Jus cogens
| Literal meaning | Compelling law |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | yoos KOH-genz |
A basic rule of international law from which no country can depart, even by treaty.
Example
A treaty that allows genocide would be void, because the ban on genocide is a jus cogens rule.
Statutory link
Article 53 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, 1969: a treaty is void if it conflicts with a peremptory norm of general international law.
Exam tip
Asked in public international law.
Memory trick
Cogens = compels; no one can opt out.
Key takeaway
Jus cogens norms cannot be set aside by any treaty.
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