Chapter 7. Comparing Attitudes to International Human Rights Petition Systems

Abstract

The potential for international human rights petition procedures to improve the human rights situation within a state depends both on the procedures themselves and on the extent of states' willingness to change their law and practice in light of the determinations of international human rights bodies. The United Kingdom's approach to international human rights petition systems seems to argue that the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) system is more protective of human rights than are United Nations treaty systems. When comparing the practice of the United Kingdom and Canada in respect of international human rights petition systems, it is necessary to examine two dimensions: the role of the state's attitude and the role of the system itself. Regional and United Nations systems each have their strengths, and therefore each can contribute to improve state attitudes towards international human rights. Keywords: attitude; Canada; European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR); international human rights petition systems; United Kingdom