Editing Customary law (section)

==International law==
{{Main|Customary international law}}

In [[international law]], ''customary law'' refers to the ''Law of Nations'' or the legal norms that have developed through the customary exchanges between [[Sovereign state|states]] over time, whether based on [[diplomacy]] or aggression. Essentially, legal obligations are believed to arise between states to carry out their affairs consistently with past accepted conduct. These customs can also change based on the acceptance or rejection by states of particular acts. Some principles of customary law have achieved the force of [[peremptory norm]]s, which cannot be violated or altered except by a norm of comparable strength. These norms are said to gain their strength from universal acceptance, such as the prohibitions against [[genocide]] and [[slavery]]. Customary international law can be distinguished from [[treaty]] law, which consists of explicit agreements between nations to assume obligations. However, many treaties are attempts to codify pre-existing customary law.