Human Rights and Terrorism in the Inter-American System

Posted by Oswaldo Ruiz-Chiriboga. 

The book "International Human Rights and Counter-Terrorism" (E. Shor & S. Hoadley, eds, Springer 2019) contains the following two chapters on the Inter-American Human Rights System: 

Counter-Terrorism Resolutions and Initiatives by Regional Institutions 

Christina M. Cerna 

Abstract: "The Organization of American States (OAS) comprises all 35 independent countries in the Western Hemisphere from Canada to Chile, including the independent islands of the Caribbean. The Inter-American Commission and Court of Human Rights are the two OAS organs created to deal with human rights in the region and in the discussion of international human rights law; the Commission is often overlooked in favor of an examination and analysis of the Inter-American Court’s jurisprudence. The Commission, however, has the overarching responsibility for the monitoring of human rights in the hemisphere and consequently has a wider mandate than the Court, the principal function of which is the application and interpretation of the American Convention on Human Rights.

In discussing the work of the OAS as regards counter-terrorism, it is also important to look at the work of specific bodies created to deal specifically with the issue of counter-terrorism such as the Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism, although this body has little contact with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. The Commission, for its part, has a long history in conducting on-site visits to countries that were engaged in internal armed conflicts, often against military dictatorships, where terrorism was employed to undermine the State and where the State engaged in acts of counter-terrorism. This chapter will consider examples of the Commission’s on-site visits and country reports to illustrate the changing nature of terrorism and counter-terrorism in the region."

The Inter-American Court of Human Rights in the Face of Terrorism 

Amaya Ubeda de Torres 

Abstract: "How have Inter-American human rights bodies dealt with terrorism and how has it shaped their case law? The Inter-American system of human rights has been a pioneer in this field, paving the way toward assessing and establishing the limits of States’ behavior in the fight against terrorism. The American continent is not foreign to terrorism, even before the attacks on the Twin Towers and the 11 September events gave it global resonance. This chapter will assess the approach adopted by the Inter-American bodies and the complexities in developing such a response. The reactions of both the Inter-American Commission and the Court to counterterrorist measures and human rights abuses have generated a rich and well-developed body of case law. As with many other topics, the Inter-American Court has played a leading role and, over time, has transformed the American Convention through interpretation, making it a well-adapted mechanism in the fight against human rights abuses. States are confronted with a complex dilemma, as they have to decide whether to declare a state of emergency and exception or deal with terrorism in the context of the normal working of the institutions of the democratic State. In the first case, if the State recognizes a threat that may endanger the life of the nation, the state of emergency allows it to adopt measures restricting human rights in the fight against terrorism under international supervision. In the second case, the State does not specify that there is an extraordinarily grave danger, and counterterrorist measures will therefore have to satisfy the tests of proportionality and necessity when limiting individual human rights. Dealing with “gray areas,” which are situations in between exception and normality and which call for adopting restrictive measures which affect everyday life, has triggered a wide range of case law. Most cases happen in a context in which there is not an open conflict but, rather, concern a situation of internal strife. Instances of State terrorism are also at the basis of some of the most powerful rulings issues."

Los Trabajos Preparatorios de la Declaración Americana

Este reporte fue elaborado por Álvaro Paúl D.

Recientemente la editorial del Instituto de Investigaciones Jurídicas de la UNAM publicó el libro “Los trabajos preparatorios de la Declaración Americana de los Derechos y Deberes del Hombre y el origen remoto de la Corte Interamericana”, de mi autoría.  Dicho libro puede ser íntegramente descargado desde internet.  Éste es el resumen del libro:

“Este libro examina la relevancia jurídica y práctica de la Declaración Americana de Derechos y Deberes del Hombre y de sus trabajos preparatorios. Para hacerlo, analiza diversas materias, como el valor y aplicación de este instrumento. El anexo de este libro es de particular relevancia, puesto que contiene los trabajos preparatorios de la Declaración. Ésta es la primera vez en que ellos son editados en forma ordenada, sin estar confundidos entre los trabajos de otros instrumentos elaborados conjuntamente con la Declaración. Además, esta edición facilita enormemente su consulta, al contar con un índice temático y con títulos que identifican las discusiones desarrolladas durante la elaboración de la Declaración. El anexo también incluye documentos donde se recomienda crear una futura corte de derechos humanos para América.”

