论国际法中的一般法律原则

Research on General Legal Principles in International Law

《国际法院规约》第38条第1款第3项规定了“为文明各国所承认者”的一般法律原则。学者对一般法律原则的讨论,混淆了作为国际法渊源的一般法律原则和《国际法院规约》第38条规定的一般法律原则。作为国际法渊源的一般法律原则,仅指各国国内法中共有的一般法律原则,但《国际法院规约》第38条规定的一般法律原则不仅包括各国国内法中共有的一般法律原则,还包括源自国际法体系中的一般法律原则。为便于明晰一般法律原则的内涵,应当讨论作为国际法渊源的一般法律原则与习惯国际法、国际法基本原则之间的关系。在一般法律原则的识别上,承载一般法律原则的国际法文件以及国际法院的判例,构成源自国际法律体系的一般法律原则的证据,而对于各国国内法中共有的一般法律原则,则需要运用比较和归纳的方法予以识别,但须注意“共有”的标准。源于国际法体系的一般法律原则可以在国际司法裁判中适用,各国国内法中共有的一般法律原则在适用时,应当考量所识别的原则能否从国内法“借用”或“移植”到国际法予以适用,因此必须研究、分析、评价从国内法移植一般法律原则的必要性、内容、作用效果等,还应当对其予以适当改造,以适应国际社会的环境和条件。我们应当肯定一般法律原则在《国际法院规约》第38条中存在的意义,国际社会需要继续推动一般法律原则的适用。

Article 38(1)(c) of the Statute of the International Court of Justice stipulates the general principles of law of “recognized by civilized nations”. Scholars' discussion of general principles of law has confused the general principles of law as sources of international law with the general principles of law stipulated in Article 38 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice. The general principles of law, as the source of international law, only refer to the general principles of law commonly in the domestic laws of various countries. However, Article 38 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice stipulates that the general principles of law not only include the general principles of law commonly in the domestic laws of various countries, but also include the general principles of law originating from the international legal system. In order to clarify the connotation of general principles of law, the relationship between general principles of law, customary international, and basic principles of international law should be discussed. In the identification of general principles of law, international law documents and precedents of the International Court of Justice that carry them constitute evidence of general principles of law originating from the international legal system. For general principles of law that are common in domestic laws of various countries, comparative and inductive methods need to be used to identify them, but attention must be paid to the “common” standard. General principles of law originating from the international legal system can be applied in international judicial decisions. However, when applying general principles of law commonly found in domestic laws of various countries in the international legal system, consideration should be given to whether the identified principles can be “borrowed” or “transplanted” from domestic law to international law for application. Therefore, it is necessary to study, analyze, and evaluate the necessity, content, and effectiveness of transplanting general principles of law from domestic law, it should also be appropriately transformed to adapt to the environment and conditions of the international community. The significance of general principles of law in Article 38 of the Statute of the International Court of Justice should be affirmed, and the international community needs to continue to promote the application of general principles of law.