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How does the United Nations help create international law?
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International law
Utilitarian philosopher Jeremy Bentham, detail of an oil painting by H.W. Pickersgill, 1829; in the National Portrait Gallery, London.
The United Nations plays a crucial role in developing international law through various mechanisms. The International Law Commission, established by the General Assembly, is central to codifying and expanding international legal principles. The General Assembly itself debates recommendations from the commission, potentially leading to international conferences for formal conventions. Furthermore, the International Court of Justice, the UN's principal judicial organ, reinforces legal norms through its judgments. These bodies have significantly influenced areas such as the laws of war, human rights, and the law of the sea.123