ABSTRACT
This chapter provides an outline of some of the key sources, concepts and institutions that are necessary for an understanding of the international law relating to children. The study of international law is characteristically divided into private international law and public international law. The arrangement of international institutions does have some similar features to State governance, but there are important points of distinction. International law and international relations are closely entwined and the process of a State agreeing to any particular treaty is often influenced by political considerations at the domestic, regional and international level. The law on international treaties was first developed by the emergence of rules of ‘international customary law’ relating to a wide range of subject matter. General international customary rules ought normally to be uniform and consistent in relation to both the above requirements, though a rigid prescription of these requirements should be avoided.
