. 2013-19
8. Continental shelf
9. Right of Innocent Passage
UNCLOS, Art. 18(2), 19(2) and 45(2)
10. Flag State
 UNCLOS, Art. 91
11. Flag of Convenience

VI. STATE JURISDICTION AND ITS DELIMITATION

A. Jurisdiction
SHAW, ch. 12
1. Territorial jurisdiction
2. Jurisdiction of the flag
3. Active personal jurisdiction
4. Passive personal jurisdiction?
5. Jurisdiction of the public authorities
6. Jurisdiction of protection
7. Universal jurisdiction
8. Delegated jurisdiction
B. Fields of application of municipal law
C. Jurisdiction for implementation
D. Immunities
BERNAS, ch. 10
SHAW, ch. 13
1. Of the State
a. Independence and Equality of States
Republic of Indonesia v. Vinzon, 405 SCRA 126 (2003)
Minucher v. Court of Appeals, 397 SCRA 244
b. Absolute immunity and restrictive immunity
Holy See v. Rosario, 238 SCRA 524
c. governmental or sovereign acts (acta jure imperii) and non-governmental,
propriety or commercial acts (acta jure gestiones)
United States v. Ruiz, 136 SCRA 487
d. Waiver
Froilan vs. Pan Oriental Shipping Co., 95 Phil. 905
e. Execution
Dexter & Carpenter v. Kunglig, 43 F2d 705
2. Of State organs
 Diplomatic Immunity
R.A. 75, sec. 4
Optional Protocols to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations
Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, Art. 1, 5, 32, 41, 43-45, 49-50, 53, 58, 60,
62-63, 66
Minucher v. Court of Appeals, 397 SCRA 244
World Health Organization v. Aquino, 48 SCRA 242 (1972)
E. Extradition
BERNAS, ch. 9, pp. 174-191
SHAW, ch. 12
1. Double Criminality
Government of Hongkong Special Administrative Region vs. Juan Antonio Muñoz,
G.R. No. 207342, August 16, 2016
2. Attentat Clause
3. Principle of Specialty
4. Distinguished from Deportation
5. Predominance or Proportionality test
Cleugh v. Strakosch, 109 F2d 330
6. Due Process Requirements
Wright v. Court of Appeals, 235 SCRA 341
Secretary of Justice v. Lantion, 343 SCRA 377
Government of Hongkong Special Administrative Region vs. Hon Felixberto T.
Olalia, Jr. and Juan Antonio Muñoz, G.R. No. 153675, April 19, 2007

VII. INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS

A. The Law of Treaties
BERNAS, ch. 3
SHAW, ch. 13
Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969)
UN Charter, Art. 103
CONST., Art. VIII, sec. 5(2) (a)
CONST., Art VII, sec. 21
CONST., Art. XII, sec. 21
E.O. 459, November 25, 1997
 Memorandum Circular No. 89
1. Conclusion
Pimentel v. Exec. Secretary, G.R. No. 158088, 462 SCRA 622
USAFFE Veterans v. Treasurer, 105 Phil. 1030
Bayan v. Zamora, 342 SCRA 449 (2000)
Lim v. Exec. Sec., G.R. No. 151445, 380 SCRA 739
a. International jurisdiction and internal jurisdiction
b. Procedure of conclusion
i. Simplified form and formal form
ii. Initialing – authentication – signature – ratification – accession
iii. Entry into force
c. Invalid consent
d. Reservations
e. Role of the depository
f. Registration and publication
2. Interpretation of treaties
a. The text as starting point
b. Interpretation in context and in the light of the text’s object and purpose
c. Subsequent practice and the remainder of international law
d. Supplementary recourse to preparatory work
3. Termination and suspension
Gabcikovo-Nagymaros Project (Hungary v. Slovakia) (1997)
a. By consent of the parties
b. Non-execution
c. Fundamental change of circumstances
d. Jus cogens
4. Treaties between States and international organizations
B. Diplomatic and Consular Relations
Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations
Vienna Convention on Consular Relations
1. Modalities of Interstate Relations
2. General Legal Aspects of Diplomatic Relations
3. Staff, Premises, and Facilities of Missions
 4. Inviolability of Missions
5. Diplomatic Agents

