Using Treaties in Canadian Courts

2001 ◽  
Vol 38 ◽  
pp. 3-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gibran van Ert
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
International Law ◽  
Common Law ◽  
International Treaties ◽  
Public International Law ◽  
Canadian Law ◽  
Domestic Courts ◽  
Reception System ◽  
Comprehensive Manner ◽  
Domestic Law

SummaryIncreasingly, litigants are seeking to rely on international treaties before domestic courts. The difficulties they face, together with the judges hearing these cases, are great. Public international law is unknown territory for the vast majority of Canadian lawyers, both at the bar and on the bench. Moreover, the rules according to which international treaties take effect in Canadian domestic law engage a wide variety of legal sources, including ancient common law jurisprudence, unwritten constitutional rules, federalism, and the provisions of theCanadian Charter of Rights and Freedomsand other Canadian human rights instruments. The object of this article is to describe in a comprehensive manner how international treaties may be used in Canadian courts. The disparate and seemingly unrelated norms informing the Anglo-Canadian law of treaty reception, including the implementation requirement, the treaty presumption, the rule inLabour Conventions, and the landmark decision inBakerv.Canada, are depicted as internally-consistent manifestations of the guiding principles of the Canadian reception system: self-government and respect for international law.

scholarly journals Roles of the Courts in New Zealand in Giving Effect to International Human Rights - with Some History

1999 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth J Keith
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
International Law ◽  
Armed Conflict ◽  
Common Law ◽  
General Effect ◽  
International Affairs ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Right ◽  
Domestic Law

The Right Honourable Sir Kenneth Keith was the fourth speaker at the NZ Institute of International Affairs Seminar. In this article he describes and reflects upon the role of courts and judges in relation to the advancement of human rights, an issue covered in K J Keith (ed) Essays on Human Rights (Sweet and Maxwell, Wellington, 1968). The article is divided into two parts. The first part discusses international lawmakers attempting to protect individual groups of people from 1648 to 1948, including religious minorities and foreign traders, slaves, aboriginal natives, victims of armed conflict, and workers. The second part discusses how from 1945 to 1948, there was a shift in international law to universal protection. The author notes that while treaties are not part of domestic law, they may have a constitutional role, be relevant in determining the common law, give content to the words of a statute, help interpret legislation which is in line with a treaty, help interpret legislation which is designed to give general effect to a treaty (but which is silent on the particular matter), and help interpret and affect the operation of legislation to which the international text has no apparent direct relation. 

Is Genocide a Crime Unknown to Australian Law? Nulyarimma v. Thompson

2000 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 362-383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew D. Mitchell
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
International Law ◽  
International Criminal Law ◽  
Indigenous Australians ◽  
International Treaties ◽  
Aboriginal Community ◽  
Customary International Law ◽  
Members Of Parliament ◽  
Domestic Legislation ◽  
Domestic Law

While it is clear that international treaties become part of Australian domestic law only once implemented by domestic legislation, it is less certain whether implementing legislation is required to incorporate customary international law into Australian law. This question is assuming a new importance as international law moves beyond dealing simply with relationships between sovereign nations to protecting the human rights of groups and individuals within states. Since the arrival of Europeans, indigenous Australians have witnessed enormous violations of their human rights. InNulyarimmav.Thompson, members of the Aboriginal community alleged that certain Commonwealth Ministers and Members of Parliament had committed genocide, and sought various remedies. Since Australia has not implemented the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide by legislation, the case squarely raised the issue of whether customary international law, and in particular international criminal law, could become part of Australian law without the assistance of Parliament.

scholarly journals Globalisation and Court Practice in Iceland: New Case Law of the Supreme Court in Relation to the EEA Agreement and European Convention on Human Rights

2021 ◽  
pp. 151-165
Author(s):  
Halldóra Thorsteinsdóttir
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
International Law ◽  
European Convention ◽  
International Treaties ◽  
International Obligation ◽  
European Court ◽  
The Supreme Court ◽  
The Status ◽  
Domestic Law ◽  
Court Practice

AbstractThis article examines the status of international treaties in Iceland law and how Icelandic court practice has developed in recent years in that area. With regard to the relationship between domestic law and international law, Iceland adheres to the principle of dualism. This means that international law does not come into force as Icelandic law unless implemented by the legislator. As a result, Icelandic Courts will not, in general, apply provisions of international treaties unless they have been incorporated into Icelandic statutory law. However, this does not mean that international obligation are not fulfilled, as Icelandic Courts will seek to interpret domestic law in line with international obligation to the extent possible. If an international treaty has been implemented into Icelandic law, its provisions are binding like other domestic law. With regard to the EEA Agreement, Icelandic Courts will seek to interpret national law in accordance with EEA obligations and follow the judgments of the EFTA Court if the Icelandic provision in question is open to such an interpretation. With regard to the European Convention on Human Rights, Icelandic Courts will even go a step further, as recent judgments show that Icelandic Courts tend to interpret the human rights provisions of the Icelandic Constitution in line with interpretation laid down by The European Court of Human Rights, even in cases where such an interpretation does not exactly fit within the direct wording of the provision in question. This is due to a special connection between the human rights chapter of the Icelandic Constitution and the Convention, as one of the legislators’ main goals when amending the Constitution in 1994 was to bring the human rights chapter more in line with the Convention.

