This book is the outcome of a joint research project undertaken by the editors. The underlying theme was to analyze how various regulatory regimes can facilitate the implementation of relevant treaty obligations undertaken by States parties. The editors had decided to invite specialists working in three fields of international law, namely, human rights, international environmental law and arms control, in order to provide analyses of arrangements for dispute settlement, compliance control and enforcement. These contributions were supplemented by introductions from the editors and concluding chapters by well-known academics.

Thilo Marauhn and Geir Ulfstein applied for financing from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research Foundation) and the Norwegian Research Council, respectively, and the editors are grateful to both these institutions for the support they provided which made this endeavour a reality. Drafts of the respective reports were presented and discussed at a workshop held at the Walther-Schücking-Institute for International Law, University of Kiel, from 20 to 23 January 2005, which Andreas Zimmermann had undertaken to organize. Geir Ulfstein secured the contact with the authors and the publisher with a view to finalizing the book.

The editors would like to thank particularly all the contributors for their dedication, for allocating their precious time to this project, and for the open discussions during the workshop.