Development of Self-Determination Right and The Role of Icj: Statements on The South West Africa (Namibia) Advisory Opinion

Year 2020, Volume: 4 Issue: 1, 47 - 68, 30.07.2020

Harun Koçak

https://doi.org/10.30913/alinterisosbil.732750

Abstract

Self-determination has been one of the main controversial issue on international relations and law; therefore, it is not surprising that although the nature of such disputes has changed over time from political to legal, the International Court of Justice continues to confront the relevant disputes. When a close look at the relevant cases, while many countries claim that self-determination is only a political passion, the important role of International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the development of self-determination and its obtainment a legal ground is recognized. The aim of this study is to analyze the development of self-determination right through 20. Century and the importance of the ICJ in this development. This will be achieved in the light of the Court's judgments, state declarations, which were not mentioned enough in similar articles, and the views of the judges to be examined in the South West Africa (Namibia) Advisory Opinion that were concluded by the Court.

Keywords

ICJ, Self-determination, United Nations, South West Africa

Development of Self-Determination Right and The Role of Icj: Statements on The South West Africa (Namibia) Advisory Opinion

Abstract

Self-determinasyon, uluslararası ilişkilerde ve hukukta oldukça tartışmalı bir konudur; bu nedenle, bu tür uyuşmazlıkların doğasının zamanla değişmiş olmasına rağmen, Uluslararası Adalet Divanı’nın (UAD), self-determinasyon temelli, ilgili ihtilaflarla yüzleşmeye devam etmesi şaşırtıcı değildir. İlgili davalara yakından bakıldığında, birçok ülke self-determinasyonun siyasi bir tutku olduğunu iddia ederken; bu hakkın gelişiminde ve hukuki bir zemin kazanmasında UAD'nın önemli rolü fark edilmektedir. Bu çalışmada ulaşılmaya çalışılan amaç da, UAD’nın self-determinasyon hakkının gelişiminde ne denli önemli olduğunu tahlil etmektir. Mahkeme’nin sonuçlandırmış olduğu Güney Batı Afrika Tavsiye Görüşü incelenecek; Mahkeme kararları, devlet bildirimleri (bir çok ilgili çalışmada yeterince değinilmeyen) ve yargıç görüşleri ışığında bu amaca ulaşılmaya çalışılacaktır.