Fuente de la fotografía

Estudios en homenaje a Cecilia Medina Quiroga

Reporte elaborado por Oswaldo Ruiz-Chiriboga.

La editorial Tirant lo Blanch publicó el libro “La lucha por los derechos humanos hoy. Estudios en homenaje a Cecilia Medina Quiroga”, editado por Oscar Parra Vera et al. (Valencia, 2017). A continuación el índice de la obra:

Libro: "The American Convention on Human Rights. Essential Rights"

Reporte elaborado por Oswaldo Ruiz-Chiriboga.

Oxford University Press publicó el libro The American Convention on Human Rights. Essential Rights, escrito por Thomas Antkowiak y Alejandra Gonza. Este es el resumen de la obra: 

"This book offers a thorough, critical, and accessible analysis of the American Convention on Human Rights, which is the main human rights treaty of the Americas. The authors closely review the jurisprudence of the two institutions charged with interpreting the Convention -- the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights -- with emphasis on the Court's binding judgments. They focus on the rights most developed by the Court and Commission, namely the rights to equality, life, humane treatment, personal liberty, property, due process and judicial protection, as well as the freedom of expression and reparations. They examine the case law with a victim-centered lens -- identifying key jurisprudential developments, discussing critical areas that lack consistency and rigor, and proposing alternative conceptual approaches. 

Each chapter contains an Introduction to compare the Convention right's formulation with equivalent rights in other major international and regional treaties; a Background section to consider the right's negotiation history; a Scope of Protection section to analyze the right's provisions (paragraph-by-paragraph or topic-by-topic); and lastly, a Limitations section, if applicable, to study any limitations to the right. In addition, the book's Introduction presents an up-to-date overview of the dynamic Inter-American Human Rights System, discussing the System's legal instruments, major institutions, significant impact, critical developments, and current challenges". 

La introducción del libro puede leerse aquí, y el libro puede ser adquirido aquí.

Human Rights and Personal Self-Defense in International Law

Reporte elaborado por Oswaldo Ruiz-Chiriboga.

Oxford University Press publicó el libro Human Rights and Personal Self-Defense in International Law, escrito por Jan Arno Hessbruegge, el cual recoge la jurisprudencia de la Corte IDH, especialmente respecto al uso letal de la fuerza tanto por parte de agentes estatales como por parte de actores privados. A continuación la presentación del libro y luego su tabla de contenidos: 

"While an abundance of literature covers the right of states to defend themselves against external aggression, this is the first book dedicated to the right to personal self-defense in international law. Drawing on his extensive experience as a human rights practitioner and scholar, Dr. Hessbruegge sets out in careful detail the strict requirements that human rights impose on defensive force by law enforcement authorities, especially police killings in self-defense. The book also discusses the exceptional application of the right to personal self-defense in military-led operations, notably to contain violent civilians who do not directly participate in hostilities. 

Human rights also establish parameters on how broad or narrow the laws can be drawn on self-defense between private persons. Setting out the prevailing international standards, the book critically examines the ongoing trend to excessively broaden self-defense laws. It also refutes the claim that there is a human right to possess firearms for self-defense purposes. 

In extraordinary circumstances, the right to personal self-defence sharpens human rights and allows people to defend themselves against the state. Here the author establishes that international law gives individuals the right to forcibly resist human rights violations that pose a serious risk of significant and irreparable harm. At the same time, he calls into question prevailing state practice, which fails to recognize any collective right to organized armed resistance even when it constitutes the last resort to defend against genocide or other mass atrocities." 

