A Functional Approach to “General Principles of International Law”

“General Principles of International Law” are among the sources of national and international law’ which have long been recognized and applied in disputes between States.2 They were embodied in the Statute of the Permanent Court of International Justice [“PCIJ”], article 38 (I)(3), and in the Statute of the International Court of Justice [“ICJ”], article 38 (1)(c), under the terms “general principles of law recognized by civilized nations.” As discussed below, both the PCIJ and ICJ have relied on this source.