Category: politics

This image, released by the armed wing of Hamas, shows the 48 captives still held in Gaza [Photo released by Qassam Brigades] Because it codifies the principles that govern statehood and sovereignty, the Montevideo Convention is a foundational document in international law. It also reflects the principles of equality among states and the importance of peaceful relations between them. Signed on December 26, 1933, in Montevideo, Uruguay, the Convention established the following four criteria for statehood: A clearly defined territory over which it exercises effective control; A permanent population composed of individuals who reside within its territory on an ongoing basis; A functioning government capable of maintaining law and order, the provision of public services, and representation of the interests of its population; The capacity to engage in diplomatic relations and allied interactions with other states.