This Month in FCIL Law

October 24, 1648
Treaty of peace of Münster (Peace of Westphalia) Concluded between France and the Holy Roman Empire, as principal parties, and their allies. Ends the Thirty Years' War.

October 24, 1945
The following countries became members of the United Nations: Argentina, Belarus, Brazil, Chile, China, Cuba, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, France, Haiti, Iran, Lebanon, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Phillippines, Poland, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom and the United States.

October 4, 1988
China ratifies the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.

October 3, 2005
European Union accession negotiations open with Turkey and Croatia.

Code of Hammurabi

The Code of Hammurabi--one of the earliest extant set of laws in the world, created in approximately 1780 B.C.--was quite strict on many matters. All of the following offenses resulted in the offender being put to death: