Perils&Promise:Interna0onalLaw&Poli0csSpring2016

EricSinrod-eric.sinrod@gmail.com

Week2HumanRightsViola0ons

Na0onality

•  Isna0onalityrelevantwhenitcomestothemoderninterna0onallawofhumanrights?

No

•  Humanrightscutacrossboundariesandno0onsofsovereignty

•  Humanrightsconcernsandprotec0onofaffectedpeopledonotremaintobeaddressedonlybythegovernmentofagivenstatewhereharmisoccurring

SomeHistoryIsInOrder

•  Beforemostrecentmodern0mes,astate’streatmentofindividualswithinitsterritorywasdeemedamaRerofdomes0caffairs

•  Anearlyexcep0on,goingasfarbackasRoman0mesrelatedtoastate’sobliga0onstoalienswithinit’sthestatesboundaries

•  Bytheearly19thcentury,trea0eswereputinplacetoprotectethnicminori0eswithinstates

History(con0nued)

•  Theonlyotherearlyexampleoftheinternaliza0onofhumanrightsrelatedtothecondemna0onofslavery

•  Andseveralmajorcountriesabolishedslaveryintheearly19thcentury;later,theunacceptabilityofslaverybecametheinterna0onalstandardandslavetradingbecameillegal

•  But,otherwise,howindividualsweretreatedwithinastategenerallywasamaRerofconcernonlyforthesovereigngovernment–nototherstates!

Butthischangeddrama0callya^erWorldWarII

ModernConceptofInterna0onalRights

•  Themodernconceptofinterna0onalhumanrightslawistheresultoftheworld’sreac0ontotheHolocaustandotherNaziatroci0esduringWWII

•  Indeed,thismodernconceptwasthekeytotheforma0onoftheUNin1945

•  OneoftheprincipalpurposesoftheUNasreflectedinitscharteristheprotec0onofhumanrights

TheUNCharter

•  Preamble:UNmembers“reaffirmfaithinfundamentalhumanrights,andintheequalrightsofmenandwomen”

•  Ar0cle1(3):“[O]neofthepurposesoftheUNis...inpromo0ngandencouragingrespectforhumanrightsandforfundamentalfreedomsforallwithoutdis0nc0onastorace,sex,languageorreligion”

•  Ar0cle55:“TheUnitedNa0onsshallpromote...universalrespectfor,andobservanceof,humanrightsandfundamentalfreedomsforallwithoutdis0nc0onastorace,sex,languageorreligion”

•  Ar0cle56(important!):“AllMemberspledgethemselvestotakejointandseparateac0on...FortheachievementofthepurposessetforthinAr0cle55”–thisisabindingprovisionthatcons0tutesalegalobliga0onofUNmembers

UNCharter(con0nued)

•  But,referencestohumanrightsintheCharteraregeneralandvague

•  And,theCharterdoesnotcontainspecificlegalrightsnordoesitmandateenforcementprocedurestoprotecttheserights

•  S0ll,thesignificanceofthestatementsofhumanrightsintheChartershouldnotbeunderstated

•  Thishasbeenthestar0ngpointforthedevelopmentofabroadarrayofhumanrightsefforts

UniversalDeclara0onofHumanRights

•  TheUDHRwasadoptedbytheUNGeneralAssemblyin1948

•  Regardedasanimportantstatementofinterna0onalrightsandhasbeeniden0fiedastheculmina0onofcenturiesofsecularandreligiousthinking

•  Whileoriginallyanon-bindingresolu0on,manyconsiderittohaveacquiredtheforceofinterna0onalcustomarylawwhichmaybeinvokedbytribunals

TheUDHR(con0nued)

•  TheUDHRurgesmemberna0onstopromoteanumberofhuman,civil,economicandsocialrights–whileasser0ngtheserightsaspartofthe“founda0onoffreedom,jus0ceandpeaceintheworld”

•  Thisdeclara0onwasthefirstinterna0onallegalefforttolimitthebehaviorofstatesandtopressuponthemdu0estotheirci0zens

•  ThePreamblerecognizesthat“theinherentdignityandequalandinalienablerightsofallmembersofthehumanfamilyisthefounda0onoffreedom,jus0ceandpeaceintheworld”