VIII. STATE RESPONSIBILITY

BERNAS, ch. 11
SHAW, ch. 14
ILC Draft Articles on Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts
A. Primary and secondary rules
B. Attribution of an unlawful act to a State
Corfu Channel Case, ICJ Reports
Diplomatic and Consular Staff in Tehran (US v. Iran)
1. Responsibility of a State for “its” acts
2. Responsibility of a State for its organs
3. Responsibility for de facto organs
4. Responsibility for individuals acting in the absence of official authorities
5. Responsibility for acts by insurgents
6. Responsibility for acts acknowledged and adopted by the State
7. Responsibility for a lack of due diligence with respect to private actors
C. Responsibility for private damages: specific conditions of diplomatic protection
D. Evaluation of the wrongfulness of the act and nature of the violated obligation
E. Degrees of responsibility: the concept of State crime
F. Circumstances precluding wrongfulness
1. Consent
2. Self-defense
3. Conduct rendered necessary by a peremptory norm
4. Measures to counter a wrongful act
5. Force majeure
6. Distress
7. Necessity
G. Consequences of responsibility for the State concerned
1. Reparations
Diplomatic Protection
Nottebohm (Liechtenstein v. Guatemala), ICJ Reports
 Barcelona Traction, Light and Power Company (Second Phase) (1962)
H. Implementation of responsibility
1. How to invoke international responsibility?
2. The notion of injured State
3. Loss of the right to invoke international responsibility
4. Plurality of injured States
5. Victim States other than the injured State
6. Counter-measures

IX. THE PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT OF DISPUTES

SHAW, ch. 18
A. General obligation to settle disputes peacefully
B. Tensions with the tendency for the State to take the law into its own hands
C. Liberty of choice as to the method of settlement
D. Role of the UN organs
E. Framework
1. Negotiations
2. Consultations
3. Good offices
4. Enquiry
5. Mediation
6. Conciliation
7. Judicial settlement
a. Arbitration
b. Submission to international tribunals
F. The International Court of Justice
BERNAS, ch. 13
SHAW, ch. 19
1. Structure
2. Practical importance
3. Only States have the capacity to act in justice
4. Bases of jurisdiction
Statute of the ICJ, Art. 34 and 36
 Nicaragua v. U.S., 1986 I.C.J. 14
Case Concerning East Timor (Portugal v. Australia) (1991)
a. Special agreement
b. Treaty
c. Declaration accepting mandatory jurisdiction (the optional clause on mandatory
jurisdiction)
5. Material jurisdiction
a. Legal disputes
b. Interested third States
c. Parallel procedures before the Security Council
6. Advisory opinions
Unilateral Declaration of Independence by Kosovo (Advisory Opinion) (2010)
Legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons (Advisory Opinion)
7. Procedure
LaGrand (Germany v. United States)

X. THE USE OF FORCE

SHAW, ch. 20 and 22
A. Historical development
B. State perspective: the ban on the use of force and its exceptions
1. Self-defense
a. As a reaction to armed aggression
b. Subsidiary to collective security measures
c. Preventive self-defense?
d. Self-defense against non-State actors?
e. Collective self-defense
2. Use of force decided or authorized by the Security Council
3. Wars of national liberation
4. Armed intervention with the State’s consent
5. Armed humanitarian intervention?
6. Armed reprisals?
C. Jus ad bellum and jus in bello
D. The perspective of the United Nations Charter
 1. Maintenance of peace and international security by the Security Council
a. The concept of a threat to peace and international security
b. Possible Security Council enforcement measures
i. Non-military sanctions
ii. Creation of a criminal tribunal
iii. Economic sanctions
iv. Military sanctions
2. Subsidiary role of the General Assembly
3. Peacekeeping operations
E. Principles applicable to the legal use of force
1. Proportionality
2. Necessity
3. Respect for IHL
F. The Law of Neutrality

XI. THE INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION OF THE INDIVIDUAL

BERNAS, ch. 12
SHAW, ch. 21, 6, and 8
A. International Human Rights Law vs. International Humanitarian Law
B. International Human Rights Law
SHAW, ch. 6
UN Charter, arts. 55 and 56
Universal Declaration on Human Rights
ICCPR (particularly Art. 26)
ICESCR
International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination
C. International Humanitarian Law
BERNAS, ch. 15
SHAW, ch. 8
1949 Geneva Conventions, Common Articles 2 and 3
1977 Protocol I and Protocol II to the Geneva Conventions
R.A. 9851 (Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide,
and Other Crimes Against Humanity)
 1. Core Principles
a. Distinction
Protocol I, Art. 48
b. Proportionality
Protocol I, Art. 51.5 (b) and 57.2 (b)
c. Unnecessary Suffering
Protocol I, Art. 35.2 and 6
d. Military Necessity
Hague Regulation IV (1907), Art. 23 (g)
2. The Martens Clause
Geneva Convention (III), Art. 142
3. Limits on Means and Methods of Warfare
Protocol I, Art. 35
4. What persons or objects may lawfully be attacked?
Protocol I, Art. 48
5. Civilians directly participating in hostilities
Protocol I, Art. 51.3
6. Reprisal
Protocol I, Art. 20
7. Treatment of Prisoners and Detainees
1. International
Geneva Convention (III), Art. 4-5
Protocol I, Art. 75
2. Non-International
Geneva Conventions Common Article 3
Protocol I, Art. 75
Protocol II
8. Mercenaries
Geneva Convention (III), Art. 4
Protocol I, Art. 47
D. International Criminal Law
BERNAS, ch. 15, 265-266
SHAW, ch. 8
Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court
ICC Elements of Crimes
Princeton Principles on Universal Jurisdiction
Convention on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes and Crimes
against Humanity (1968)
1. What is international criminal law?
2. Historical Development and the Establishment of the International Courts and
Tribunals
a. Early history (1919–1945)
b. The Nuremberg and Tokyo Tribunals (1945–1947)
c. The ad hoc international criminal tribunals
d. International Criminal Court (ICC)
e. Mixed or internationalized criminal courts or tribunals
3. International War Crimes
a. The development of the notion of war crimes
b. The elements of war crimes
i. General Requirements
a. The nexus between the crime and the armed conflict
b. Requirement of armed conflict
c. Nexus with armed conflict
d. The perpetrator
e. The victim and object of the crime
f. Seriousness or gravity of the crime
g. Mental elements (Mens rea)
ii. Specific (underlying) offences
a. Grave Breaches of the Geneva Conventions
b. Other Serious Violations in International Armed Conflict
c. Article 8(2)(c): Armed Conflict Not of An International Character, Serious
Violations of Common Article 3
d. Article 8(2)(e): Armed Conflict Not of An International Character, Serious
Violations of Common Article 3
4. Crimes against humanity
a. Historical development
b. The elements of crimes against humanity
 i. General Requirements
a. Existence of an attack
b. Widespread or systematic
c. Directed against any civilian population
d. The link between the perpetrator’s conduct and the attack
e. Mental elements (Mens rea)
ii. Additional Requirements
a. The nexus with armed conflict (ICTY)
b. Discrimination requirement (ICTR)
iii. Specific (Underlying) Offences
5. Genocide
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide
R.A. 9851 (Philippine Act on Crimes Against International Humanitarian Law,
Genocide, and Other Crimes Against Humanity)
a. Historical development
b. Relation to crimes against humanity
c. International v domestic law
d. The elements of genocide
i. National, Ethnical, Racial or Religious Groups
ii. Contextual Element (ICC)
iii. Specific Intent of Genocide (Dolus Specialis)
a. Specific intent v normal intent
b. Proof of specific intent
c. Does specific intent always need to be proved?
