Changes in international laws?

International law does change, but there isn’t one world legislature that updates a single rulebook for every country. The rules develop through new treaties, treaty amendments, established state practice known as customary international law, and decisions by international courts. Some United Nations Security Council resolutions can also create binding obligations for UN member states.

A recent example is the treaty on marine biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction, which entered into force in 2026. It sets rules for protecting ocean life in areas outside any country’s national waters.

What changes in practice depends on the subject and the countries involved: a new treaty may bind only states that join it, while a court ruling may clarify how an existing rule applies. Are you asking about a particular area, such as human rights, trade, climate, or war?