Interna0onalBillofRights/UDHR

•  TheUDHRwasframedbymembersoftheHumanRightsCommission,withEleanorRooseveltasChair,andwhobegantodiscussanInterna0onalBillofRightsbackin1947

•  ThemembersoftheCommissiondidnotimmediatelyagreeontheformofsuchabillofrights,andwhetherandhowitwouldbeenforced

•  TheCommissionproceededtoframetheUDHRandaccompanyingtrea0es,buttheUDHRquicklybecamethepriority

UDHRSupremacy

•  ThethirdclauseoftheUDHRpreamble:•  “Whereasitisessen0al,ifmanisnottobecompelledtohaverecourse,asalastresort,torebellionagainsttyrannyandoppression,thathumanrightsshouldbeprotectedbytheruleoflaw”

•  SomeoftheUDHRwasresearchedandwriRenbyacommiReeofinterna0onalexpertsonhumanrights,includingrepresenta0vesfromallcon0nentsandallmajorreligions,anddrawingonconsulta0onwithleaderssuchasMahatmaGandhi

SignificantHumanRightsTrea0es

•  FollowingtheUDHR,therehavebeensomesignificantinterna0onalhumanrightstrea0es

•  In1966,theInterna0onalCovenantonCivilandPoli0calRights(ICCPR)andtheInterna0onalCovenantonEconomic,SocialandCulturalRights(ICESCR)wereadoptedbytheUN–andbetweenthemtherightscontainedintheUDHRbecamebindingonallstatesthathavesignedthesetrea0es–thus,crea0nghumanrightslaw

•  Sincethen,numerousothertrea0eshavebeenenteredinto–generallyknownashumanrightsinstruments

SignificantHumanRightsTrea0es(cont)

•  Themostsignificant“core”humanrightstrea0es:•  Conven0onontheElimina0onofAllFormsofDiscrimina0onAgainstWomen(1981)

•  Conven0onontheElimina0onofAllFormsofRacialDiscrimina0on(1969)

•  Conven0onontheRightsofPersonsWithDisabili0es(2008)

•  Conven0onontheRightsoftheChild(1989)•  UNConven0onAgainstTorture(1984)•  Interna0onalConven0onontheProtec0onoftheRightsofAllMigrantWorksandMembersoftheirFamilies(2003)

Let’sNotForgetTheGenevaConven0ons

•  TheGenevaConven0onscameaboutbetween1864and1949asaresultofeffortsbyHenryDunant,thefounderoftheInterna0onalCommiReeoftheRedCross

•  TheGenevaConven0onssafeguardthehumanrightsofindividualsinvolvedinarmedconflict,andbuildupontheHagueConven0onsof1899and1907–theinterna0onalcommunity’sfirstaRempttoformalizethelawsofwar

•  TheConven0onswererevisedasaresultofWWIIandreadoptedbytheinterna0onalcommunityin1949

CustomaryInterna0onalLaw

•  Weshouldalsoconsidercustomaryinterna0onallawonthissubject

•  Inaddi0ontotrea0es,customaryinterna0onallawcanprotectsomehumanrights,suchastheprohibi0onagainsttorture,genocideandslavery

TheUNHumanRightsCouncil

•  TheUNhasvariousorgansthatcanaddresshumanrightsissues

•  OneofthemistheUNHumanRightsCouncil,whichwascreatedatthe2005WorldSummittoreplacetheUNCommissiononHumanRights;theCouncilhasthemandatetoinves0gatehumanrightsviola0ons

•  TheCouncilisasubsidiarybodytoandreportstotheGeneralAssembly;theHumanRightsCouncilranksbelowtheSecurityCouncilwhichisthefinalauthorityfortheinterpreta0onoftheUNCharter

UNCouncil(con0nued)

•  Forty-sevenmemberstatessitontheCouncil•  TheHumanRightsCouncilmayasktheSecurityCounciltotakeac0onwithrespecttohumanrightsviola0ons

•  Suchac0onsmayinvolvesanc0ons,andtheSecurityCouncilmayalsorefercasestotheInterna0onalCriminalCourt(ICC)

