scholarly journals Intertwined but Different. The Heterologous In Vitro Fertilization Case before the European Court of Human Rights and the Italian Constitutional Court

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 34-67
Author(s):  
Antonia Baraggia ◽  
Maria Elena Gennusa

Abstract International and constitutional law, originally distinct realms with limited areas of intersection, are getting closer and closer, particularly in the European landscape within the human rights protection field, where these mere contacts between the two systems have become intersections and overlaps. The present article will try to shed light on the still unsolved and problematic issues to which overlapping human rights protection systems give rise, by focusing on an analysis of the heterologous in vitro fertilization case, where both the Strasbourg Court and the Italian Constitutional Court delivered relevant judgments on very similar matters (ECtHR’s S.H. Judgment; Judgment No. 162/2014 from the Italian CC). Such analysis revealed useful in highlighting connections and disconnections between the different levels of protection of rights, and led us to argue that the development of a multilevel protection of rights is also, at least partially, a tale of Courts, each competing to have the last word on human rights adjudication.

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.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 175-185
Author(s):  
WOJCIECH SADURSKI

AbstractThis short comment offers two additional arguments, missing from Geir Ulfstein’s account, which may bolster the case for constitutionalisation of the ECtHR. The first is about the ‘pilot judgments’ through which the Court addresses systemic deficits in national legal systems and thus ensures a minimal synchronisation of human rights protection throughout the CoE system. The second manifestation of constitutionalisation of the ECHR system is the increasing role of the ECtHR in the implementation of its own judgments. Ultimately, the legitimacy for the constitutional ambitions of Strasbourg Court should be located primarily in the argumentative resources of the court and in its pursuit of ‘public reason’.


2021 ◽  

Regional human rights mechanism are now in place covering nearly all five continents with the notable exception of Australia. Regional and international human rights protection are not meant to thwart each other. On the contrary, the regional protection of human rights is intended to back up and strengthen the international one by translating human rights into local languages and supporting them with additional protective mechanisms like commissions and courts that enforce regional human rights documents. In this volume, five experts from various continents will introduce regional human rights protection systems in Europe, Africa, Asia, Latin America and Australia providing an overview of the regional protections vis-à-vis the international one and then contextualising it in specific country context.


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):  
Veljko Ikanović

Criminal Procedure Code of Republika Srpska defines that a search of dwellings, other premises and persons can be permitted, with certain exceptions, only with a search warrant issued by the preliminary proceedings judge. A search warrant is issued under the conditions provided by the Code, at the request of the prosecutor or at the request of authorized officials obtained an approval by the prosecutor. A request for the issuance of a search warrant may be submitted in writing or verbally. If the request is submitted verbally, preliminary proceedings judge is obliged to record the communication appropriately, but the requesting official shall draft the warrant. Author of the paper deals with issues related to failure of the preliminary proceedings judge to record „all of the remaining communication“ after the verbally request for a search warrant was made, and judges influence to legality of evidence obtained on a basis of such a warrant. Observes all that trough the rules which are regulating the procedure, decisions of ordinary courts of law and the Constitutional Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina, trying to find an answer to the question: is the essence of this institute presented by its form or its contents. Proper implementation of evaluation of evidence and the possibility to use the evidence in criminal procedure, human rights protection, compliance of the principle of legality, and, very often, the epilogue of criminal procedure depends from the answer to this question.


Author(s):  
Nussberger Angelika

This introductory chapter provides a background of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), a multilateral treaty based on humanism and rule of law. Similar to the—albeit non-binding—Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the ECHR is a document that marks a change in philosophy and gives a new definition of the responsibility of the State towards the individual. It fixes basic values in times of change and paves the way towards reconciliation in Europe. Unlike in a peace treaty, not all wartime enemies participate in its elaboration, but, one by one, all the European States accede to it, signalling their consent to the values fixed by a small community of States in the early 1950s. Seven decades later, forty-seven European States have ratified the Convention. Admittedly, the new start based on common values could not prevent the outbreak of violent conflicts between Member States. At the same time, the resurgence of anti-democratic tendencies could not be successfully banned in all Member States, but such tendencies could be stigmatized as grave human rights violations in binding judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). Thus, it is not surprising that the European model of human rights protection has been attractive and inspirational for other parts of the world. Nevertheless, there was and is a debate in some Member States to withdraw from the Convention as the Court’s jurisprudence is seen to be too intrusive on national sovereignty.


