If forced into a bloody war or faced with the death of your nation or way of life, you might still hold your chin up high with the knowledge that at least you followed the "standards of international conduct" on the way towards your extinction...not me though.
If the "standard of international conduct" will lead to bloody war, it is the peacemaker who doesn't abide by this standard.
"Standards of international conduct" can be put in place to empower the Hitlers and Husseins. You can count on that being the case when you have corrupt organizations like the UN devising these standards.