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Practice

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
International Law ◽  
Legal Status ◽  
Case Law ◽  
Persons With Disabilities ◽  
Domestic Courts ◽  
Disability Law ◽  
Domestic Law ◽  
Domestic Level ◽  
Domestic Case

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) has been in force for nearly a decade. This book examines how the Convention has been given effect and interpreted in thirteen different jurisdictions. It has two main interconnected aims. The first is to investigate and compare the way in which the CRPD has been interpreted and applied by courts in different jurisdictions. The second is to investigate and deepen understanding of the CRPD’s influence at the domestic level. The first of these aims situates this study within the emerging field of comparative international law—to which it offers the first major contribution addressing an international human rights treaty other than the UN Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). The second situates it within the field of disability law—to which it offers the first sustained analysis of how the CRPD influences domestic court judgments. Besides the thirteen jurisdiction-specific chapters (written by experts in both the CRPD and the particular jurisdiction in question), comparative analysis is provided in four chapters—addressing respectively the interpretation of CRPD provisions by domestic courts; the legal status of the CRPD in domestic law and its relevance to domestic case law; the uses made of the CRPD by domestic courts; and the judiciary’s role and perception of its relationship with the CRPD. The book also includes reflections on the implications of this study, and previous comparative international law studies of CEDAW, for human rights theory.

scholarly journals A Recepção dos Tratados de Direitos Humanos pelos Tribunais Nacionais: Sentenças Paradigmáticas de Colômbia, Argentina e Brasil / The Reception of Human Rights Treaties by Domestic Courts: Paradigmatic Judicial Decisions from Colombia, Argentina and Brazil

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonio Gomes Moreira Maués ◽  
Breno Baía Magalhães
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Direct Effect ◽  
Comparative Method ◽  
International Treaties ◽  
Internal Standards ◽  
Legislative Action ◽  
Human Rights Treaties ◽  
Domestic Courts ◽  
International Obligations ◽  
Domestic Law

Resumo: O cumprimento efetivo de tratados internacionais de direitos humanos depende de fatores que não se limitam à sua incorporação ao direito interno. Para que haja uma recepção completa do tratado, os órgãos judiciais devem ser dotados de independência (exercício de suas funções de fiscalização dos demais poderes), os tratados devem possuir efeito direto (qualquer pessoa poderá utilizá-los em tribunais, independente de ação legislativa posterior) e os tribunais devem realizar uma interpretação conforme de suas disposições (compatibilização das normas internas com as internacionais, a fim de garantir o cumprimento de obrigações internacionais). Por meio do método comparado utilizado neste artigo, pode-se concluir que Argentina e Colômbia apresentam um grau maior de recepção da Convenção Americana de Direitos Humanos, não apenas porque a elevaram à categoria de norma constitucional, mas, principalmente, porque atribuem a ela efeito direto e aplicam a interpretação conforme. Apesar de atribuir efeito direto à Convenção Americana, o Supremo Tribunal Federal ainda não desenvolveu jurisprudência acerca da interpretação conforme, criando obstáculos à recepção e cumprimento efetivo do tratado.Palavras-chave: Tratados internacionais de direitos humanos; Independência judicial; Efeito direto; Interpretação conforme. Abstract: The effective implementation of international human rights treaties depends on factors that are not limited to its incorporation into domestic law. In order to have a complete reception of the treaty, courts must be provided with independency (exercise of its functions of government monitoring), treaties must have direct effect (anyone can use them in court, regardless of subsequent legislative action) and courts must perform a consistent interpretation of its provisions (internal standards in accordance with international ones, to ensure compliance with international obligations). By the comparative method used in this article, we can conclude that Argentina and Colombia show a greater reception of the American Convention on Human Rights, not only because they elevated it to the rank of constitutional law, but mainly because they give it direct effect and apply consistent interpretation. Although giving direct effect to the American Convention, the Brazilian Supreme Court has not yet developed a jurisprudence on consistent interpretation, creating obstacles to the reception and effective treaty implementation.Keywords: International Treaties on Human Rights; Judicial Independence; Direct Effect; Consistent Interpretation.