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.


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (102) ◽  
pp. 47
Author(s):  
Ángel José Gómez Montoro

Resumen:El presente trabajo es un análisis de cómo ha evolucionado la protección del no nacido en España desde la aprobación de la Constitución de 1978. Se centra, en particular en el estudio de la legislación y de la jurisprudencia constitucional sobre dos temas especialmente relevantes y controvertidos: la regulación del aborto, de un lado, y de la fecundación in vitro y uso de embriones, sus tejidos y órganos, de otro. Tanto el legislador como la doctrina del Tribunal Constitucional se han inclinado por una protección gradualista de la vida humana en formación que deja abiertos muchos interrogantes desde la perspectiva del derecho a la vida (art. 15 CE) y la dignidad humana (art. 10.1 CE)Summary:1. The Introduction Of Abortion In Spain And The STC 53/1985: a) From Criminalization To Decriminalization In Certain Circumstances; b) STC 53/1985: i) Right To Life And Prenatal Life; ii) The Life Of The Unborn As A Constitutional Interest; iii) The Constitutionality Of The Indication System; iv) The Conditions For The Constitutionality Of Decriminalization; c) The New Regulation. 2. From The «Indication System» To The «System Of Deadlines»: Organic Law 2/2010 Of 3 March On Sexual And Reproductive Health And Voluntary Termination Of Pregnancy: a) The Evolution Of Abortion In Spain Under The 1985 Act;b) The Arguments For The Reform And The Context Of The New Regulation;c) The New Regulation. 3. An Open Debate: a) The Conditions For The Constitutionality Of Decriminalization; b) The Failed Reform Of The Act. 4. The Weak Protection Of The Embryo In The Legislation On In Vitro Fertilization And The Use Of Embryonic Organs And Tissues, And The SSTC 212/1996 And 116/1999: a) Act 35/1988 On Assisted Reproduction Techniques, And Act 42/1988 On Donation And Use Of Human Embryos And Fetuses And Their Cells, Tissues And Organs; b) Negation Of The Right To Life Of The Embryo And Consequences For Its Consideration As A Constitutionally Protected Legal Interest: i) The Embryo Does Not Hold The Right To Life; ii) Two New Categories:Pre-Embryos And Non-Viable Embryos And Their Legal Relevance; iii) Surplus Embryos; iv) The Absence Of Any Criminal Protection; v) A Weak Concept Of Dignity. 5. Legislative Evolution; 6. A Model For The Gradual (Dis)Protection Of Unborn Human Life.Abstract:This paper analyzes the evolution of the protection of the unborn human life in Spain since the enactment of the 1978 Constitution. It focuses, in particular, on the study of the laws and the constitutional jurisprudence on two relevant matters: the regulation of abortion; and the in vitro fertilization, the use of embryos their tissues and organs. The legislator and the decisions of the Constitutional Court have opted for gradualist protection of the embryo that leaves many questions open from the perspective of the right to life (Article 15 SC) and human dignity (Article 10.1 SC).


2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 137
Author(s):  
Dr.Sc. Jorida Xhafaj

identity is the way in which a person is self-identified with a gender category, as for example to be female or male, or in some cases intersex, which is none of the distinguishable biological sexes. In principal, intersex persons are part of the society with their rights and obligations, which are not the same with those of the other members of society, in special areas of life.This paper aims to treat the right of intersex persons to marriage and to establish a family. The paper begins with an overview of definition of intersex persons, their rights, and focuses primarily on the right to establish a family.The right for a family life has found protection in the Albanian national legislation. The Constitution of theRepublicofAlbaniaof 1998 in its Article 53 stipulates that "everyone has the right to marry and have a family" establishing the principle of equality before the law, closely linked to the principle of non-discrimination. The legal provisions set a controversial position on the right to get married and to establish family relationships of the intersex persons, which is based on different arguments.For the purposes of the research, we aim also to compare the national legislation with the European principles and practice of the European Court of Human Rights (hereinafter referred as ECHR). The paper also includes the opinions and recommendations of Albanian institutions, as well as those of foreign ones, mainly European, in the area of human rights protection, and especially regarding the rights of the intersex persons.


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.


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