THE EXTRA-TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION IN THE CASE-LAW OF THE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES
Keywords:
Extraterritorial jurisdiction, ECHR, ECtHR, alternative concepts of extraterritorial jurisdiction, pragmatic control test
Abstract
The paper analyses the concept of extra-territorial jurisdiction as envisaged by the Euroepan Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). This concept of jurisdiction implies an answer to the question whether a person outside the territory of a state can be considered to be under its jurisdiction, and thus whether the ECHR Party can violate any of their proclaimed rights. Initially, the author briefly discusses the concept of extra-territorial jurisdiction in The European Court of Human Rights case law (ECtHR). The author comes to the conclusion that the Court’s jurisprudence is not clear or consistent. As a result, the article examines three alternative approaches to extra-territorial jurisdiction that are clear, reality-based, and human rights friendly. These three approaches involve the test of negative and positive obligations, the functionality test, and the control of rights test. In addition, the author considers three contemporary challenges that the ECtHR may face in the fields of migration, ‘green’ issues, and the use of modern technologies. The author claims that the ECtHR’s understanding of jurisdiction is insufficient for modern challenges. The alternative approaches could be a viable answer to such issues.
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BVerfG, Judgment of the First Senate of 19 May 2020 - 1 BvR 2835/17
Çali, B. (2020) Has ‘Control over rights doctrine’ for extra-territorial jurisdiction come of age? Karlsruhe, too, has spoken, now it’s Strasbourg’s turn. Posjećeno 05.09.2021. URL: https://www.ejiltalk.org/has-control-over-rights-doctrine-for-extra-territorial-jurisdiction-come-of-age-karlsruhe-too-has-spoken-now-its-strasbourgs-turn/
Čučković, B. (2020). State Responsibility for Human Right Violations in Cases of Transboundary environmental harm: a new Concept of Extraterritoriality Regarding the Application of International Human Rights Treaties?. Zbornik radova Pravnog fakulteta u Nišu. 59, 89: 15-34.
ECJ, C-131/12, Google Spain SL and Google Inc. v Agencia Española de Protección de Datos (AEPD) and Mario Costeja González. (2014).
ECtHR, Al-Skeini and Others v. the United Kingdom, Application No. 55721/07, Judgment of the Grand Chamber of 7 July 2011
ECtHR, Banković and Others v. Belgium and Others [GC], Application no. 52207/99, Decision on admissibility of 19 December 2001
ECtHR, Ben El Mahi v. Denmark, Application no. 5853/06, Decision of 11 December 2006
ECtHR, Big Brother Watch And Others v The United Kingdom [GC], Applications no 58170/13, 62322/14, 24960/15, Judgment of 18 December 1996 of 25 May 2021
ECtHR, Cyprus v Turkey, Application no. 6780/74, 6950/75 Judgement of 10 May 2001
ECtHR, Demir and Baykara v. Turkey [GC], Application no. 34503/97, Judgment of 12 November 2008
ECtHR, Guzelyurtlu and Others v. Cyprus and Turkey [GC], Application no. 36925/07, Judgment of 29 January 2019
ECtHR, Hanan v Germany, Application no. 4871/16, Judgment of 16 February 2021
ECtHR, Hirsi Jamaa and Others v. Italy, Application no. 27765/09, Judgment of 23 February 2012
ECtHR, Ilascu and Others v. Moldova and Russia , Application no. 48787/99, Judgment of the Grand Chamber of 8 July 2004
ECtHR, Issa and Others v. Turkey, Application no. 31821/96, Judgment of 16 November 2004
ECtHR, Kebe and Others v. Ukraine, Application no. 12552/12, Judgment of 12 January 2017
ECtHR, Liberty and Others v. the United Kingdom, Application no. 58243/00, Judgment of 1 July 2008
ECtHR, Loizidu v Turkey (Merits), Application no. 15318/89, Judgment of the Grand Chamber of 18 December 1996
ECtHR, Medvedyev and others v. France, Application no. 3394/03, Judgment of 29 March 2010
ECtHR, Pad and Others v Turkey, Application no. 60167/00, Decision of 28 June 2007
ECtHR, Rantsev v. Cyprus and Russia, Application no. 25965/04, Judgment of 07 January 2010
ECtHR, Weber and Saravia v Germany, Application no. 54934/0 26 June 2009
HRC, General comment no. 36, Article 6 (Right to Life), 3 September 2019, CCPR/C/GC/35
HRC, Lopez Burgos v. Uruguay, Communication No. R.12/52, Views of 29 July 1981
Hart, H.L.A. (1994). The Concept of Law. Oxford: Oxford University Press
I/A Court H.R., Advisory Opinion OC-23/17 of November 15, 2017. Series A No. 23
ICJ, Pulp Mills on the River Uruguay (Argentina v. Uruguay). Judgment of 20 April 2010 [2010]
Intervention of Amnesty International and others. (2021), Posjećeno 13.09.2021. URL: https://ln.sync.com/dl/383819540/pwjktn7x-uy5x8334-sib42xf2-pk8wkc9b/view/doc/5917189520010, 22.08.2021
Крстић, И. (2013). Универзнална надлежност у међународном праву за тешке повреде људских права. Београд: Правни факултет Универзитета у Београду. (Krstić, I. (2013). Univerzalna nadležnost u međunarodnom pravu za teške povrede ljudskih prava. Beograd: Pravni fakultet Univerziteta u Beogradu.)
Milanovic, M. (2020). Surveillance and Cyber Operations. Posjećeno 28.08.2021. URL: https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3708440
Milanović, M. (2011). Extraterritorial Application of Human Rights Treaties: Law, Principles, and Policy. Oxford: Oxford University Press
Milanović, M. (2015). Human Rights Treaties and Foreign Surveillance: Privacy in the Digital Age. Harvard International Law Journal. 56: 81-146.
Reports of International Arbitral Awards, Trail smelter case (United States, Canada), 16 April 1938 and 11 March 1941, Vol III pp. 1905-1982
Ryngaert, C., (2015). Jurisdiction in International Law. Oxford: Oxford University Press
Sands, P. (2012). Principles of International Environmental Law. Cambridge: Cambridge Universtiy Press
Published
2021/12/30
Issue
Section
Review Paper
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