The Extraterritorial Application of Human Rights Treaties in the Context of Environmental Transboundary Harm

Year 2022, Volume: 42 Issue: 1, 455 - 184, 29.06.2022

Kazım Berkay Arslan

Abstract

This article treats the issue of jurisdiction under human rights treaties in cases of environmental transboundary harm. It aims to cover the definitions of the environment and transboundary harm as well as the relevant rules under international environmental law applicable to environmental transboundary harm. Thereafter, it analyses the territorial scope of human rights treaties and focuses on the establishment of a jurisdictional link in cases of environmental transboundary damages. It suggests that the classical approach, which is focused on effective control over an area or persons, is not apt in this context. Rather, this article proposes the use of other approaches to jurisdiction, such as the functional approach adopted by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights which is based on an effective control over the activities causing environmental harm and consequent human rights violations. It further argues that the general rule under customary international law which prohibits States from engaging in acts causing transboundary harm could also be applied as a special feature in the context of international human rights law. Finally, this article concludes by pointing out some current challenges that need to be clarified with respect to the obligations of States arising from human rights breaches caused by environmental transboundary damages.

Keywords

Human rights, environmental transboundary harm, jurisdiction, extraterritorial application, IACtHR Advisory Opinion on the Environment and Human Rights (OC-23/17

Sınıraşan Çevre Zararı Kapsamında İnsan Hakları Andlaşmalarının Ülke Dışında Uygulanması

Abstract

Bu makale sınıraşan çevre zararı hallerinde insan hakları andlaşmaları bakımından yetki konusunu ele almaktadır. Makalede çevre ve sınıraşan zarar terimlerinin tanımları ile uluslararası çevre hukukunun sınıraşan çevre zararına uygulanabilir olan ilgili hükümlerine yer verilmesi hedeflenmektedir. Ayrıca, insan hakları andlaşmalarının ülkesel kapsamı incelenmekte ve sınıraşan çevre zararı hallerinde yetkinin tesis edilmesi konusuna odaklanılmaktadır. Bölge veya kişi üzerinde etkin kontrol kurulmasına odaklanmış olan klasik yaklaşımın bu bağlamda uygun olmadığı ileri sürülmektedir. Bunun yerine,Amerikalılararası İnsan Hakları Mahkemesi tarafından benimsenen ve çevre zararına yol açan etkinlikler ile bu sebeple ortaya çıkan insan hakları ihlalleri üzerinde etkin kontrole dayanan fonksiyonel yaklaşım gibi farklı yetki yaklaşımlarının kullanılması tavsiye edilmektedir. Buna ek olarak, uluslararası teamül hukukundaki devletlerin sınıraşan zarar meydana getiren hareketlerden kaçınmasına ilişkin genel kuralın uluslararası insan hukuku kapsamında bir özel durum olarak uygulanmasının mümkün olduğu iddia edilmektedir. Son olarak, makalede devletlerin sınıraşan çevre zararlarından kaynaklanan insan hakları ihlallerinden doğan yükümlülüklerine ilişkin olarak açıklığa kavuşturulması gereken bazı güncel sorunlara değinilmektedir.

Keywords

İnsan hakları, sınıraşan çevre zararı, yetki, ülke dışında uygulama, Amerikalılararası İnsan Hakları Mahkemesi Çevre ve İnsan Hakları Danışma Görüşü (OC-23/17)

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