Table of Contents 

Acknowledgments 

 Chapter 1: Introduction 

A. Summary of the argument 

B. Delineation of the topic: What is personal self-defense? 

I. Distinction of self-defense from other concepts of self-help 

II. Distinction between personal and interstate self-defense 

C. Methodology and sources 

I. Reliance on universal and regional jurisprudence 

II. Transposition of jurisprudence from other disciplines of international law 

III. Consideration of arguments from domestic jurisprudence 

 Chapter 2: The right to personal self-defense as a general principle of law 

A. No treaty provisions establishing a right to personal self-defense 

B. No recognition under customary international law 

C. General principles according to Article 38 (1) (c) ICJ Statute 

I. Formation of general principles 

II. Functions of general principles 

D. The right to self-defense as a principle of natural law 

I. Personal self-defense: a shared principle across cultural and religious traditions 

II. Inherent moral justification of self-defense 

E. The right to self-defense as a general principle derived from domestic law 

I. Common classification as a right and justification 

II. Comparable requirements of application 

F. Transposition of the personal self-defense principle into international law 

I. International humanitarian law 

II. International criminal law 

III. The law of the sea 

IV. The law of diplomatic relations 

G. Conclusion: A universally recognized right, but no unlimited license for violence 

 Chapter 3: A human right to self-defense? 

A. Positions in the academic literature 

B. Lack of state recognition of a human right to self-defense 

I. No recognition of a human right in international treaties or resolutions 

II. Insufficient national legislative practice supporting a human right  

C. Conceptual differences between the right to self-defense and human rights 

I. Inalienable nature as a commonality 

II. Auxiliary and relational nature of the right to self-defense 

III. No specific aim of curbing state power and abuses 

IV. Neutrality of the right to self-defense on the nature of the state 

D. Conclusion: Right sui generis, not human right 

Chapter 4: Defensive force by law enforcement agents 

A. Self-defense as a justified limitation of the rights to life and physical security 

I. Recognition in universal and regional human rights law 

II. Defensive force as a state obligation 

III. Self-defense as the sole peacetime justification of deliberately lethal force 

B. Formal requirement: Sufficient basis for the use of force in domestic law 

I. Minimum specifications 

II. Publicity 

III. Parliamentary prerogative to regulate lethal force 

C. Substantive requirements for self-defense as a ground of justification 

I. Unlawful attack against protected individual interests 

II. Immediacy of defensive action 

III. Necessity of defensive action 

IV. Proportionality of defensive action 

V. Defensive Intent  

D. Burden of Proof and evaluation of evidence 

E. Post-action duties of care, accountability and remedy 

I. Medical care and psychosocial support 

II. Duty to investigate incidents involving use of firearms and other force 

III. Duty to prosecute perpetrators of excessive force 

IV. Duties to provide compensation and, exceptionally, to make amends  

F. Conclusion: A deep, but narrow justification for the use of force in law enforcement 

Chapter 5: Personal self-defense in military-led operations 

A. Exceptional relevance of the personal self-defense principle in armed conflict 

I. Riots, violent demonstrations and opportunistic banditry 

II. Violent prisoners of war and interned fighters 

III. Enforcement of naval blockades and ceasefire lines 

B. Military involvement in peacetime law enforcement 

C. "Naked self-defense" - a conflation of personal and interstate self-defense 

D. Conclusion: Exceptional relevance of personal self-defense in military-led operations

Chapter 6: Human rights standards for self-defense between private persons 

A. Applicability of human rights standards to self-defense between private persons  

B. Duty to recognize a right to self-defense between private persons 

C. Duty to regulate and reasonably circumscribe self-defense between private persons 

I. Unlawful attack on a defensible interest 

II. Immediate defense: An exception for victims of intra-family violence? 

III. Necessity and proportionality 

IV. Special requirements regarding private security companies 

D. Duty to investigate and prosecute excessive or unwarranted self-defense 

I. Immunities from prosecution 

II. Burden of proof 

E. No general right to possess firearms and other means of self-defense 

I. Negative impact of gun proliferation on the protection of life and physical security 

II. No enhancement of women's right to self-defense 

III. No effective means to pre-empt tyranny or atrocities 

IV. The right to self-defense of unarmed citizens 

F. Conclusion: Human rights circumscribe the ambit of private self-defense 

Chapter 7: Self-defense against the state - resistance against human rights violations 

