5. Human Rights in Comparative Politics

Author(s):  
Sonia Cardenas

This chapter examines the importance of comparative politics for understanding human rights practices. Comparative politics has advanced our knowledge of why states sometimes violate internationally recognized human rights. Both domestic incentives and exclusionary ideologies increase the likelihood of rights violations. On the other hand, comparative politics has attempted to explain human rights protection, showing how domestic structures (both societal groups and state institutions) can influence reform efforts. This chapter first consider alternative logics of comparison, including the merits of comparing a small versus a large number of cases and human rights within or across regions. It then explores the leading domestic-level explanations for why human rights violations occur. It also describes the use of domestic–international linkages to explain otherwise perplexing human rights outcomes. Finally, it analyses the ways in which, in the context of globalization, comparative politics shapes human rights practices.

REVISTA ESMAT ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (20) ◽  
pp. 220-250
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Abi-Mershed

Access to justice at the domestic level is a core component of human rights protection, with judges playing a key role in that process. Judges may require particular protection when subject to violations of their own rights in connection with their judicial mandate. This article first provides a basic overview of the Inter-American Commission’s and Court’s respective mandates. There are some brief references to examples from Brazil, as well as some concerning judicial independence and the protection of judges. The article then reviews a series of individual cases in which the Commission and Court have set standards on the obligation of states to respect the role and independence of judges. The focus is on independence, through respect for their security of tenure against improper interference, as well as effective protection when judges are subjected to threats or violence due to their work. In relation to judicial protection and guarantees, the article also looks briefly at the system’s clear position against the use of military jurisdiction to investigate, prosecute and punish serious human rights violations. The article closes with a brief reflection on the system and the commonalities and distinctions within which it necessarily works.


2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (2) ◽  
pp. 137
Author(s):  
Mariane Morato Stival ◽  
Marcos André Ribeiro ◽  
Daniel Gonçalves Mendes da Costa

This article intends to analyze in the context of the complexity of the process of internationalization of human rights, the definitions and tensions between cultural universalism and relativism, the essence of human rights discourse, its basic norms and an analysis of the normative dialogues in case decisions involving violations of human rights in international tribunals such as the European Court of Human Rights, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and national courts. The well-established dialogue between courts can bring convergences closer together and remove differences of opinion on human rights protection. A new dynamic can occur through a complementarity of one court with respect to the other, even with the different characteristics between the legal orders.


Author(s):  
Tilman Rodenhäuser

Chapter 5 adds to the contemporary discourse on human rights obligations of non-state armed groups by showing that in many situations, there is a clear legal need for these obligations. This chapter first engages in the debate on whether and to what extent certain human rights treaties address armed groups directly. Second, it shows that under the law of state responsibility, states are generally not responsible for human rights violations committed by non-state entities. Third, it recalls that under international human rights law, states have an obligation to protect human rights against violations committed by armed groups. However, it argues that because this cannot be a strict obligation but is one that depends on states’ capacities and the particular circumstances, often this framework cannot adequately protect individuals against human rights violations by armed groups. The result is a legal and practical need for human rights obligations of non-state armed groups.


Author(s):  
Siuzanna Mnatsakanian

Conceptual approaches to defining the nature and the scope of interim measures implementation as an instrument of human rights protection at international and national level are analyzed. The widespread use of interim measures as international standard of urgent respond to alleged violations of human rights has not led to the implementation of the legal institute concerned at the national level. Accordingly, this analysis aimed at defining the grounds of interim measures as human rights protection instrument application to be used by the state as an immediate response to human rights violations and possible violations. European Court of Human Rights has a great practice of interim measures granting. Interim measures are granted by the Court only in clearly defined conditions, namely where there is a risk that serious violations of the Convention might occur. A high proportion of requests for interim measures are inappropriate and are therefore refused. Besides, interim measures are applied upon request of the applicant claiming about alleged violations of his or her human rights. At the national level interim measures should/may be granted upon request of the applicant or by the duty-bearer’s initiative to prevent possible human rights violations. The grounds of interim measures granting should also be defined – the best international practice should be used taking into account the Ukrainian context. Another core issue analyzed is defining duty-bearers – subjects enforced to grant interim to prevent abuse in the sphere concerned. It is obvious that court shall be the only authority to resolve the substantive case of alleged human rights violation. However, public and local authorities shall be enabled to grant interim measures to prevent the possible violations. With this, the scope and the sphere of its application at the national level shall be broader in comparison with the case law of the European Court of Human Rights.


