Is international law, law in the real sense? This is a question that has been frequently posed not only by inquisitive undergraduate students, but also by national law practitioners. The sceptics of international law point to the absence of firmly established legislative, executive and judicial mechanisms—mechanisms that represent the essence of an effective legal system. The influence of human rights law upon national laws may appear particularly limited and tenuous. Furthermore, in the light of significant violations of individual and collective rights, there is scepticism about the effectiveness or influence of international human rights law upon national legal systems. This article, in challenging those sceptics who question the effectiveness of international human rights law, argues in favour of a strong and influential relationship between national criminal justice systems and international human rights law.