CYIL Vol. 6, 2015

AND THE QUESTION OF CRITERIA FOR ITS DETERMINATION

JUS COGENS

JUS COGENS AND THE QUESTION OF CRITERIA FOR ITS DETERMINATION

Čestmír Čepelka

Abstract: The focus of this contribution is on identification of peremptory norms in general international law. Non-derogation by treaty is not the sole criterion for determination of rules juris cogentis. There are also other non-derogable rules of general international law (freedom of the high seas). The most important rules juris cogentis are the prohibition of force and of genocide. Crimes against humanity are wholly stabilized in customary law; its written form is still about to be finished, including the activity of the UN International Law Commission. All general peremptory norms of international humanitarian law (law of armed conflicts) were developed from relevant treaties. The least stabilized is the principle of self- determination of nations. There are long-standing general international rules which also have non-derogable status – their derogation is actually in fact or logically impossible (freedom of the high seas). Resumé: Obsahem tohoto příspěvku je problém určování kogentních norem obecné- ho mezinárodního práva. Nederogovatelnost není jediným kritériem jejich určování, ježto taková jsou i jiná pravidla obecného mezinárodního práva, která nejsou norma- mi juris cogentis (svoboda moří). Nejdůležitější kogentní pravidla: zákaz uchylovat se k síle a zákaz genocidia. Zločin proti lidskosti je už obyčejově stabilizován, jeho písem- né vyjádření se teprve dotváří, včetně zájmu Komise pro MP. Všechna kogentní pra- vidla mezinárodního humanitárního práva (práva ozbrojených konfliktů) se vyvinula z příslušných smluv. Nejméně ustálena je zásada sebeurčení národů. Dávná jsou pra- vidla obecného mezinárodního práva, jež jsou věcně nebo logicky nederogovatelná. Key Words: Peremptory norms of general international law; prohibition of force; genocide; crime against humanity; international humanitarian law; principle of self-determination; other rules of general international law with non-derogable status (derogation in fact or logically impossible). On the Author: Born in 1927. He is a retired professor of international law. Till 1993 he was a member of the Department of International Law at the Faculty of Law, Charles University in Prague. Since then he has been cooperating externally with this Department. In his research he mainly focuses on general international law and its codification.

117