International and European Human Rights Law (COOJOA)
Summary
Summary Human rights law
13 views 1 purchase
Course
International and European Human Rights Law (COOJOA)
Institution
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven)
This summary contains the powerpoints with lesson notes and discussion of the cases discussed in the lesson.
It includes everything that is covered in the lesson, often with multiple examples.
This summary contains the powerpoints with lesson notes and discussion of the cases discussed in class.
...
International and European Human Rights Law (COOJOA)
All documents for this subject (6)
Seller
Follow
emiliebeelen
Reviews received
Content preview
Inhoud
Class 1: Human rights a general introduction.........................................................................................3
I. Introduction.........................................................................................................................................3
II. What they do......................................................................................................................................3
III. Features............................................................................................................................................4
IV. History of Rights and Generations....................................................................................................5
V. Holders of Human Rights – Bearers of Human Rights.......................................................................5
VI. Human Duties?.................................................................................................................................7
Class 2: Human rights as a matter of international concern....................................................................9
I. Introduction.........................................................................................................................................9
II. Antecedents........................................................................................................................................9
III. Sovereign States – “Responsible Sovereignty”...............................................................................11
IV. Universality of Human Rights.........................................................................................................12
V. Sources of International Human Rights............................................................................................13
Class 3: The United Nations.................................................................................................................15
I. Introduction.......................................................................................................................................15
II. Norms..............................................................................................................................................15
III. Enforcement: Two Tracks:..............................................................................................................16
Class 4: Regional Mechanisms.............................................................................................................20
I. Introduction.......................................................................................................................................20
II. Europe..............................................................................................................................................20
III. Council of Europe...........................................................................................................................21
Class 5 -6 : Regional Mechanisms: ECHR...........................................................................................23
I. Introduction.......................................................................................................................................23
II. Control Mechanism..........................................................................................................................25
III. EU and ECHR................................................................................................................................35
Class 7: Obligations imposed on states.................................................................................................37
I. Secure HR to everyone within the jurisdiction..................................................................................37
II. Nature of the state’s obligation.........................................................................................................39
Class 8: Human Rights in the domestic legal order..............................................................................48
I. Status of IHRL in domestic legal order.............................................................................................48
II. Implementation IHRL norms...........................................................................................................48
III. Right to a remedy...........................................................................................................................50
IV. Effects of a finding of violation of human rights by an international control organ.......................50
1
,Class 9: Right to life (art. 2 ECHR and art. 6 CCPR)...........................................................................58
I. Supreme value in the hierarchy of human rights...............................................................................58
II. Scope of application : protection of the “ life” of individuals..........................................................58
III. Scope of protection.........................................................................................................................60
Class 10: Article 3: Torture – Degrading and Inhumane Treatment & Punishment...............................73
I. General considerations......................................................................................................................73
II. Categories........................................................................................................................................74
III. Negative obligations.......................................................................................................................77
IV. Positive obligations.........................................................................................................................79
Class 11-12: Article 10: Freedom of Expression...................................................................................82
I. General considerations......................................................................................................................82
II. Negative obligations........................................................................................................................84
III. Positive obligations.........................................................................................................................94
IV. Hate Speech....................................................................................................................................97
Class 13: the protection of privacy (art. 8 ECHR)..............................................................................100
I. Introduction.....................................................................................................................................100
II. Right to respect for private life......................................................................................................101
Class 14: The protection of property (Art. 1 Prot. 1)...........................................................................110
I. Introduction.....................................................................................................................................110
II. Obligations of the State..................................................................................................................112
Class 15: Right to a fair trial...............................................................................................................123
I. Scope of application of Art. 6 ECHR (and Art. 14 CCPR) .............................................................123
II. Right to a court .............................................................................................................................130
III. Structural and procedural guarantees ...........................................................................................132
Class 16: Economic, Social and Cultural rights..................................................................................141
I. Introduction: Ecosoc as HR.............................................................................................................141
II. Differences between civil and political rights, and economic, social and cultural rights................144
III. Obligations of States with respect to economic, social and cultural rights....................................145
Class 17: Equality and non-Discrimination........................................................................................149
I. Introduction:....................................................................................................................................149
2
,Class 1: Human rights a general introduction
I. Introduction
Problem of definition
Most definitions are general and abstract, they do not give us an idea about specific rights.
Rights that a human has because he is human
But what do they compose of?
We cannot identify human rights by its definition
Definitions are either undervaluing of overvaluing human rights: either way you will have troubles
explaining why something is or is not a human right
≠ modern problem: As long as the definition stays abstract, the international community can agree
upon the existence of human rights but their perception of the rights itself
differs.
Perception of the professor: If we wish to avoid conflict we should apply a
more modest approach: historical rights
Historical rights
The rights are the way they are because of certain facts in history: At a certain time there was a certain
need for a certain right.
II. What they do
What are human rights for? Why do they exist?
Two major characteristics of human rights
- Temper power
The basis of human rights in the modern understanding.
Grotius: “we should think of the laws as if there is no God”
law belongs to the man
if there is no divinity, it is up to us, so then why should I listen you
law as a conventional mechanism
the law and authority is challenged
American and French revolution: People go and seek their boundaries, their freedom.
- Protection of human dignity (‘waardigheid’)
Human dignity is a notion that s introduced after WOII in the German constitution. Afterwards
in international treaties as well.
Nazi’s: you cannot judge me by laws that were not in force when I did it (non-retroactivity of
criminal laws)
Human dignity was introduced
3
, Some events are so unacceptable because of human dignity even it was permitted
under the law.
Wackenheim case: “Dwarf tossing” (H.R. Cttee, 15/07/2002, Wackenheim v. France)
You needed a permit for the activity and the major refused to give one to a dwarf
because he thought of it as degrading
French council of State: Human dignity is of public order.
Wackenheim claimed to be an artist whose profession was being moralised.
Is it not a matter of human dignity to let somebody decide for themselves what
profession they do?
~ human zoo’s, circuses with disabled people, naked modelling, prostitution, …
Against human dignity = against our concept of human dignity (majority opinion!) It’s a
difficult discussion.
E.g. Ban on concealing the face in public places (bourka) lead to a discussion in the parliament
France, in aftermath of the Wackenheim-case: “Don’t use human dignity as an
argument.”
Human dignity is frequently used in legal cases, also in Belgian legislation, especially after
WW II (World War II).
Used when we want to restrict or forbid something and run out of legal arguments.
There are many definitions of human dignity, cf. Paul Martens.
Conclusion: The concept of human dignity can be used, but it comes with room for
interpretation for judges.
Political choice to use an open term to be filled in by judges.
III. Features
1. Absolute
Very few rights are actually absolute: A lot of human rights can be restricted in certain
circumstances
Absolute in the sense that there are no higher norms
2. Universal (?)
Debatable:
What human rights are today, were not considered human rights 60 years ago.
not all human rights are applicable in the same way in different places.
The understanding of the rights differs in different places (explains the abstract
definitions of human rights on international level)
3. Inalienable
4. Indivisible
4
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller emiliebeelen. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $14.49. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