HumanRightsAbuses

•  Humanrightsviola0onsoccurwhenac0onsbystate(ornon-state)actorsabuse,ignore,ordenybasichumanrights(includingcivil,poli0cal,cultural,socialandeconomicrights)

•  Viola0onscanoccurwithrespecttobreachesofanypartoftheUHDRtreatyorotherinterna0onalhumanrightsorhumanitarianlaws

•  Astohumanrightsviola0onsofUNlaws,Ar0cle39oftheUNCharterdesignatestheUNSecurityCouncilastheonlytribunaltodetermineUNhumanrightsviola0ons

Monitoring

•  HumanrightsabusesaremonitoredbytheUNcommiRees,na0onalins0tu0onsandgovernmentsandalsobymanyindependentnon-governmentalorganiza0onslikeAmnestyInterna0onal,HumanRightsWatchandtheWorldOrganiza0onAgainstTorture

•  Theycollectevidenceanddocumenta0onofallegedhumanrightsabusesandapplypressuretoenforcehumanrightslaw

SeriousViola0ons

•  Warsofaggression,warcrimes,andcrimeagainsthumanity,includinggenocide,arebreachesofinterna0onalhumanitarianlawandrepresentthemostseriousofhumanrightsviola0ons

•  At0mes,theUNSecurityhasintercededwithpeacekeepingforcestoprotecthumanrights

Dep’tStatev.Ray

Hai0anBoatpeopleEarly1990s

•  Hai0answeredesperatefleeingoppression•  Takingtothehighseasinricketyra^s•  InterdictedbytheUSCoastGuard•  Apprehendedforimmigra0onprocessingatKrome

Poli0calAsylum

•  Theyappliedforpoli0calasylum•  Neededtoprove“well-foundedfearofpersecu0onuponreturntohomecountry”

•  NotenoughtosaywanttostayinUSforeconomicreasons

The“Returnees”

•  Morethan70boatpeopleweredeportedbacktoHai0–referredtoasthe“returnees”

•  TheStateDept.andtheINSallegedlywenttoHai0tointerviewthereturnees

•  TheStateDept.andtheINSreportedpubliclythatallthereturneesreportedthateverythingwasfineforthembackinHai0

•  Thisdidnotseemtocomportwithreality

FOIARequests

•  MichaelRay,theimmigra0onaRorneyIrepresented,filedFOIArequeststoobtaintheinterviewreportandthenamesofthereturnees

•  WewantedtofindoutfromthereturneesthemselveswhethertheirlivestrulywereacceptablebackinHai0orwhethertheywerebeingtorturedorhadbeenkilled

•  UndertheFOIA,thegovernmentmustproviderequestedinforma0onunlessoneofninenarrowexemp0onsapples

FOIAExemp0on6

•  Exemp0on6providesthatinforma0oncanbewithheldbythegovernmentifthepublicinterestindisclosureisoutweighedbyaclearlyunwarrantedprivacyinvasion

•  Weclearlyshowedapublicinterestintherequestedinforma0on–whetherthereturneesarebeingharmedorkilled;ifso,immigra0onjudgeshereshouldknowthatsonottokeepdenyingpoli0calasylumtoothersindeporta0onproceedingsfromKrome

TheGovernmentArgument

•  Thegovernmentarguedthatprivacyinterestswereparamount

•  Namely,ifwecontactedthereturnees,theycouldfacethreatsandharmfromtheHai0angovernment

•  Thisdoesnotmakesense•  Why?

FallacyInGovernmentArgument

•  Theflawinthegovernmentargument–•  iftheHai0angovernmenthadbeentrea0ngthereturneeswellupontheirreturn,thereshouldnotbeaproblemcontac0ngthem–

•  becauseiftheysaidthatlifewasgoodbackinHai0,thereisnoreasonfortheHai0angovernmenttoharmthem

Fallacy(con0nued)

•  Itisonlyiftheyarebeingpersecutedagain,thattheHai0angovernmentwouldhurtthemfurtherfortellingthattruth

•  AndinthewakeoftheUSgovernmentsayingthatthereturneesarefinebackinHai0,theimmigra0onjudgesstoppedbelievinganyofthemseekingpoli0calasylumindeporta0onproceedings

TheSupremes

•  ThefederaldistrictcourtinMiamiagreedthatthereshouldbedisclosureunderFOIA

•  However,theEleventhCircuitCourtofAppealdisagreed

•  Rayfiledape00onforawritofcer0oraritotheUSSupremeCourt

•  Thevastmajorityofwritpe00onsaredenied•  Ray’spe00onwasveryinflammatory–caughtthehighcourt’saRen0on

SupremeCourtContext

•  TheSupremeshadtobalancethepublicinterestindisclosureagainstthesupposedprivacyinterestsatstake

•  TherewereonlyeightJus0cesiungontheCourtinlate-1991

•  Why?

