Inclusion of Individuals as Subjects of International Law

Abstract

The classical notion of international law as a body of laws or rules that regulate the relations of States inter se is no longer sustainable. This paper is an attempt to appraise the inclusion of individuals as subjects of international law. It uses the doctrinal methodology. It makes the claim that the activities of individuals attract international judicial notice and produce certain consequences. Individuals now have rights and obligations under international law. As incumbents of rights under international law, individuals have some procedural capacity to protect these rights. Again as rights are corollary of duties, individuals could be held accountable before international courts when they are in default as regards their international obligations. Thus, officials of the State can no longer find shelter in the rubric of State capacity or official capacity to occasion gross violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms.