scholarly journals State Immunity, Individual Compensation for Victims of Human Rights Crimes, and Future Prospects

2021 ◽  
pp. 143-157
Author(s):  
Stefan Kadelbach
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
International Law ◽  
Customary Law ◽  
Individual Rights ◽  
Humanitarian Law ◽  
State Immunity ◽  
Bona Fide ◽  
Court Proceedings ◽  
State Of Affairs ◽  
The Individual

AbstractThis chapter first recapitulates the state of affairs as to the principle of state immunity and why exceptions from jurisdictional immunity for gross violations of human rights and humanitarian law are not recognized. It explores customary law and the global compensation treaty between Germany and Italy. Both indicate that Italy would be obligated to indemnify Germany from individual claims raised before Italian courts.In a second step, the development towards individual rights in public international law will be taken up. It appears that human beings are increasingly recognized as holders of individual claims but, apart from human rights treaty systems, lack the capacity under international law to invoke their rights before courts. Instead, they depend on their home states, which have standing but are not entitled to waive the individual rights of their citizens.In order to reconcile the seemingly antagonistic regimes of state immunity and claim settlement, prospects for a friendly solution of the present dilemma will be assessed. Against the background of cases pending before Italian courts, it will be examined whether the distinction between jurisdictional immunity and immunity from execution opens up a way out of the impasse, which the two states and private capital could pursue, and whether this solution would create a precedent for other similar constellations.Lastly, some concluding remarks will address lessons to be learnt for future conflicts. They will deal with elements of a general regime of compensation, drawing from the experience of both past reparation schemes and the experience of reconciliation in post-totalitarian societies. Such elements could be a duty to seek bona fide settlements, possible consequences of violations for domestic court proceedings, methods of assessing damages inspired by mass claim processing, the categorization of claims according to the gravity of violations, rules on evaluating evidence, procedures to give victims a say, and appropriate forms of monetary and non-pecuniary compensation including the necessary institutional framework.

Part I The International Law of Tainted Money, 6 International Legal Sources V—the UN Security Council Delisting Procedure

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant Tom
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
International Law ◽  
Security Council ◽  
National Level ◽  
Procedural Fairness ◽  
Individual Rights ◽  
International Level ◽  
Un Security Council ◽  
The Individual

This chapter considers a particular aspect of the UN Security Council sanctions regime: the procedure for removing individuals or entities from the Sanctions List. The novelty of the delisting procedure justifies considering it in some detail. The delisting procedure is the main response at the international level to the human rights question raised by the Security Council sanctions regime. Because certain consequences for an individual follow at the national level from the fact of the individual having been listed, a procedure that goes to the listing itself holds particular interest for those to whom the regime might apply. The chapter concludes that the delisting procedure will continue to evolve as the Security Council grapples with procedural fairness and individual rights with which it has not historically had much to do.

Unmasking the Challenges

2020 ◽  
pp. 359-392
Author(s):  
Gloria Gaggioli ◽  
Pavle Kilibarda
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
International Law ◽  
Criminal Responsibility ◽  
International Criminal Law ◽  
International Human Rights Law ◽  
Humanitarian Law ◽  
Criminal Courts ◽  
Law Enforcement Officials ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Mitigating Circumstances

International human rights law and international humanitarian law absolutely prohibit all forms of torture and cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment (CIDT) at all times and against anyone, even the worst of criminals. International criminal law moreover provides for the individual criminal responsibility of perpetrators. Nevertheless, there remains a number of legal and practical challenges to overcome in order to ensure the effectiveness of this prohibition. The most visible challenge pertains to the implementation of the prohibition not only in domestic law but also in the concrete practice of law enforcement officials and other State agents. Other—less visible and insufficiently discussed—challenges concern laws and practices that may indirectly impact the effectiveness of the prohibition of torture and CIDT and whose acceptability under public international law is not crystal clear. For instance, is the prohibition of using evidence obtained through torture/CIDT (so-called exclusionary rule) absolute and applicable in all cases? How far does the international law obligation to prosecute and punish torture/CIDT perpetrators go? To what extent may individual perpetrators of torture/CIDT invoke mitigating circumstances or even justifications to avoid or diminish punishment for the commission of such acts in extreme circumstances? Does the passing of lenient sentences upon individual perpetrators of ill-treatment entail the responsibility of the State as a failure to punish? The present chapter will discuss these issues in light of contemporary international practice of various human rights bodies (treaty bodies and UN special procedures) and international/mixed criminal courts and tribunals.

Part V Global and Regional Security Mechanisms, Ch.56 Non-Governmental Organizations: Their Relevance and Impact in the International Law of Global Security

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Binder Christina
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
International Law ◽  
Regional Security ◽  
International Human Rights Law ◽  
Humanitarian Law ◽  
Global Security ◽  
Complex Concept ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations ◽  
The Individual

This chapter highlights the relevance and impact of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in the international law of global security. Security is a complex concept in today’s ever-complicated world. The traditional State-centric approach to security has been complemented, albeit not replaced, by a more human-oriented aspect. Today, NGOs may participate in the security discourse as increasingly relevant stakeholders, ensuring that a focus on human rights and the common interests of humankind is maintained in security debates. The chapter considers the role of NGOs in global and regional security arrangements. It then looks at their contribution in the field of global security in terms of standard-setting, norm application, and interpretation, as well as with regard to compliance and enforcement, in areas where the individual is centre stage: international humanitarian law, international criminal law, and international human rights law. Finally, the chapter examines the applicable international legal framework regulating engagement by NGOs and assesses whether NGO practice has been influenced by the ever-changing global security landscape.

scholarly journals Searching for Armed Non-state Actors’ Role in the Process of Formation of Customary Law

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 97-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agata Kleczkowska
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
International Law ◽  
Customary Law ◽  
International Humanitarian Law ◽  
Humanitarian Law ◽  
Legal Doctrine ◽  
Customary International Law ◽  
Current State ◽  
Protection Of Human Rights ◽  
State Actors

Summary The paper explores the problem of the formation of the ‘(quasi-) customary law’, as a source of law created by, or contributed to by armed non-state actors (ANSAs). It argues that, despite some views presented in the doctrine of international law, claims of a quasi-customary international law are without foundation in the current state of international law. The paper is divided into three parts. The first part presents the views of legal doctrine concerning the customary law as contributed/created by non-state actors. The second section argues that ANSAs do not form practice and opinio juris which would allow them to create their ‘own’ customary law. The final part presents the possible challenges and consequences of including ANSAs in the process of formation of customary international law as created by States. In summary the conclusions posit that it could be potentially very harmful for international humanitarian law and the protection of human rights.

scholarly journals The Judgment of the Italian Constitutional Court on State Immunity in Cases of Serious Violations of Human Rights or Humanitarian Law: a tentative analysis under international law

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (74) ◽  
pp. 97
Author(s):  
Pasquale De Sena
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
International Law ◽  
Constitutional Court ◽  
Humanitarian Law ◽  
State Immunity

http://dx.doi.org/10.5007/2177-7055.2016v37n74p97O artigo discute o julgamento 238/2014 emanado pela Corte Constitucional Italiana sobre Imunidade Estatal em casos de sérias violações a direitos humanos ou direito humanitário. O propósito é oferecer algumas reflexões críticas sobre a potencial relevância deste julgamente no posterior desenvolvimento do regime jurídico internacional em relação a imunidades estatais em casos de sérias violações a direitos humanos ou direito humanitário. Para melhor abordar esta questão, a análise será dividida em duas partes. Na primeira parte, será abordado o potencial significado do argumento adotado pela Corte. Na segunda parte, a abordagem da Corte Constitucional Italiana será avaliada, com foco na sua capacidade de afetar em uma maior dimensão o desenvolvimento da prática relevante.

scholarly journals La protección de los derechos humanos en la justicia penal internacional: el caso particular del Tribunal Penal Internacional para la ex-Yugoslavia en relación con el derecho consuetudinario y el principio de legalidad = The protection of human rights in international Criminal Justice: the particular case of the international criminal tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia in relation to customary law and the principle of legality

2018 ◽  
pp. 70
Author(s):  
Elena C. Díaz Galán ◽  
Harold Bertot Triana
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
International Law ◽  
International Criminal ◽  
International Criminal Tribunal ◽  
Customary Law ◽  
Former Yugoslavia ◽  
International Humanitarian Law ◽  
Humanitarian Law ◽  
Derechos Humanos ◽  
Principle Of Legality

