Unit INTERNATIONAL LAW

INTERNATIONAL LAW - Cognomi A-L

Code	A005783
CFU	9
Teacher	Simone Vezzani
Teachers	Simone Vezzani
Hours	54 ore - Simone Vezzani
Learning activities	Caratterizzante
Area	Internazionalistico
Sector	IUS/13
Type of study-unit	Obbligatorio (Required)
Language of instruction	Italian
Contents	The course aims to provide an adequate basic understanding of public international law through an examination of the structure of the international legal system and its most important rules. The first part of the course examines institutional topics (sources, dispute settlement, international responsibility of States and international organizations, adaptation of domestic law to international law, UN action in crisis situations, immunity from jurisdiction). The special part explores certain aspects related to the protection of human rights and to environmental protection.
Reference texts	For the general part: TANZI A., 'Introduzione al Diritto internazionale contemporaneo', Cedam, Padova, latest edition, or, alternatively: CONFORTI B., IOVANE, M., 'Diritto internazionale' Law', Editoriale Scientifica, Napoli, latest edition; CASSESE A., 'International Law' (ed. M. Frulli), Il Mulino, Bologna, latest edition. For the special part: PISILLO MAZZESCHI, R., International Human Rights Law Theory and Practice. Giappichelli, Turin, latest edition, chapters II, III, and IV, section 1. It is strongly recommended that tudents supplement the study with reading of the relevant legal istruments. The main international treaties are collected in the "Code of Public International Law," Giappichelli Editore, and are easily available online. All the teaching materials discussed in class, including slides, rulings, and treaties included in the program, are published on the UNISTUDIUM platform.
Educational objectives	The course aims to introduce students to the study of international law, providing them with a basic understanding of the structure of the international legal system through an examination of normative sources, subjects and key actors, institutions, and sanctioning mechanisms, with particular attention to the role of certain international organizations, such as the UN and the International Criminal Court. Furthermore, the course aims to provide students with a basic understanding of the international system for the protection of human rights and international environmental protection. Through an examination of treaties and recent practice, particularly the case law of international tribunals, the objective is to provide students with the necessary skills to identify and interpret the norms that govern relations between States and other entities of the international community.
Prerequisites	To better understand the course, students must possess a general understanding of the structure of the state and the sources of law, concepts they should have acquired during their first year. This prerequisite applies to both attending and non-attending students. Students are advised to check the prerequisites required by their study plan before taking the international law exam.
Teaching methods	Lectures and seminars on specific topics. Reading materials provided by the professor are included (judgments, texts of resolutions and international treaties, including in the original language, etc.). The slides and materials discussed in class are available on the course's UNISTUDIUM platform and are easily accessible to all students. Students with disabilities and/or learning disabilities should follow the University guidelines found at the following link: https://www.unipg.it/disabilita-e-dsa/studenti-con-dsa#strumenti.
Other information	Attendance at classes is recommended.
Learning verification modality	The final ecaluation includes a final oral exam, consisting of a discussion/interview on the topics covered in the textbooks, with particular emphasis on the case law of the International Court of Justice, and, for attending students, on the topics covered in class. The exam assesses the student's level of knowledge, comprehension, and synthesis, as well as their ability to communicate notions with appropriate language. Interdisciplinary connections are appreciated. The length of the exam and the number of questions vary depending on the progress of each exam; typically, there are at least three questions, covering both the institutional and the special part of the course. For information on support services for students with disabilities and/or learning disabilities, please visit http://www.unipg.it/disabilita-e-dsa.