Keywords

UAD, Self-Determinasyon, Birleşmiş Milletler, Güneybatı Afrika, Namibya

References

• Bedi, S. R.S. (2007). The Development of Human Rights Law by the Judges of the International Court of Justice, Oxford: Hart Publishing.
• Buchheit, L. C. (1978). Secession: The Legitimacy of Self-Determination. New Haven: Yale University Press.
• Cassese, A. (1995). Self-Determination of Peoples: A Legal Reappraisal. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Charter of the UN. (1945).
• Covenant of the League of Nations. (1919).
• Dugard, J. and Raič, D. (2006). The Role of Recognition in the Law and Practice, M.G. Kohen (Ed.), in Secession: International Law Perspectives, (Cambridge University Press).
• Electoral Consolidation Act. (1946).
• GA Res. 1541(XV). (1960).
• GA Res. 1805 (XVII). (1962)
• GA Res. 2145(XXI). (1966).
• GA Res. 2625(XXV). (1970).
• GA, (1966). 21. Session. 1439, Plenary Session.
• Higgins, R. (1994). Problems and Process: International Law and How We Use It, Oxford: Clarendon Press.
• Higgins, R. (1998). The International Court of Justice and Human Rights, Karel Wellens (Ed.), in International law: Theory and Practice: Essays In Honour of Eric Suy, Hague/Boston/London: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers. http://www.un.org/en/sections/member-states/growth-united-nations-membership-1945-present/index.html [Accessed: 25.09.2018].
• https://www.britannica.com/topic/stare-decisis [Accessed: 28.03.2019].
• International Commission of Jurists. (1967). Apartheid in South Africa and South West Africa.
• International Status of South-West Africa. (1950). Advisory Opinion: I.C. J. Reports.
• Joint Communiqué. (1959). The First West African Summit Conference (SanniqueIlie).
• Legal Consequences for States of the Contitiued Presence of South Africa in Namibia (South West Africa) notwithstanding Security Council Resolution 276 (1970). (1971a) Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports.
• Legal Consequences for States of the Contitiued Presence of South Africa in Namibia (South West Africa) notwithstanding Security Council Resolution 276 (1970). (1971b) Advisory Opinion (abstract), I.C.J. Reports.
• Naldi, G. (1999). The East Timor Case and the Role of the International Court of Justice in the Evolution of the Right of Peoples to Self-determination, Australian Journal of Human Rights, V. 5, I. 1.
• Ragazzi, M. (1997). The Concept of International Obligations Erga Omnes, Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• SC Res. 276. (1970).
• SC Res. 284. (1970).
• Separate Opinion of Judge André Gros. (1971). Legal Consequences for States of the Contitiued Presence of South Africa in Namibia (South West Africa) notwithstanding Security Council Resolution 276 (1970), Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports.
• Separate Opinion of Judge Fouad Ammoun. (1971). Legal Consequences for States of the Contitiued Presence of South Africa in Namibia (South West Africa) notwithstanding Security Council Resolution 276 (1970), Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports.
• Separate Opinion of Judge Luis Padilla Nervo. (1971). Legal Consequences for States of the Contitiued Presence of South Africa in Namibia (South West Africa) notwithstanding Security Council Resolution 276 (1970), Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports.
• Separate Opinion of Judge Sir Gerald Fritzmaurice. (1971). Legal Consequences for States of the Contitiued Presence of South Africa in Namibia (South West Africa) notwithstanding Security Council Resolution 276 (1970), Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports.
• Separate Opinion of Judge Sture Petren. (1971). Legal Consequences for States of the Contitiued Presence of South Africa in Namibia (South West Africa) notwithstanding Security Council Resolution 276 (1970), Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports.
• Separate Opinion of President Muhammad Zafrulla Khan. (1971). Legal Consequences for States of the Contitiued Presence of South Africa in Namibia (South West Africa) notwithstanding Security Council Resolution 276 (1970), Advisory Opinion (abstract), I.C.J. Reports.
• South West Africa Affairs Amendment Act. (1949). No. 23.
• South West Africa Cases (Ethiopia v. Soztth Africa; Liberia v. South Africa). (1962). Preliminary Objections, Judgment of 21 December 1962: I.C. J. Report.
• South West Africa Constitution Act. (1968). No. 39.
• South West Africa, Second Phase. (1966). Judgment, I.C.J. Reports.
• Statute of the International Court of Justice. (1946).
• Union Proclamation. (1939). No. 103, by Sheila Patterson (1998), Colour and Culture in South Africa,(Routledge). Wooldridge, F. (1979). The Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice in the Western Sahara Case, Anglo-American Law Review V.8, I. 2.
• Written Statement of Hungary. (1971). Legal Consequences for States of the Contitiued Presence of South Africa in Namibia (South West Africa) notwithstanding Security Council Resolution 276 (1970), Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports.
• Written Statement of India. (1971). Legal Consequences for States of the Contitiued Presence of South Africa in Namibia (South West Africa) notwithstanding Security Council Resolution 276 (1970), Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports.
• Written Statement of Poland. (1971). Legal Consequences for States of the Contitiued Presence of South Africa in Namibia (South West Africa) notwithstanding Security Council Resolution 276 (1970), Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports.
• Written Statement of South Africa. (1971). Legal Consequences for States of the Contitiued Presence of South Africa in Namibia (South West Africa) notwithstanding Security Council Resolution 276 (1970), Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports.
• Written Statement of UN Secretariat General. (1971). Legal Consequences for States of the Contitiued Presence of South Africa in Namibia (South West Africa) notwithstanding Security Council Resolution 276 (1970), Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports.
• Written Statement of USA. (1971). Legal Consequences for States of the Contitiued Presence of South Africa in Namibia (South West Africa) notwithstanding Security Council Resolution 276 (1970), Advisory Opinion, I.C.J. Reports.
• Zyberi, G. (2009). Self Determination Through the Lens of the International Court of Justice, Netherlands International Law Review, V.56, I.3.