TheMissingNinthJus0ce

•  Jus0ceThurgoodMarshallle^thebench•  ClarenceThomas(ironic)wasundergoingconfirma0onhearingsontheHill

•  AnitaHill,whohadworkedforhim,wasaccusinghimofsexualharassment

•  Thomasul0matelymadeitontotheCourt,buta^erourcasewasheard

•  Hegenerallyhasbeenasilentmember–neveraskingques0onsofcounsel

TheBigWeek

•  1.SupremeCourtoralargument

•  2.Firstchildborn

•  3.Partneratmylawfirm

OurGoalsBeforetheSupremes

•  MichaelRay,uponreceivingthenamesandinterviewreports,wantedtogotoHai0toconducthisowninterviewsofthereturnees

•  MychiefjobwastopreservetheintegrityoftheFOIAstatute,andtodefeatthegovernment’s“deriva0veuse”argument

TheDeriva0veUseArgument

•  TheSolicitorGeneral’sOfficeoftheDOJwasmakingaderiva0veuseprohibi0onargumentthatwouldemasculatetheFOIA

•  Namely,theyarguedthatiftheinforma0onyouseekonitsfaceisnotofinterest,thenyoucannotgetitundertheFOIA

•  Thus,apar0cularreturnee’snamebyitself,isjustaname,andisofnoconsequence

Deriva0veUse(con0nued)

•  AccordingtotheDOJ,onecannotseekthenameforthederiva0veuseofgeungsomethingelseofinterest,liketheabilitytotalktoapersontofindoutiftherehasbeenongoingpersecu0on–thepublicinterest,forexample,mustbeinthenameitself,notwhatyouwanttodowiththenamenext

•  Thiswouldturnthelawonitshead–inourcivilcourts,therecanbediscoveryofanythingthatpoten0allycanleadtopossibleadmissibleevidence;discoveryisnotlimitedtotheul0mateadmissibleevidenceitself

HowDidTheSupremesRule?

Well...

•  Therewaswranglingaboutwhowouldpresenttheoralargument–concernaboutRaybeingtooinflammatory

•  Hedidtranscendhimselfwell•  Fortunately,theSupremesagreedwithmyargumentandtheydidnotgutthestatute–theyrejectedthegovernment’sderiva0veuseargument

•  Buttheys0llnotordertherevela0onofthereturneenamesortheinterviewreports–sayingwronglythattherewasnoevidenceintherecordofpublicinterest

ApparentReali0es

•  Ithinkitwasacompromise–savethestatutebutdenyreliefofthespecificrequestedinforma0oninthiscase

•  Apparently,theCourtdidnotwanttointerferewiththeaffairsoftheStateDeptandtheINSatthe0me

•  Footnote–Hai0anstreatedverydifferentlythanCubanscomingtoSouthFlorida–why?

Substan0veHumanRights

• Whataresomeoftherecognizedsubstan0vehumanrights?

TheRighttoLife

•  Ar0cle6.1oftheInterna0onalCovenantonCivilandPoli0calRights:

•  “Everyhumanbeinghastheinherentrighttolife.Thisrightshallbeprotectedbylaw.Nooneshallbearbitrarilydeprivedofhislife”

•  Ahumanbeinghastherightnottobekilledbyanotherhumanbeing

•  Thisconceptiscentraltodebatesaboutwar,self-defense,capitalpunishment,euthanasia,andabor0on

TheRighttoLife(con0nued)

•  TherecentISISbeheadingsobviouslyviolatetherighttolife

•  Andmanyhumanrightsac0vistsbelievethatthedeathpenaltyviolatestherighttolife–somecountriesdonothavethedeathpenalty,butwedoincertainstates

