The Interpretation and Development of International Human Rights Law by the International Court of Justice

Abstract

Listen

Translate article

本文采用制度主义研究路径，分析了国际法院在国际裁判和执行人权方面的作用，以及它在阐释和发展基本人权规则和原则方面的贡献。国际法院是联合国主要机关之一，也是其主要的司法机关，在国际裁判机制中享有重中之重的特殊地位。国际法院对阐释和发展人权法的贡献可以从三个角度来看：第一，在程序角度，它进一步推动了人权的可诉性。第二，在实体角度，它不仅分析了非殖民化背景下的民族自决权问题和一些公约项下的人权保护范围，还处理了人权公约义务的领土范围问题、国家责任归属问题以及国际不法行为的赔偿问题，为国家、国际组织及其机构、其他法律实体甚至个人制定了行为标准。第三，在制度角度，它确保了联合国人权问题报告员的独立性和不可侵犯性，对联合国大会和安全理事会在维护国际和平与安全方面的职能作出建设性的阐释，并对其遵守国际人权义务的情况进行监督。然而，一些案件体现出国际法院在审理人权案件时存在的管辖权漏洞和其他障碍，它对国际法中某些有争议的问题持谨慎立场。这意味着国际法院有时在实施人权保护方面可能施加的影响有限。 This article uses an institutional approach when discussing the role of the ICJ within the context of international adjudication and enforcement of human rights, as well as its contribution to the interpretation and development of key human rights rules and principles. As one of the main UN organs and its principal judicial organ, the ICJ enjoys a somewhat special position as first among equals. The Court’s contribution to the interpretation and development of human rights can be seen from three aspects. Firstly, from the procedural aspect, the Court furthered the justiciability of human rights. Secondly, from the substantial aspect, the Court has dealt not only with the right to self-determination within the decolonisation context and the scope of human rights protection under the convention, but also with the territorial scope of human rights treaties’ obligations, aspects of attribution of State responsibility and issues concerning reparations for internationally wrongful acts, which lays down standards of conduct for States, international organisations and their organs, other legal entities and even individuals. Thirdly, from the institutional aspect, the ICJ ensures the independence and inviolability of UN human rights rapporteurs, the constructive interpretation of the functions of the General Assembly and the Security Council in matters of international peace and security and their monitoring of compliance with international human rights obligations. However, several cases have highlighted the jurisdictional gaps and other obstacles to litigating human rights cases before the Court. These cases have also highlighted the Court’s guarded position on certain controversial issues under international law. It shows that the limitations to the Court’s potential impact on the enforcement of fundamental human rights.