Author(s):  
Jorge Ernesto ROA ROA

LABURPENA: Kasuen ikerketa-metodologia erabiliz, Santo Domingo vs. Kolonbia epaiari buruzko iruzkinean, nagusiki, inter-amerikar esparruko giza eskubideen babesari lotutako egiturazko alderdiak aipatzen dira; besteak beste, eta bereziki: nola erabiltzen duen Inter-amerikar Auzitegiak Nazioarteko Zuzenbide Humanitarioa barne-gatazka armatuetako egoeretan; zer erlazio dagoen zigor-jurisdikzio militarraren eta Indar Armatuetako kideek egindako giza eskubideen urraketen ikerketaren artean; zein diren Estatuaren erantzukizuna aitortzeko egintzetarako baldintzak, eta zer elkarreragin dagoen nazioetako eta nazioarteko instantzia judizialen artean giza eskubideen urraketen ordainaz den bezainbatean. Egokiera-arrazoiengatik, alde batera utziko da Kolonbiako Estatuak urratu zituen Amerikar Konbentzioko eskubideetako bakoitzari buruz Giza Eskubideetarako Nazioarteko Auzitegiak erabakitakoaren azterketa. RESUMEN: Mediante la aplicación de la metodología de estudio de caso, el comentario a la Sentencia Santo Domingo vs. Colombia se centra en aspectos estructurales sobre la protección de los derechos humanos en el ámbito interamericano, en especial, el uso que la Corte Interamericana hace del Derecho Internacional Humanitario en situaciones que se producen en contextos de conflictos armados internos, la relación entre la jurisdicción penal militar y la investigación de las violaciones a los derechos humanos cometidas por miembros de las Fuerzas Armadas, los requisitos de los actos de reconocimiento de la responsabilidad del Estado y la interacción entre las instancias judiciales nacionales e internacionales en materia de reparación de violaciones a los derechos humanos. Por razones de oportunidad, se prescinde del análisis del pronunciamiento de la Corte IDH sobre cada uno de los derechos de la Convención Americana que fueron violados por el Estado de Colombia. ABSTRACT: By means of the problem based learning methodology, the analysis of the judgment Santo Domingo vs. Colombia focuses on structural features of the human rights protection within the Inter-American area, specially, the use made by the Inter-American Court of International Humanitarian Law in situations within contexts of internal military conflict, the relationship between military criminal jurisdiction and the investigation of human rights violations committed by Army forces, the requirements of the acts of recognition of the State responsibility and the interaction between the national and international judicial instances regarding the redress for human rights violations. For reasons of practical expediency, we will not analyze the judgment by the Inter-American Court on each of the rights of the American Convention breached by the State of Colombia.


AJIL Unbound ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 113 ◽  
pp. 331-335
Author(s):  
Jimena Reyes

Until recently, the United Nations and regional systems of human rights protection had shown considerable reluctance to address human rights violations resulting from corruption. Instead, these actors would underline the negative impacts of corruption on human rights without identifying corruption itself as a violation of human rights. Since 2017, however, this has begun to shift. The UN, regional human rights institutions, and civil society have begun to devise concrete ways for human rights institutions and instruments to better contribute to the fight against corruption. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights (“the Court”), in particular, has taken preliminary steps to establish a legal link between corruption and human rights violations.


1997 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sigrun I. Skogly

The execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and the other environmental and human rights activists in Nigeria in November 1995, represented flagrant violations of human rights. What was exceptional about this case was that the uprising, which ultimately lead to the executions, was not primarily aimed at the Government, but rather at one of the large transnational corporations, Shell Oil. The article analyses the composition of the actors and the various human rights involved in this conflict. It argues that the complexity of the conflict is shown through the wide variety of environmental NGOs, human rights NGOs, international business and organisations that were implicated in it. The article points to the interrelatedness of various human rights - and the interlinkedness to environmental issues, claiming that environmental organisations were forced’ to use rights language, while human rights organisations needed to address environmental issues. And ultimately, the business actor has publicly stated intent to observe a human rights accountability.