scholarly journals Environmental and Human Rights Counterclaims in International Investment Arbitration: at the Crossroads of Domestic and International Law

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuan Shao
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
International Law ◽  
International Investment ◽  
Decision Makers ◽  
Policy Choices ◽  
Investment Arbitration ◽  
Domestic Courts ◽  
Pros And Cons ◽  
Carry Over ◽  
Domestic Law

ABSTRACT Recently, environmental and human rights (EHR) counterclaims in investment arbitration have attracted much attention as a vehicle to recalibrate the investor–state relationship. However, until now, successful instances of EHR counterclaims have been admittedly rare. As explained in this paper, some of the major barriers to EHR counterclaims in investment arbitration, and some of the concerns associated with them, are rooted in the domestic law basis of such counterclaims. Contrary to the position of several commentators, this paper argues that the grounding of EHR counterclaims on international law is neither practical nor beneficial, and EHR counterclaims are necessarily based on domestic law. Therefore, when investment arbitral tribunals adjudicate EHR counterclaims, they essentially act as an alternative to domestic courts. This has several implications. First, on questions of jurisdiction and admissibility of EHR counterclaims, decisions of states and arbitral tribunals essentially turn on the pros and cons of having these claims adjudicated by investment arbitral tribunals as opposed to domestic courts. Second, weaknesses in domestic rules, including the difficulty of holding shareholders accountable, would carry over to EHR counterclaims. Such problems can only be efficiently tackled at the level of domestic law. Third, as revealed from the inconsistent decisions in Perenco and Burlington on the merits of the environmental counterclaims, having investment arbitral tribunals adjudicate domestic law-based EHR counterclaims may cause certain concerns. For EHR counterclaims to play a more beneficial role, decision-makers must bear in mind these factors and concerns when taking their policy choices.

Germany

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentin Aichele
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
International Law ◽  
Direct Effect ◽  
Federal Courts ◽  
International Human Rights ◽  
Persons With Disabilities ◽  
Public International Law ◽  
Monitoring Mechanism ◽  
International Human ◽  
Human Rights Norms

This chapter analyses the use and interpretation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in sixty-nine decisions of German federal courts between 2009 and mid-2016. German courts’ failure to be proactive in demonstrating ‘friendliness towards public international law’ when dealing with international human rights norms has been criticised. The National CRPD Monitoring Mechanism addressed problems in the application of the law. This chapter investigates the courts’ understanding of basic CRPD concepts, judicial techniques, interpretation methods and specific CRPD provisions. The importance of the concepts of self-executing provisions and direct effect is discussed. In quantitative terms, German courts have referred to the CRPD more often than any other UN international human rights instrument. Furthermore, in qualitative terms, federal courts have become more receptive towards the CRPD. However, it is clear that much of the potential for courts to use the CRPD in the realisation of the rights of persons with disabilities remains untapped.

scholarly journals Children in Armed Conflict: A Human Rights Crisis in Somalia

Global Jurist ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Salvador Santino Jr. Fulo Regilme ◽  
Elisabetta Spoldi
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
International Law ◽  
Armed Conflict ◽  
Children's Rights ◽  
Children’S Rights ◽  
Armed Groups ◽  
Public International Law ◽  
Rebel Groups ◽  
False Sense ◽  
Alternative Sources

Abstract Despite the consolidated body of public international law on children’s rights and armed conflict, why do armed rebel groups and state forces deploy children in armed conflict, particularly in Somalia? First, due to the lack of alternative sources of income and livelihood beyond armed conflict, children join the army due to coercive recruitment by commanders of armed groups. Their participation in armed conflict generates a fleeting and false sense of material security and belongingness in a group. Second, many Somali children were born in an environment of existential violence and material insecurity that normalized and routinized violence, thereby motivating them to view enlistment in armed conflict as morally permissible and necessary for existential survival.

scholarly journals Remarks by Maria Flores

2018 ◽  
Vol 112 ◽  
pp. 79-82
Author(s):  
Maria Flores
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
International Relations ◽  
International Law ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
International Court Of Justice ◽  
Public International Law ◽  
Court Of Justice ◽  
International Court ◽  
Small Department ◽  
The University

I first became involved with international law while I was at university. After graduating, I decided to teach public international law. As an undergraduate, I particularly enjoyed this branch of study. I was attracted to it because it helped me to understand the problems, challenges, and breakthroughs in the field of international relations on a global scale. Therefore, after facing a competitive entry process, I joined the international law department of the Universidad de la República. It was a small department, but the university had produced some well-known scholars like Eduardo Jiménez de Aréchaga, who became a judge at the International Court of Justice, and Hector Gross Espiell, who served as a judge at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document