•  TheUNhascalledoncountriesretainingthedeathpenaltytoestablishamoratoriumoncapitalpunishmentwithaviewtoitsaboli0on

FreedomfromTorture

•  Throughouthistory,torturehasbeenusedamethodofpoli0cal“re-educa0on,”interroga0on,punishmentandcoercion

•  Therecanbestate-sponsoredtorture,ortorturebygroupsandindividuals

•  Tortureisprohibitedunderinterna0onallawandthecurrentdomes0clawsofmostcountries

•  Tortureisaviola0onofhumanrights,andisdeclaredunacceptablebyAr0cle5oftheUNUniversalDeclara0onofHumanRights

FreedomfromTorture(con0nued)

•  SignatoriesoftheGenevaConven0onandlaterprotocolshaveagreedofficiallynottotorturecapturedpersonsinarmedconflicts,whetherinterna0onalorinternalconflicts

•  TorturealsoisprohibitedundertheUNConven0onAgainstTorture,whichhasbeenra0fiedby155countries

•  But,despiteallofthis,humanrightsmonitoringagenciesreportwidespreaduseoftorturecondonedbystatesandothersinmanyregionsoftheworld;indeed,atleast81governmentscurrentlyprac0cetorture–someofthemopenly

FreedomfromSlavery

•  Freedomfromslaveryisaninterna0onallyrecognizedhumanright

•  Ar0cle4oftheUniversalDeclara0onofHumanRights:

•  “Nooneshallbeheldinslaveryorservitude;slaveryandtheslavetradeshallbeprohibitedinalloftheirforms”

•  Isslaverydeclining?

SlaveryontheRise

•  Shockingly,thenumberofslavestodayishigherthanatanypointinhistory–es0matedsomewherebetween12and27millionslaves

•  Mostaredebtslaves,largelyinSouthAsia,whoareunderdebtbondageincurredtolenders,some0mesforgenera0ons

•  Therealsoissubstan0alhumantraffickingprimarilyforpros0tu0ngwomenandchildrenintosexindustries

•  Variousgroups,likeAn0-SlaveryInterna0onal,arecampaigningtoridetheworldofslavery

RighttoaFairTrial

•  Therighttoafairtrialhasbeendefinedinnumerousregionalandinterna0onalhumanrightsinstruments

•  Itisoneofthemostextensivehumanrightsandallinterna0onalhumanrightsinstrumentsenshrinedinmorethanonear0cle

•  Thishasbeenli0gatedheavilyandcaselawhasdevelopedtointerpretthisright

•  Thecorepointistheproperadministra0onofjus0cewiththerighttoafair,independentandimpar0altribunal;apublichearing;ahearingwithinareasonable0me;counsel;andfairinterpreta0on

FreedomofSpeech

•  Freedomofspeechisthefreedomtospeakfreelywithoutcensorship

•  IntheUS,wehavetheFirstAmendmentbakedintotheCons0tu0on

•  Thefreedomofexpressioncanbesynonymous,butincludesanyactofseeking,receivingandimpar0nginforma0onorideas,regardlessofthemediumused

•  Freedomofspeechisnotabsolute,andissubjecttolimita0onswhenitcomestoincitementtocommitacrime,hatespeech,defama0onandobscenity

•  Explain“JohnDoe”InternetunmaskinginUS

FreedomofSpeechCon0nued

•  TherighttofreedomofspeechisrecognizedasahumanrightunderAr0cle19oftheUniversalDeclara0onofHumanRights–andintheInterna0onalCovenantonCivilandPoli0calRights(ICCPR)

•  Ar0cle19oftheICCPR:“Everyoneshallhavetherighttoholdopinionswithoutinterference”and“everyoneshallhavetherighttofreedomofexpression;thisrightshallincludefreedomtoseek,receiveandimpartinforma0onandideasofallkinds,regardlessoffron0ers,eitherorally,inwri0ngorinprint,intheformofart,orthroughanyothermedia”

