Autonomy, Local Voices and Conflict Resolution: Lessons from East Timor

2013 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-117
Author(s):  
Kjell-Åke Nordquist

The civil society in East Timor – today The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste – developed knowledge and views about different constitutional structures during some critical years before the country’s independence in 2002. “Autonomy” proved to be an effective generic concept for this purpose in dialogues and seminars, organised inside and outside East Timor, on the issue of the territory’s future international status. While a certain political autonomy structure, alongside with independence, were the two options in the 1999 UN-led referendum on East Timor’s final status, the concept of “autonomy” was used as a point of reference for the analysis of principally different structural options for small territories – from typical independence, via forms of limited independence and associated state arrangements, to autonomy and levels of integration. Naturally, existing autonomy arrangments are studied when relevant in peace processes, but the concept of “autonomy”, with its need for local adaptation and recognition of difference, brings also compromise and therefore creativity into a process of political wrangling. In addition, an autonomy perspective in peace processes raises the issue of human rights protection on national level – can it protect on the level of an autonomy? The autonomy concept provides, finally, a framework for its own legitimacy, in relation to human rights and other measures in defense of human dignity. To identify a potential autonomy, thus, means assessing the characteristics of difference in such a framework, a process that local voices in East Timor needed to pursue.

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):  
VLADIMÍRA PEJCHALOVÁ GRÜNWALDOVÁ

AbstractThis article deals with the implementation, at the national level, of European human rights protection standards as enshrined in theEuropean Convention on Human Rights(ECHR) and interpreted by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). It discusses the principles of interpretation of theECHRby the ECtHR, the interaction and mutual dialogue between the ECtHR and national courts, and the approach of the latter to interpretation and application of the case law of the ECtHR. Using the concrete examples of France and the Czech Republic as case studies, it is shown to what extent and how European constitutional courts take into account and apply the letter of the Convention and its interpretation by the ECtHR.


2020 ◽  
pp. 174-177
Author(s):  
O. A. Tymoshenko

The article deals with analyzing the state of the civil claim scientific research in criminal proceedings in Ukraine and summarizing it. It was determined the relevance of scientific rethinking of the phenomenological foundations of a civil claim in criminal proceedings. It is proved that the importance of the mechanism of criminal justice has the issue of legal support of the institute of civil claim, as an important component of guaranteeing and protecting the rights and freedoms of citizens. First of all, this is explained by the importance of a civil claim in criminal proceedings, its actual role that a civil claim plays in the justice system, ensuring the protection of the violated rights of citizens. On the basis of the state critical analysis of a civil claim legal support in criminal proceedings in Ukraine, it was determined its components and given their characteristics, which include: 1) the subjective component of the legal relations relating to civil claim in criminal proceedings in Ukraine; 2) the procedural issues of filing and considering a civil claim; 3) legal and technical requirements relating to the form and content of the civil claim. It was made and justified the provisions concerning the prospects of improving the civil claim mechanism functioning in criminal proceedings in Ukraine. Transformation of scientific understanding and practical perception of civil claim in criminal proceedings as a means of securing and protecting human rights and freedoms has been proved, on the basis of which the directions of improving the functioning of the said legal institute in Ukraine are distinguished, namely: 1) enhancing the role and importance of the European Court of Justice’ s activities human rights in extending his practice to litigation in criminal proceedings in Ukraine; 2) strengthening the mechanisms of human rights protection at the domestic (national) level in accordance with the requirements of international law, which are a component of civil claim in criminal proceedings; 3) improve the procedure for enforcement of the decisions of the national courts of Ukraine in the part related to civil claim in criminal proceedings, etc.


2012 ◽  
Vol 01 (09) ◽  
pp. 14-17
Author(s):  
Nashat Mahmoud Abdalla Jaradat

This research work aims to establish a link between IPR and human rights in the national and international perspectives. Furthermore, lack of implementation of legislations at the national level is one of the greatest setbacks in the history of human rights protection. Basically, the value of human rights is largely tested by it’s implementation. The earlier form of Industrial property underwent transformation after the Paris Convention to be nomenclature as Intellectual property. IPRs, such as patents, plant variety protection, copyrights, and trademarks, are exclusive monopoly rights over a creation that the society provides to the inventor for a period of time. While such monopoly protection obviously restricts the dissemination of knowledge, it is supposed to be counterbalanced by the incentive that it provides to innovate. Intrinsic, natural, interrelated, indivisible, inalienable, basic, instrumental and inherent rights are ought to be protected if required, for maintaining peace in the society. Imperialism, colonialism and inequalities among the states were some reasons of concern for the development of human rights.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 265-269
Author(s):  
Shapran Y. V.