A. Resistance against the state - a history of opposing views 

I. Resistance as a legitimate defense against abusive governments 

II. Unassailable authority based on divine mandate or constitutional supremacy 

III. Rebellion as a threat to order and stability 

IV. Balancing stability and vindication of the right to self-defense 

B. Personal self-defense against unlawful individual acts of law enforcement officials 

I. Resistance against extrajudicial killings, torture and other police brutality 

II. No resistance against arbitrary arrest and detention if judicial remedies available 

III. Force to escape inhumane conditions of detention 

IV. General limits of the right to resist individual human rights violations 

C. Collective self-defense below the threshold of direct participation in armed conflict 

I. Limits based on the right to self-defense 

II. Distinction between civilian defense groups and organized armed groups 

D. Organized armed resistance against denials of the right to self-determination 

I. Legal Basis for a right to organized armed resistance 

II. Limits of the right to organized armed resistance 

III. Legal implications of the right to resistance 

IV. No right to rebel against undemocratic governments 

E. Organized armed resistance against mass atrocities 

I. No state recognition of a right of armed resistance against mass atrocities 

II. The case for a right of armed struggle against mass atrocities 

III. Limits of a right to resist mass atrocities 

IV. Legal implications of a right to resist mass atrocities 

V. No justification of unilateral humanitarian interventions 

F. Conclusion: A right to resistance only in exceptional circumstances  

Chapter 8: The right to personal self-defense in a Rechtsstaat - final reflections 

Bibliography 

Index

Libro “Law and Policy in Latin America. Transforming Courts, Institutions, and Rights”

Reporte elaborado por Oswaldo Ruiz-Chiriboga.  

La editorial Pelgrave publicó el libro “Law and Policy in Latin America. Transforming Courts, Institutions, and Rights”, editado por P. Rubim Borges Fortes, L. Verri Boratti, A. Palacios Lleras y T.G. Daly (2017). Esta es la presentación del libro y su índice:   

“This book offers a comprehensive introduction to law and policy responses to contemporary problems in Latin America, such as human rights violations, regulatory dilemmas, economic inequality, and access to knowledge and medicine. It includes 19 chapters written by sociologists, lawyers, and political scientists on the transformations of courts, institutions and rights protection in Latin America, all of which stem from presentations at conferences in Oxford and UCL organised by the editors. The contributors present original analyses based on rigorous research, innovative case-studies, and interdisciplinary perspectives, all written in an accessible style. Topics include the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, institutional design, financial regulation, competition, discrimination, gender quotas, police violence, orphan works, healthcare, and environmental protection, among others. The book will be of interest to students and scholars interested in policymaking, public law, and development.”  

Índice   

Brazilian ‘Supremocracy’ and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights: Unpicking an Unclear Relationship  

Daly, Tom Gerald  

Transnational Legal Process and Fundamental Rights in Latin America: How Does the Inter-American Human Rights System Reshape Domestic Constitutional Rights? 

Torelly, Marcelo 

Complying (Partially) with the Compulsory Judgments of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights

González-Salzberg, Damián 

Media Representations of the Inter-American System of Human Rights

Gil, Diego (et al.) 

The Evolving Relationship Between Law and Development: Proposing New Tools

Alviar, Helena

Transnational Legal Indicators: The Missing Link in a New Era of Law and Development

Amariles, David Restrepo

Institutional Bypasses in Brazil: Overcoming Ex-Ante Resistance to Institutional Reforms 

Prado, Mariana Mota 

Convergence, Coordination and Collusion in Securities Regulation: The Latin American Integrated Market

Mendoza, Jose Miguel

Using Judicial Actions to Address Corporate Human Rights Abuses: Colombia, 2000–2014

Bernal-Bermudez, Laura

Multiple Strategies of Financial Regulation Adopted in the Colombian Securities Market: The Case of Over-the-Counter Derivatives

Barrera, Ligia 

A Counterhistory of Anti-Trust in Latin America

Lleras, Andrés Palacios

Latin American Constitutionalism, 1810–2010: The Problem of the ‘Engine Room’ of the Constitution

Gargarella, Roberto

Addressing Poverty through a Transformative Approach to Anti-Discrimination Law in Latin America 

McManus, Alberto Coddou 

Gender Quotas, Legislative Resistance and Non-Legislative Reform

Gatto, Malu A. C. 

Human Rights and Remains: A Policy Proposal to Prevent Human Rights Violations in Brazil

Fortes, Pedro  

Digital Culture, Copyright and the Orphan Works Issue: A View from Brazil 

Westenberger, Paula 

The Incorporation of a Right to Health Perspective into Brazil’s Patent Law Reform Process 

Oke, Emmanuel Kolawole

Constitutional Environmental Protection in Brazil: A Rights-Based Approach 

Mattei, Julia (et al.)