Völkerrechtspersönlichkeit

Völkerrechtspersönlichkeit, or international legal personality, refers to the capacity of an entity to possess rights and obligations under international law. This means that such an entity can engage in international relations, enter into treaties, bring claims before international tribunals, and be held responsible for breaches of international law. Historically, only states were considered to possess full international legal personality. However, over time, the scope has broadened.

Subjects of international law are those entities that are capable of holding rights and duties directly under international law. While states are the primary subjects, other entities can also possess varying degrees of international legal personality. These may include international organizations, such as the United Nations or the European Union, which are granted specific legal capacities by their founding treaties.

In certain circumstances, individuals can also possess limited international legal personality, particularly in areas like international criminal law where they can be held directly accountable for grave international crimes. Furthermore, national liberation movements or other non-state actors may, in specific contexts, be recognized as having international legal personality to facilitate their participation in international affairs or peace negotiations. The extent of an entity's personality is determined by the rules and principles of international law and the specific circumstances of its creation and recognition.