LEGAL PERSONALITY OF THE SUBJECTS OF INTERNATIONAL LAW

Abstract

Under international law, the only entities hitherto considered as subjects of international law and having international personality are states. With modern changes in international law and increase in activities among states, the need to recognise the personality of other non-state entities such corporations, international organizations, Non-Governmental Organizations and individuals became a thing of concern. Thus, some form of partial or limited legal personality has been accorded to these entities but states still stand as the major subjects of international law with full legal personality. This manuscript demystified the extent of the legal personality of subjects of international law as its major objective. The doctrinal research method was adopted and the data collected were both primary and secondary comprising of both hard copies and online source materials. It was discovered that the only entity with full international legal personality is a state, other non-state actors have only limited personality. It is recommended that more treaties and agreements need to be entered into and signed by states to ensure that the scope of the legal personality of other non-state entities is expanded to accommodate recent developments at the global scene.