The paper reveals the relevance of scientific knowledge of theoretical, methodological and practical aspects of improving the mechanisms of human rights protection through the prism of contemporary law-making policy of Ukraine. The scientific views of scientists concerning the shortcomings of modern lawmaking in Ukraine, as well as the implementation of the provisions of modern lawmaking policy are generalized. The practical shortcomings of implementation of the provisions of law-making policy in Ukraine were emphasized. It is substantiated that law-making policy forms a doctrinal definite, conceptual basis for improving the legal regulation of relations in any sphere of human life, including in the field of human rights protection. It is noted that a key feature of lawmaking, which distinguishes it from other types of legal activity, is its systemic nature, which is associated with a continuous long process of adopting the rules of law, their current change and updating. The necessity to strengthen the effectiveness of human rights protection mechanisms in Ukraine has been proved, which is conditioned by the existing problems in the human rights protection mechanism itself, and is also confirmed by statistical observations conducted in Ukrainian society. Based on the analysis of the shortcomings of the functioning of human rights protection mechanisms in Ukraine, the ways of their improvement, which will correspond to the law-making policy of Ukraine, have been identified and substantiated. Among the ways to improve the human rights protection mechanisms that will be in line with Ukraine's law-making policy are the following, which are of paramount importance in the current conditions of society and state development in Ukraine: 1) enhancing the role and importance of the activities of the European Court of Human Rights; 2) strengthening the mechanisms of human rights protection at the national (national) level in accordance with the requirements of international law; 3) to develop and implement a system of information measures in order to increase the educational (information) level of people in the sphere of their rights and the mechanisms of their protection and guarantee; 4) to improve the procedure of enforcement of decisions of national courts of Ukraine and decisions of international courts in Ukraine; 5) to strengthen the staffing of the state authorities and local self-government bodies in terms of improving the professional level of human rights personnel and their protection, including the introduction of competitive selection of civil servants in the conditions of passing the examination to determine the level of knowledge of the provisions of the legislation of Ukraine and international law in the field human rights, etc. Keywords: law-formation, law-making, law-making policy, human rights, human rights protection mechanisms.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 72-107
Author(s):  
Aleksandra Kustra-Rogatka ◽  
Ondrej Hamuľák

Abstract The question of the application and impact of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU (‘Charter’) in quotidian practice of human rights protection and review is a strategic one. Given the predominantly decentralised effects of EU law and with the due account to the wide interpretation of the scope of the Charter’s application (Art. 51(1)) presented by the CJEU (C-617/10 Fransson), the national dimension of the application of the Charter forms the crucial issue for the functioning of the EU system of fundamental rights protection. The Charter itself has a big potential to influence the content, nature and mechanisms of the fundamental rights protection at the national level. The present paper focuses on this phenomena in connection to the case-law, opinions and workload of the Polish Constitutional Tribunal (‘TK’). It analyses the approach of TK towards the Charter in abstract manner as well as the (non)appearance of the Charter in the reasoning of the court in concrete cases. The article reports on the main cases and analyses the reasons of the aloof approach of the TK towards the EU human rights catalogue.


Author(s):  
Merris Amos

In this article the evolution of the relationship between the UK and the European Court of Human Rights is examined. With strong human rights protection through law now present at the national level, it is concluded that the relationship has moved from a dynamic to static. The implications of this for the protection of human rights in the UK are considered and evaluated.En este artículo se examina la evolución de la relación entre el Reino Unido y el Tribunal Europeo de Derechos Humanos. Teniendo en cuenta que ya existe a nivel nacional una importante garantía y protección de los derechos fundamentales, se observa que la relación ha cambiado de dinámica a estática. Las implicaciones que este paradigma tiene para el caso particular del Reino Unido será objeto de examen y discusión.


Author(s):  
Uliana Kuzenko

Purpose. The purpose of the article is to analyze the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as an international legal instrument, which for the first time formulated the foundations of modern democratic status of a human being and its fundamental rights and freedoms. Methodology. The methodology involves a comprehensive study of theoretical and practical material on the subject, as well as a formulation of relevant conclusions and recommendations. During the research, the following methods of scientific cognition were used: dialectical, terminological, formal and logical, systemic and functional. Results. The study found that the main features of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a source of international legal mechanism for the protection of human rights are: 1) it is a fundamental, foundational and universal international human rights act of the United Nations; 2) it establishes a system of fundamental human rights; 3) it defines a common system of fundamental international human rights standards; 4) it determines the principles of legal identity of a human being; 5) it determines the fundamental basis and principles of international legal regulation in the field of human rights protection; 6) it acts as an international legal basis for the adoption of the latest legislation on human rights protection; 7) it acts as an international legal basis for the codification of human rights legislation. Scientific novelty. The study found that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights points to the natural origin of human rights, which must be binding on all States and for the whole population, regardless of citizenship, in order to ensure the human rights protection in a democratic and rule-of-law State. Practical importance. The results of the study can be used to improve Ukrainian legislation on human rights and fundamental freedoms.


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