d. Components of the specific intent to commit genocide
1. ‘To destroy’
2. ‘In whole or in part’
3. ‘As such’
iv. Specific (Underlying) Offences
e. Other forms of participation in genocide
6. Aggression
a. Historical development of the crime of aggression
i. Definition of Aggression under UNGA Resolution 3314 (XXIX)
 ii. The Role of the ILC in Defining Aggression
iii. The Role of the ICC in Defining Aggression
b. The crime of aggression and ius ad bellum
c. Elements of the crime of aggression
i. Physical Elements
a. Perpetrators
b. Conduct: act of aggression
d. Mental Elements
7. Torture
ICCPR, Art. 2 and 7
Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or
Punishment (CAT)
R.A. 9745 (Anti-Torture Act of 2009)
a. 1984 United Nations Convention against Torture (UNCAT)
i. Physical Elements (Actus Reus)
a. An act
b. Severe pain or suffering
c. Public official requirement
1. Arising from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions
ii. Mental Elements (Mens Rea)
a. Intentionally inflicted
b. For a specific purpose
iii. Defenses
iv. Jurisdictional Issues
b. Other relevant instruments
8. Individual Criminal Responsibility
a. General principles of criminal law
i. The principle of legality
a. Nullum Crimen Sine Lege
b. Nulla Poena Sine Lege
c. The Principle of Non-Retroactivity
d. The Principle of Specificity
e. The Prohibition of Analogy
 f. The Favor Rei Principle
ii. The non bis in idem principle (double jeopardy)
b. Forms of individual criminal responsibility
c. Modes of Liability
d. Inchoate Crimes
i. Attempt
ii. Direct and public incitement to commit genocide
iii. Conspiracy to commit genocide
e. Direct and individual perpetration
f. Perpetration through a group
i. Joint Criminal Enterprise (JCE)
a. Physical elements
b. Plurality of persons
c. Common plan, design or purpose
d. Participation of the accused in the JCE
e. Mental elements (Mens rea)
ii. Co-Perpetration Doctrines
g. Ordering, instigating, soliciting, inducing and planning
i. Planning
ii. Instigating
iii. Ordering
h. Aiding, abetting or otherwise assisting
i. Physical Elements (Actus Reus)
ii. Mental Elements (Mens Rea)
i. Superior or Command Responsibility
i. Superior-Subordinate Relationship
ii. Mental Element: Knew or Had Reason to Know
iii. Physical Element: Failure to Prevent or Punish
iv. Superior Responsibility at the ICC
9. Grounds for contesting criminal responsibility
a. Challenges to jurisdiction
i. Immunity
a. Functional immunity
 b. Personal immunity
ii. Minority
iii. Amnesty
b. Challenges to proof
i. Alibi
ii. Consent
iii. Mistake of Fact or Law
c. Defenses
i. Mental Disease or Defect
ii. Intoxication
iii. Defense of Self, of Others, and of Certain Property
iv. Duress (and Necessity)
v. Superior Orders
vi. Military Necessity
vii. Tu Quoque and Reprisals
10. Impact of International Law on National Legislation and Prosecution
a. International Treaty Obligations to Criminalize Certain Conduct
b. International Treaty Law Obligations or the ‘Aut Dedere Aut Judicare’ Obligation
c. Relationship between international and national jurisdictions
i. Primacy and complementarity
d. Legal impediments to the exercise of national jurisdiction
i. Amnesty
ii. Pardon
iii. Immunities
iv. Statutes of limitation
v. The non bis in idem principle (double jeopardy)
e. State cooperation with respect to national proceedings
i. Extradition
a. Double Criminality and Double Jeopardy
b. Bars to Extradition
c. Other Considerations Relating to Extradition
ii. Mutual legal assistance
iii. Enforcement of penalties
11. The International Criminal Court
a. Who may be prosecuted?
Rome Statute, Art. 12 and 13
b. Temporal Jurisdiction
Rome Statute, Art. 11
c. What may be prosecuted?
Rome Statute, Art. 5-8
i. War Crimes
ii. Genocide
iii. Crimes Against Humanity
iv. Aggression
d. Complementarity
Rome Statute, Art. 17