Wajah Hukum ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 192
Author(s):  
Sigit Somadiyono ◽  
Nella Octaviany Siregar

This research specifically discusses the human rights of prisoners as prisoners in prison, which in their daily lives must be respected, upheld and protected by the state, the law (in this case the Penitentiary Act to be in line with the Human Rights Act), the government through the apparatus is correctional officers and fellow inmates. Prisoners in their daily life can make mistakes and lives that are in contact with human rights violations. The object of this research is the human rights of inmates as prisoners in prison (WBP). The formulation of the problems in this study are (1) How are the human rights protection arrangements for prisoners in prison according to Law Number 12 of 1995; and (2) How is the implementation of human rights protection for narcotics prisoners in prison in East Tanjung Jabung Regency. This study uses Law Number 12 of 1995 Concerning Corrections and other derivative regulations. The results showed that there were differences in the implementation of human rights protection for prisoners with Law Number 12 of 1995 Concerning Corrections. 


2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zahlul Pasha

ABSTRACTAfter signing the MoU between the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement, a lot of interesting dynamics going on in Aceh, which is the Qanun KKR Aceh. As an independent agency, the Aceh TRC duty to disclose the truth on the alleged past human rights violations in Aceh. This paper examines the nature of the independence of Aceh TRC is based on theoretical characteristics of an independent institution. Based on the results of the study found that the Aceh TRC has a number of independent properties include: an odd number of members, the independent election commission members, the election and dismissal of members of the commission are closely regulated and has the authority to regulate themselves (self-regulated bodies). However, on the other hand also found two other things that escape is set regarding the nature of the independence of Aceh TRC is concerning institutional decision-making procedures and functions of the commission as well as regarding filling positions that are not members of the commission be gradual (staggered terms) but simultaneously. Keywords: Independency, Komisi Kebenaran dan Rekonsiliasi Aceh. INTISARIPasca penandatanganan MoU Helsinki antara Pemerintah Indonesia dengan GerakanAceh Merdeka, banyak dinamika menarik yang terjadi di Aceh, salah satunyaadalah pengesahan Qanun KKR Aceh. Sebagai lembaga independen, KKR Aceh bertugas mengungkap kebenaran atas dugaan pelanggaran HAM berat masa lalu di Aceh. Tulisan ini berusaha mengkaji sifat independensi KKR Aceh berdasarkan ciri teroritik suatu lembaga independen. Berdasarkan hasil kajian ditemukan bahwa KKR Aceh memiliki sejumlah sifat independenmeliputi: jumlah anggota yang ganjil, proses pemilihan anggota komisi yang independen, pemilihan dan pemberhentian anggota komisi diatur jelas serta memiliki kewenangan untuk mengatur dirinya sendiri (self regulated bodies). Namun, di sisi lain juga ditemukan dua hal lain yang luput diatur berkenaan sifat independensi KKR Aceh, yaitu menyangkut prosedur pengambilan keputusan kelembagaan dan fungsi komisi serta perihal pengisian jabatan anggota komisi yang tidak dilakukan secara bertahap(staggered terms) melainkan bersamaan. Kata Kunci: Independensi, Komisi Kebenaran dan Rekonsiliasi Aceh.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 16
Author(s):  
Shahrul Mizan Ismail

The present problem of human rights enforcement reflects the old dilemma between centralism at the international level and local governance at the domestic level. Centralist solutions carry the expectation of a more homogeneous, effective and uniform method of operation. But this so-called‘universal’enforcement model is often seen as being too weak and incoherent for effective actions.Although the alleged universal character of the enforcement of human rights may portray an impressive international regime, local modes of problem solving are in reality more efficient since they are based on a better understanding of the specific circumstances and take into account of local peculiarities, cultural values and other similar factors. The latter is the missing elements in the overall international human rights enterprise. The rapid promotion and education of the global community on the concept of human rights has opened many wider possibilities for group based enforcement to be an efficient alternative. Reinforcing the same line of argumentation, this paper proposes an inverted model of enforcement whereby iinternational human rights law could act as the general framework that establishes generally agreed prin­ciples and norms that transcend strict national concerns, while group based mechanisms will work on enforcing those norms in their specific manifestations within the respective groups.


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