RESUMEN: La labor del Tribunal Penal Internacional para la Ex-Yugoslavia tuvo un momento importante en la compresión del principio de legalidad, como principio básico en la garantía de los derechos humanos, al enfrentar no sólo el derecho consuetudinario como fuente de derecho sino también diferentes modos o enfoques en la identificación de este derecho consuetudinario. Esta relación debe ser analizada a la luz de las limitaciones que tiene el derecho internacional y, sobre todo, de los procedimientos de creación de normas. No resulta fácil exigir responsabilidad en el cumplimiento del derecho internacional humanitario y de los derechos humanos. La práctica de este Tribunal abre una vía para la reflexión con la finalidad de asegurar el respeto de los derechos humanos en cualquier circunstancia, incluso de aquellos que llevaron a cabo la comisión de graves crímenes contra la comunidad internacional.ABSTRACT: The work of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia was important for understanding the principle of legality as a key principle on the guarantee of Human Rights. The former was due to the Tribunal’s work on having faced the customary law as a source of law using different perspectives for its identification. The link between customary law, principle of legality and human rights has to be analyzed taking in account the limits of International law and the procedures for creating legal norms. It is not easy to invoke responsibility in the fulfillment of international humanitarian law and international law of human rights. The practice developed by this Tribunal provides an avenue for thinking about ensuring the respect of the human rights in any case including the commission of grave crimes against international community. PALABRAS CLAVE: derecho internacional de los derechos humanos, principio de legalidad, derecho internacional humanitario, costumbre internacionalKEYWORDS: international law of human rights, principle of legality, international humanitarian law, international custom

The need to restore the Laws and Customs relating to armed Conflicts

1969 ◽  
Vol 9 (102) ◽  
pp. 459-483 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean Pictet
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
Customary Law ◽  
International Humanitarian Law ◽  
Humanitarian Law ◽  
Law And Order ◽  
Narrow Sense ◽  
Public International Law ◽  
The Individual

Socrates recommended that one should begin a dissertation by denning one's terms.For some time now, the name, “humanitarian law”, has been used to describe the large body of public international law derived from humanitarian sentiments and centred upon the protection of the individual.The term has both a broad and a narrow sense. In the broad sense, international humanitarian law consists of those rules of international conventional and customary law which ensure respect for the individual and promote his development to the fullest possible extent compatible with law and order and, in time of war, with military necessities.

Iran and International Law

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Human Rights ◽  
International Law ◽  
Security Council ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
The United States ◽  
Humanitarian Law ◽  
State Immunity ◽  
The Us ◽  
Iranian Government

Geographically situated in the juxtaposition of East and West, peace among nations is the zeal of Iranian people. As a founding member of both the League of Nations and the United Nations, Iran was seen as a great supporter of multilateralism. Iran voted in favor of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 and hosted the first UN Human Rights Conference in its capital in 1968. Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the crisis of the US diplomatic and consular staff in Tehran, the United States put in place embargoes against the newly elected Iranian government and instituted proceedings against Iran before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Iran did not participate in the proceedings to defend itself and the court ruled that Iran has violated its international obligations. Since then, Iran has faced many challenges in its international relations especially with the Western powers. For example, neither Iraq’s aggression against Iran nor the use of chemical weapons against Iranian civilians was recognized by the UN Security Council; different types of unilateral, regional, and international sanctions have been imposed on Iran; and the human rights situation in Iran has been repeatedly criticized by individual Western states and the UN mechanisms. Furthermore, Iran’s nuclear program was considered by the Security Council under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, while the US officials have emphasized that military options against Iran remain “on the table.” Iranian academics and international lawyers have extensively discussed the last four decades of Iran’s presence on the international plane as a thought-provoking issue in the fields of international responsibility, diplomatic and consular law, state immunity, arbitration, judicial adjudication, human rights, humanitarian law, use of force, law of the sea, fight against terrorism, and nonproliferation, just to name a few. This long list, however, has created its own negative impact internally: doubts about the effectiveness and efficacy of relevant rules of international law which found more basis after the United States announced its withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and reimposed some further tough sanctions against Iran. Seeking to use international law as a tool to protect its national interests, the Iranian government has brought this case to the ICJ and is still making efforts to preserve the nuclear deal. This contribution introduces the different Iranian resources and institutions in the field and also deals with some of the above-mentioned topics as the most important subjects for Iran in the context of international law.

Conceptions And Interpretations of Human Rights in Europe and Asia: Normative Aspects

2010 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-135
Author(s):  
Bożena Drzewicka
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
International Law ◽  
International Humanitarian Law ◽  
Humanitarian Law ◽  
International Human Rights ◽  
The West ◽  
Human Rights Protection ◽  
Rights Protection ◽  
The World ◽  
International Human

Conceptions And Interpretations of Human Rights in Europe and Asia: Normative AspectsThe issue of confronting values between civilizations has become very important. It influences not only the level of international politics but also the international normative activity. It is very interesting for the modern international law and its doctrine. The most important factor of causing huge changes in the system of international law is still the international human rights protection and the international humanitarian law which is related to it. It is very difficult to create one catalogue of executive instruments and procedures but it is possible to influence the attitude toward the basic paradigms. The frictions appear from time to time and move to other planes. The West and Asia are still antagonists in the dialogue on the future of the world. The article is a contribution to the intercivilizational dialogue.

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