FreedomofReligion

•  Ar0cle18oftheICCPR:•  “Everyonehastherighttofreedomofthought,conscience,andreligion;thisincludesfreedomtochangeareligionorbelief,andfreedom,eitheraloneorincommunitywithothers,andinpublicorprivate,tomanifestareligion”

•  Thefreedomtoleaveordiscon0nuemembershipinareligionorreligiousgroupiscalled“apostasy”andisafundamentalpartofreligiousfreedom

•  Humanrightsgroups,likeAmnestyInterna0onal,campaigntoprotectthosearrestedandincarceratedbasedonreligiousandotherbeliefs

SexualOrienta0onandGenderIden0ty

•  Sexualorienta0onandgenderiden0tyrightsrelatetotheexpressionofsexualorienta0onbasedontherighttorespectprivatelivesandtherightnottobediscriminatedagainstonthegroundof“otherstatus”asdefinedinvarioushumanrightsconven0ons,suchasAr0cles17and26oftheICCPR

•  But,asof2011,homosexualbehaviorwass0llillegalin76coun0es,andpunishablebyexecu0oninsevencountries

•  Criminaliza0onofprivate,consensual,adultsexualrela0onsisoneoftheprimaryconcernsofLGBThumanrightsadvocates;mosttrueincountrieswherethereiscorporalorcapitalpunishmentforsuchrela0ons

TheRighttoWater

•  Therighttowaterisrecognizedinawiderangeofinterna0onaldocuments,includingtrea0es,declara0onsandotherstandards–willbeinteres0ngwithclimatechange/droughts

•  E.g.,The1979Conven0onontheElimina0onofAllFormsofDiscrimina0onAgainstWomenrequiresmemberstatestoensuretowomentherightto“enjoyadequatelivingcondi0ons,par0cularlyinrela0onto...watersupply”

•  Andthe1989Conven0onontheRightsoftheChildrequiresmemberstatestocombatdiseaseandmalnutri0on“throughtheprovisionofadequateandnutri0ousfoodsandcleandrinking-water”

•  UNCommiReeonEconomic,SocialandCulturalRights:“Thehumanrighttowateren0tleseveryonetosufficient,safe,acceptable,physicallyaccessibleandaffordablewaterforpersonalanddomes0cuses”

Reproduc0veRights

•  TheWorldHealthOrganiza0on:•  “Reproduc0verightsrestontherecogni0onofthebasicrightofallcouplesandindividualstodecidefreelyandresponsiblythenumber,spacingand0mingoftheirchildren...andtherighttoaRainthehigheststandardofsexualandreproduc0vehealth”

•  Canbecontroversial,withstatesat0messeekingtolimitthenumberofbirths(China),andwithabor0onbeingincludedwithinreproduc0verights

•  Reproduc0verightswerefirstestablishedasasubsetofhumanrightssetforthattheUN1968Interna0onalConferenceonHumanRights

TheEnvironment

•  Therighttoancleanenvironmenthasbeenshowingupininterna0onaldocuments

•  Forexample,itcanbefoundinAr0cle11oftheSanSalvadorProtocoltotheAmericanConven0ononHumanRights

•  Therightisexpressedasarighttoahealthyandadequateenvironment(wewillspendmore0meonenvironmentalissueslater)

•  Therecanbetensionbetweendifferenthumanrights–suchasa)reproduc0vefreedomvs.ahealthyenvironment;b)therightsofpeopleonearthnowvs.futuregenera0ons;orc),developedcountriestryingtotellstruggling/developingcountriestoprotecttheenvironment

Deroga0onfromHumanRightsProtec0on

•  Agreementsthatprotecthumanrightso^enallowderoga0onfromprotec0onintheeventof“publicemergencies”

•  Butthemostbasichumanrights,likefreedomfromtorture,slaveryandgenocide,maynotbederogatedfromevenduringpubicemergencies

SufficientPublicEmergencies

•  Fortheretobesufficientpubicemergencies:

•  theemergencymustthreatenthelifeofthestate;itmustbeofficiallyproclaimed;thederoga0ononlyispermiRedtotheextentstrictlyrequired;andthemeasuresemployedmustnotbeinconsistentwithotherinterna0onallegalobliga0ons,andtheymaynotbediscriminatorybasedonrace,color,sex,languagereligionorsocialorigin