erga

Erga is a Latin preposition meaning toward, in relation to, or with regard to. It governs the accusative case and is used to indicate direction, relation, or reference from the subject toward a person, object, or issue. In classical Latin, erga appears in phrases such as erga vos (toward you) and erga deum (toward God). In scholarly and legal Latin, it is often used to frame obligations, duties, or considerations directed at someone or something.

In modern usage, erga survives mainly in formal phrases adopted into English texts. The most prominent example is erga omnes, meaning obligations toward all or toward the international community as a whole. The concept occupies a central place in contemporary international law, where states may owe erga omnes obligations not just to particular states but to the international community. The International Court of Justice has cited erga omnes in its jurisprudence, notably in the Barcelona Traction, Light and Power Company, Limited case (1970) and related decisions.

Etymology: from Latin erga, meaning toward or in relation to. The preposition is a standard part of Latin grammar and continues to appear in legal and historical writing in its original form.

See also: erga omnes, Latin phrases, international law.