International Law for Humankind

This volume is an updated and revised version of the General Course on Public International Law delivered by the Author at The Hague Academy of International Law in 2005. Professor Cancado Trindade, Doctor honoris causa of seven Latin American Universities in distinct countries, was for many years Judge of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, and President of that Court for half a decade (1999-2004). He is currently Judge of the International Court of Justice; he is also Member of the Curatorium of The Hague Academy of International Law, as well as of the Institut de Droit International, and of the Brazilian Academy of Juridical Letters.

Review:

This volume is a fascinating, thorough exposition of the Judge's vision which has largely been influenced by his prior experience as President of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and Professor of International Law. He is strongly committed to the view that international judges have a particular role in defending the international rule of law and ensuring protection of vulnerable interests, including women, migrants, indigenous peoples and the environment...This is truly an inspiring book which may be considered a new classic within international law. It contains an encyclopedic wealth of references to literature, case law, and conventions. It is highly recommended for scholars, practitioners, and students whom the author classifies as the new generations of international lawyers dedicated to universalization and humanization. - Cecilia Marcela Baillet, in: Nordic Journal of International Law 81/2 (2012) Judge Cancado Trindade's challenging venture - appearing in the prestigious series of the Hague Academy of International Law Monographs - is much more than an updated and revised version of his 2005 General Course. His book is assuredly a significant attempt at reinstatiing the whole international corpus iuris as an obligatory, normative framework of today's world community within its dynamics and potentialities of the future, having all the features of a treatise. The author offers a consummate summa magna of views and reflections he has pondered through and carefully crafted in his academic publications of the teacher, his opinions and advice of the jurisconsult and diplomat, as well as his jurisprudential contribution of the judge. - Christophe Swinarski, in: International Humanitarian Legal Studies 2/2011