How to Cite International Law in OSCOLA Format

Understanding International Law Citations in OSCOLA

International law encompasses treaties, customary international law, and decisions from international courts. OSCOLA provides guidelines for properly citing these sources, which are essential in international law scholarship, diplomacy, and comparative legal analysis.

Basic International Treaty Citation Format

The standard OSCOLA format for international treaties is: Treaty Name [Date] UN Treaty Series [Volume] [Page].

Include the treaty name in italics, the year or date, the UN Treaty Series designation, volume number, and page number.

Treaty Citation Example

A standard international treaty citation:

Geneva Convention for the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War [1950] UN Treaty Series 75, 287.

Include the treaty name, official UN Treaty Series citation, and page where the treaty appears.

International Court of Justice Decision

For decisions from the International Court of Justice:

Case Concerning Legality of Use of Force Against Serbia and Montenegro (Belgium v. Serbia and Montenegro) [2004] ICJ Reports 279.

Include the case name, parties involved in brackets, year of decision, and page number in ICJ Reports.

International Criminal Court Decision

For International Criminal Court cases:

Prosecutor v. Lubanga (Decision on the Consequences of Non-Disclosure of Exculpatory Evidence Allegedly in the Possession of the Prosecutor) [2010] ICC-01/04-01/06.

Include the case name, court designation, and case number.

Specific Article Reference

When citing a particular provision of an international treaty:

Convention on the Rights of the Child [1990] UN Treaty Series 1577, art. 3.

Reference specific articles, protocols, or sections as needed.

International Treaty in Force

For treaties currently in force:

Charter of the United Nations [1945] 1 UNTS 16.

Current treaties use the current UN Treaty Series citation.

In-Text Citations for International Law

In OSCOLA format used in legal writing, citations appear in footnotes:

Case Concerning Legality of Use of Force (Belgium v. Serbia and Montenegro) [2004] ICJ Reports 279.

For subsequent references:

Legality of Use of Force [2004] ICJ Reports 279.

Examples for Different International Law Sources

UNESCO Convention

Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage [2006] UN Treaty Series 2368.

International Labor Organization Convention

Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention [2000] UN Treaty Series 2242.

Regional Human Rights Treaty

European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms [1953] 213 UN Treaty Series 222.

World Trade Organization Decision

China—Measures Affecting the Importation and Sale of Automobile Products (WT/DS339, WT/DS340, WT/DS342) AB Report (2009).

General Assembly Resolutions

For UN General Assembly resolutions:

UN General Assembly Resolution 2625 (Declaration on Principles of International Law Concerning Friendly Relations and Co-operation Among States).

Include the resolution number and title.

International Custom and General Principles

For references to customary international law:

Customary international law on the law of the sea is reflected in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea [1982] 21 ILM 1261.

Reference supporting treaty provisions when discussing customary law.

Using GenText for International Law Citations

GenText streamlines international law citation in OSCOLA format by organizing treaty information, ICJ case details, and international legal instruments. The tool ensures proper abbreviations and consistent formatting.

Finding International Legal Documents

Locating international law sources:

• UN Treaty Collection (treaties.un.org)
• International Court of Justice (icj-cij.org)
• International Criminal Court (icc-cpi.int)
• International Labour Organization (ilo.org)
• UNESCO (unesco.org)
• World Trade Organization (wto.org)

Common International Law Abbreviations

Standard abbreviations in OSCOLA international law citations:

• ICJ (International Court of Justice)
• UNTS (UN Treaty Series)
• ILM (International Legal Materials)
• ICC (International Criminal Court)
• UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)
• ICTR (International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda)
• ICTY (International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia)

Common Citation Mistakes

• Missing UN Treaty Series information: Always include the UNTS volume and page.
• Incorrect case names: Verify full case names for international court decisions.
• Wrong year designations: Use the correct year for treaty signature and entry into force.
• Incomplete case numbers: For ICC and other tribunals, include full case designations.

Treaty vs. Protocol vs. Convention

Distinguish different types of international instruments in your citations:

• Convention: Binding agreement between states
• Protocol: Amendment or addition to a convention
• Agreement: Less formal binding instrument
• Covenant: Typically refers to human rights instruments

Reservation and Declaration

When citing treaties with reservations or declarations:

Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment [1987] UN Treaty Series 1465, with [Country Name] reservation to Article X.

Note when a country’s participation is qualified by reservations.

When to Cite International Law

International law citations are essential for:

• International relations and diplomacy
• Human rights law
• International trade and commerce
• Environmental law
• International criminal law
• Comparative legal analysis

Treaty Interpretation

When discussing treaty interpretation, cite the relevant treaty provisions along with supporting ICJ decisions or expert commentary.

By following OSCOLA guidelines for international law citations, you maintain consistency with UK and international legal writing standards and enable readers to access authoritative international legal sources.