Roberto Ago
Encyclopedia
Roberto Ago was an Italian
jurist
. He served as a judge on the International Court of Justice
from 1979 until 1995. Ago served as Professor of International Law at the Universities of Catania
(1934–1935), Genoa
(1935–1938), and finally Rome (1956–1982). He specialized in both private and public international law. He gave his first Hague Academy
lecture in 1936 at the age of twenty-eight, on general conflict of laws rules. He also gave lectures at the Hague Academy in 1939, 1956, 1971, and 1983, on topics ranging from international torts to the Grotian
conception of international law
. He also served as Chairman of the Hague Academy Curatorium for the last 20 years of his life. In 1970 Ago was awarded honorary membership in the American Society of International Law
. He served as a delegate to international conferences on the law of the sea and on diplomatic relations. In addition, Ago presided over the Vienna Conference on the Law of Treaties from 1968 to 1969. He also acted as counsel for several governments appearing before the International Court of Justice
. He was a member of the International Law Commission
from 1956 to 1979 and served as its chairman from 1964 to 1965. Former ICJ judge Stephen M. Schwebel said that Ago, through his work with the International Law Commission, had an "extended and preeminent" role in the codification work of the International Law Commission. He also worked closely with the International Labor Organisation, twice presiding over the ILO Governing Body. For the last thirty-five years of his life, Ago chaired the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association. Ago was also an active member of the Institut du Droit International from 1932 until his death, serving as its President from 1992 to 1993.
Roberto Ago died on February 24, 1995 in Geneva
. Sir Robert Jennings
, wrote that Ago "is an international lawyer who has excelled in all the several different aspects of that calling: as scholar and writer; as teacher; as consultant to governments and international organizations; as fashioner of law through the International Law Commission; as advocate; and as judge." His term of office at the International Court of Justice was due to expire in February 1997.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
jurist
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
. He served as a judge on the International Court of Justice
International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands...
from 1979 until 1995. Ago served as Professor of International Law at the Universities of Catania
University of Catania
The University of Catania is a university located in Catania, Italy, and founded in 1434. It is the oldest university in Sicily, the 13th oldest in Italy and the 29th oldest university in the world...
(1934–1935), Genoa
University of Genoa
The University of Genoa is one of the largest universities in Italy.Located in Liguria on the Italian Riviera, the university was founded in 1471. It currently has about 40,000 students, 1,800 teaching and research staff and about 1,580 administrative staff.- Campus :The University of Genoa is...
(1935–1938), and finally Rome (1956–1982). He specialized in both private and public international law. He gave his first Hague Academy
Hague Academy of International Law
The Hague Academy of International Law is a center for high-level education in both public and private international law housed in the Peace Palace in The Hague, The Netherlands...
lecture in 1936 at the age of twenty-eight, on general conflict of laws rules. He also gave lectures at the Hague Academy in 1939, 1956, 1971, and 1983, on topics ranging from international torts to the Grotian
Hugo Grotius
Hugo Grotius , also known as Huig de Groot, Hugo Grocio or Hugo de Groot, was a jurist in the Dutch Republic. With Francisco de Vitoria and Alberico Gentili he laid the foundations for international law, based on natural law...
conception of international law
International law
Public international law concerns the structure and conduct of sovereign states; analogous entities, such as the Holy See; and intergovernmental organizations. To a lesser degree, international law also may affect multinational corporations and individuals, an impact increasingly evolving beyond...
. He also served as Chairman of the Hague Academy Curatorium for the last 20 years of his life. In 1970 Ago was awarded honorary membership in the American Society of International Law
American Society of International Law
The American Society of International Law is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, educational membership organization, based in Washington, D.C.. It was founded in 1906, and was chartered by the United States Congress in 1950...
. He served as a delegate to international conferences on the law of the sea and on diplomatic relations. In addition, Ago presided over the Vienna Conference on the Law of Treaties from 1968 to 1969. He also acted as counsel for several governments appearing before the International Court of Justice
International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands...
. He was a member of the International Law Commission
International Law Commission
The International Law Commission was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948 for the "promotion of the progressive development of international law and its codification."It holds an annual session at the United Nations Office at Geneva....
from 1956 to 1979 and served as its chairman from 1964 to 1965. Former ICJ judge Stephen M. Schwebel said that Ago, through his work with the International Law Commission, had an "extended and preeminent" role in the codification work of the International Law Commission. He also worked closely with the International Labor Organisation, twice presiding over the ILO Governing Body. For the last thirty-five years of his life, Ago chaired the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association. Ago was also an active member of the Institut du Droit International from 1932 until his death, serving as its President from 1992 to 1993.
Roberto Ago died on February 24, 1995 in Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
. Sir Robert Jennings
Robert Jennings
Robert Jennings may refer to:* Robert Yewdall Jennings , British jurist* Robert R. Jennings, president of Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical University* Robert Jennings , English cricketer...
, wrote that Ago "is an international lawyer who has excelled in all the several different aspects of that calling: as scholar and writer; as teacher; as consultant to governments and international organizations; as fashioner of law through the International Law Commission; as advocate; and as judge." His term of office at the International Court of Justice was due to expire in February 1997.
Partial List of Works
- Eight reports to the United Nations Law Commission on the "Internationally Wrongful Act of the State, Source of International Responsibility" (1969–1979)
- Positivism (International Law), 7 Encyclopedia of Public International Law 385 (Rudolf Bernhardt ed., 1984)
- La Codification du Droit International et les Problèmes de sa Réalisation, Recueil d'Études de Droit International en Hommage à Paul Guggenheim 93 (1968)
- Pluralism and the Origins of the International Community, 3 Ital. Y.B. Int'l L. 3 (1977)
- The First International Communities in the Mediterranean World, 53 Brit. Y.B. Int'l L. 2113 (1982)
- Lezioni di diritto internazionale privato: parte generale (Milano: A. Giuffrè, 1955)
See also
- Judges of the International Court of JusticeJudges of the International Court of JusticeThis is a list of all the permanent judges of the International Court of Justice, the main judicial organ of the United Nations. It does not include judges who have been appointed as judge ad hoc by a party to a proceeding before the Court pursuant to Article 31 of the Statute of the International...
- United Nations Security Council Resolution 979United Nations Security Council Resolution 979United Nations Security Council Resolution 979, adopted without a vote on 9 March 1995, after noting the death of International Court of Justice judge Roberto Ago on 24 February 1995, the Council decided that elections to the vacancy on the ICJ would take place on 21 June 1995 at the Security...