Discover International Law’: an interesting new book

Recently a book about international law and their courts, tribunals and other institutions in The Hague has been published for both interested lawyers and non-lawyers: ‘Discover International Law’, written by three well known Dutch international lawyers: Professor Willem van Genugten, Ms. Daniela Heerdt LL.M. and Professor Nico Schrijver. A ‘must’ for every one in The Hague interested in what The Hague is internationally so well known for: international law and peace.

I am myself personally internationally orientated and a lawyer, but not an international lawyer. My young and brilliant colleague at the Court of Appeal Justice Mrs. Dr. Mappie Veldt Foglia is very much a well known international lawyer. Her comment on the book: ‘The authors of ‘Discover international law’ aim at explaining what internationally law actually is for the reader interested in international law without a special (academic) background in this field. By a general introduction and ten chapters on important fields of international law accompanied with interesting and sometime touching photographs of persons, symbols, buildings and (crucial) historical moments concerning international law, the reader is introduced into the world of international law’.

‘Also the importance the Kingdom of the Netherlands attaches to the further development of international law and the rule of law and the role of The Hague as city of justice and peace with the large number of institutions and organizations working in the field of private and public international law is discussed. Current challenges faced in the different fields of international law are highlighted and through interviews with key players active in this field in The Hague the relationship between the various institutions and organizations and the development of international law are explored. Each chapter starts with a small note informing what to expect from the content. A very reader friendly way to unlock the available information. There is an online version of the book available on www.discoverinternationallaw.com which is said to be updated on a regular basis. The book contains a glossary of common terms in international law and a list of relevant webpages on topics referring to international law’.

‘The book both explains topics like International Peace and Security, International dispute settlement, International criminal law, Human rights law and International Family law in a straightforward, clear way and highlightens their history, the (legal) meaning/purpose/function of these concepts and the challenges the international community is facing at the moment in this field.’

‘The book covers a longue variety of topics: the biography of for example Hugo Grotius, Tobias Asser, the history and actual function of the Peace Palace, Inter-Country adoption by same sex-couples, common principles of international trade, BRICS countries, UNCITRAL, European Counter Terrorism Centre, the European Cybercrime Centre, the ICTY, the ICC, developments in Human Rights Law/climate law and the World Constitution of the Oceans. Not to miss is the positive outlook on the success of the role of international law and the trends discerned by the authors when analyzing international law like the humanization of international law and the growing emphasis on compulsory standards of international law to resolve problems that are common to the countries and which should be dealt with and solved through cooperation and joined efforts’.