ABSTRACT
The subjects of the international responsibility system are the subjects of international law. Every subject’s responsibility shall be measured within the limits of its subjectivity. Since the states possess universal subjectivity (personality) under international law, their responsibility may not be limited. The other subject’s responsibility is derived from their limited international subjectivity. There are three primary purposes which the international responsibility system of the states aims to fulfil. At the same time, each of them involves the deterrence function restraining a state from a breach of the international legal obligation:
reparation – which takes the form of material responsibility;
satisfaction – which takes the form of moral responsibility; and
enforcement – which takes the form of political responsibility.
Even though individuals are not regarded as subjects of international law, they can be considered direct addressees of the international responsibility system if a serious violation of the most fundamental rules of conduct emerges at the interstate level. These very dangerous breaches of fundamental international legal norms undertaken by individuals are called international crimes.