Extended program	SYLLABUS: Part I (General Part of Public International Law = 6 credits) 1. INTRODUCTION: Law in International Society - Introduction: What is international law? The study of international law. Characteristics and structure of the international legal system. Historical development, the structure of the international community, and the development of modern international law. 2. SOURCES - The formation and transformation of international law. - Art. 38 of the ICJ Statute. Custom, agreement, general principles of law, jus cogens. Codification agreements. - Formation of customs. - Formation and validity of treaties. The 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties: conclusion, expression of consent, ratification, entry into force, effectiveness, grounds for invalidity and termination or suspension of treaties. Rules on the interpretation of treaties. Scope of application of treaties. The regulation of reservations. - Other sources of international law, sources derived from agreements: acts of international organizations, so-called 'soft law' - Relationships between rules. 3. SUBJECTS - The subjects participating in the formation of international rules - STATES as the main subjects and the problem of acquiring subjectivity, the value of recognizing new States. - Other actors in the international community: international intergovernmental organizations and other entities, NGOs. - Individuals. - 4. ADAPTATION - Ascertainment, application, and compliance with the rules of international law - The adaptation of domestic law to international law: a) adaptation to general international law, art. 10.1 of the Constitution; b) adaptation to international treaty law. The rank of international law rules in the Italian legal system (art. 117 of the Constitution) 5. The Law of the SEA - State IMMUNITIES and the immunities of its organs under international law. 6. INTERNATIONAL WRONGFUL ACT AND STATE RESPONSIBILITY - Non-compliance, unlawfulness, and international responsibility of States for violations of international law - The wrongful act as a condition for international responsibility: constituent elements of the international wrongful act. - Damage and fault. Circumstances excluding wrongfulness. - The consequences of the wrongful act, forms of reparation - The draft articles of the International Convention on the international responsibility of States for wrongful acts (see the text in the teaching materials). 7. INTERNATIONAL DISPUTES - International disputes: Definition of dispute; the obligation to resolve disputes peacefully; means and methods of resolving disputes (diplomatic and judicial). 8. THE USE OF FORCE - The United Nations system of collective security, the prohibition on the use of armed force. - The role of the Security Council under Chapter VII, Article 51 of the Charter. Individual and collective self-defense. - Aggression in international law. 9. INTERNATIONAL JURISDICTION - The International Court of Justice (ICJ): structure and competence. The execution of ICJ judgments. - The International Criminal Court (Rome Statute) and international crimes committed by individuals: war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide. - State and individual responsibility for violations of IHL. Part II - INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT (3 credits) 10. Evolution of human rights protection in the international community. – 11. Human rights theory and the modernization of international law. – 12. Sources of human rights. – Spatial scope of application of human rights conventions. – 12. International environmental protection. – 13. Main sources. – Climate change and human rights. *** N.B.: The course will explore specific themes and topics drawn from practice and current events. All teaching materials for the lessons are available on the UNISTUDIUM-International Law platform - academic year 2025/26.
Obiettivi Agenda 2030 per lo sviluppo sostenibile	Since the UN is committed to the realization of the Agenda 2030, the course will touch on many of the SDGs, especially in the special part.

INTERNATIONAL LAW - Cognomi M-Z

Code	A005783
CFU	9
Teacher	Simone Vezzani
Teachers	Simone Vezzani
Hours	54 ore - Simone Vezzani
Learning activities	Caratterizzante
Area	Internazionalistico
Sector	IUS/13
Type of study-unit	Obbligatorio (Required)
Language of instruction	Italian
Contents	The course aims to provide an adequate basic understanding of public international law through an examination of the structure of the international legal system and its most important rules. The first part of the course examines institutional topics (sources, dispute settlement, international responsibility of States and international organizations, adaptation of domestic law to international law, UN action in crisis situations, immunity from jurisdiction). The special part explores certain aspects related to the protection of human rights and to environmental protection.
Reference texts	For the general part: TANZI A., 'Introduzione al Diritto internazionale contemporaneo', Cedam, Padova, latest edition, or, alternatively: CONFORTI B., IOVANE, M., 'Diritto internazionale' Law', Editoriale Scientifica, Napoli, latest edition; CASSESE A., 'International Law' (ed. M. Frulli), Il Mulino, Bologna, latest edition. For the special part: PISILLO MAZZESCHI, R., International Human Rights Law Theory and Practice. Giappichelli, Turin, latest edition, chapters II, III, and IV, section 1. It is strongly recommended that tudents supplement the study with reading of the relevant legal istruments. The main international treaties are collected in the "Code of Public International Law," Giappichelli Editore, and are easily available online. All the teaching materials discussed in class, including slides, rulings, and treaties included in the program, are published on the UNISTUDIUM platform.
Educational objectives	The course aims to introduce students to the study of international law, providing them with a basic understanding of the structure of the international legal system through an examination of normative sources, subjects and key actors, institutions, and sanctioning mechanisms, with particular attention to the role of certain international organizations, such as the UN and the International Criminal Court. Furthermore, the course aims to provide students with a basic understanding of the international system for the protection of human rights and international environmental protection. Through an examination of treaties and recent practice, particularly the case law of international tribunals, the objective is to provide students with the necessary skills to identify and interpret the norms that govern relations between States and other entities of the international community.
Prerequisites	To better understand the course, students must possess a general understanding of the structure of the state and the sources of law, concepts they should have acquired during their first year. This prerequisite applies to both attending and non-attending students. Students are advised to check the prerequisites required by their study plan before taking the international law exam.
Teaching methods	Lectures and seminars on specific topics. Reading materials provided by the professor are included (judgments, texts of resolutions and international treaties, including in the original language, etc.). The slides and materials discussed in class are available on the course's UNISTUDIUM platform and are easily accessible to all students. Students with disabilities and/or learning disabilities should follow the University guidelines found at the following link: https://www.unipg.it/disabilita-e-dsa/studenti-con-dsa#strumenti.
Other information	Attendance at classes is recommended.
Learning verification modality	The final ecaluation includes a final oral exam, consisting of a discussion/interview on the topics covered in the textbooks, with particular emphasis on the case law of the International Court of Justice, and, for attending students, on the topics covered in class. The exam assesses the student's level of knowledge, comprehension, and synthesis, as well as their ability to communicate notions with appropriate language. Interdisciplinary connections are appreciated. The length of the exam and the number of questions vary depending on the progress of each exam; typically, there are at least three questions, covering both the institutional and the special part of the course. For information on support services for students with disabilities and/or learning disabilities, please visit http://www.unipg.it/disabilita-e-dsa.
Extended program	SYLLABUS: Part I (General Part of Public International Law = 6 credits) 1. INTRODUCTION: Law in International Society - Introduction: What is international law? The study of international law. Characteristics and structure of the international legal system. Historical development, the structure of the international community, and the development of modern international law. 2. SOURCES - The formation and transformation of international law. - Art. 38 of the ICJ Statute. Custom, agreement, general principles of law, jus cogens. Codification agreements. - Formation of customs. - Formation and validity of treaties. The 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties: conclusion, expression of consent, ratification, entry into force, effectiveness, grounds for invalidity and termination or suspension of treaties. Rules on the interpretation of treaties. Scope of application of treaties. The regulation of reservations. - Other sources of international law, sources derived from agreements: acts of international organizations, so-called 'soft law' - Relationships between rules. 3. SUBJECTS - The subjects participating in the formation of international rules - STATES as the main subjects and the problem of acquiring subjectivity, the value of recognizing new States. - Other actors in the international community: international intergovernmental organizations and other entities, NGOs. - Individuals. - 4. ADAPTATION - Ascertainment, application, and compliance with the rules of international law - The adaptation of domestic law to international law: a) adaptation to general international law, art. 10.1 of the Constitution; b) adaptation to international treaty law. The rank of international law rules in the Italian legal system (art. 117 of the Constitution) 5. The Law of the SEA - State IMMUNITIES and the immunities of its organs under international law. 6. INTERNATIONAL WRONGFUL ACT AND STATE RESPONSIBILITY - Non-compliance, unlawfulness, and international responsibility of States for violations of international law - The wrongful act as a condition for international responsibility: constituent elements of the international wrongful act. - Damage and fault. Circumstances excluding wrongfulness. - The consequences of the wrongful act, forms of reparation - The draft articles of the International Convention on the international responsibility of States for wrongful acts (see the text in the teaching materials). 7. INTERNATIONAL DISPUTES - International disputes: Definition of dispute; the obligation to resolve disputes peacefully; means and methods of resolving disputes (diplomatic and judicial). 8. THE USE OF FORCE - The United Nations system of collective security, the prohibition on the use of armed force. - The role of the Security Council under Chapter VII, Article 51 of the Charter. Individual and collective self-defense. - Aggression in international law. 9. INTERNATIONAL JURISDICTION - The International Court of Justice (ICJ): structure and competence. The execution of ICJ judgments. - The International Criminal Court (Rome Statute) and international crimes committed by individuals: war crimes, crimes against humanity, genocide. - State and individual responsibility for violations of IHL. Part II - INTERNATIONAL PROTECTION OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND THE ENVIRONMENT (3 credits) 10. Evolution of human rights protection in the international community. – 11. Human rights theory and the modernization of international law. – 12. Sources of human rights. – Spatial scope of application of human rights conventions. – 12. International environmental protection. – 13. Main sources. – Climate change and human rights. *** N.B.: The course will explore specific themes and topics drawn from practice and current events. All teaching materials for the lessons are available on the UNISTUDIUM-International Law platform - academic year 2025/26.
Obiettivi Agenda 2030 per lo sviluppo sostenibile	Since the UN is committed to the realization of the Agenda 2030, the course will touch on many of the SDGs, especially in the special part.