Discussions on Authority and Procedure in Withdrawal from International Treaties from the Perspective of International Law

Year 2023, Volume: 43 Issue: 2, 639 - 679, 31.12.2023

Lider Bal

https://doi.org/10.26650/ppil.2023.43.2.1366123

Abstract

Examples and threats of withdrawing from international treaties have occupied the agenda of public opinion more than ever in recent years. South Africa’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court, the USA’s withdrawal from the Iran Nuclear Agreement and withdrawal threat from the Paris Agreement, the United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union, and Venezuela’s withdrawal from the American Convention on Human Rights are the first examples that come to mind. These unusual examples of treaty withdrawal involve states governed by authoritarian regimes, as well as treaties that concern individual civil rights and freedoms. Both cases have debated the appropriateness of withdrawal decisions and the compatibility of the methods used to make these decisions using values such as democracy and the protection of human rights. Türkiye’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention by presidential decree and the claim that the country can withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights through the same method have caused legal debates and criticisms. Given the significance of the Istanbul Convention, particularly in terms of human rights law, and the international obligations arising from Türkiye’s membership in the Council of Europe, these issues also need to be evaluated from the perspective of international law. In light of Türkiye’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, this study aims to examine the issues of authority and procedure regarding withdrawal from international treaties from the perspective of international law. For this purpose, examining the executive-centered approach of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties would be appropriate first, followed by the new phenomenon based on the principles of separation of powers and democracy, which leads to questioning this approach at the international level, particularly in the context of human rights treaties.

Keywords

Istanbul Convention, international law, Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, withdrawing from conventions, human rights law, democracy, Council of Europe

Uluslararası Hukuk Açısından Uluslararası Antlaşmalardan Çekilme Yetkisine ve Usulüne İlişkin Tartışmalar

Abstract

Uluslararası antlaşmalardan çekilme örnekleri ya da tehditleri, son yıllarda hiç olmadığı kadar kamuoyunun gündemini meşgul etmektedir. Güney Afrika’nın Uluslararası Ceza Mahkemesi’nden çekilmesi; ABD’nin, Başkan D. Trump döneminde İran Nükleer Anlaşması’ndan çekilmesi ve Trump’ın Paris Anlaşması’ndan çekilme tehditleri; Birleşik Krallık’ın Avrupa Birliği’nden ayrılmak amacıyla kurucu antlaşmadan çekilmesi; Venezuela’nın İnsan Hakları Amerikan Sözleşmesi’nden çekilmesi ilk akla gelebilecek örneklerdir. Uluslararası antlaşmaların sona erdirilmesi bakımından sık karşılaşılabilir olmayan bu örneklerde otoriter yönetimlerin hakim olduğu devletlerin dahli ve/veya kişi haklarını ve özgürlüklerini ilgilendiren antlaşmalar söz konusudur. Her iki ihtimalde de çekilme kararlarının yerindeliği ve bu kararların alınma yöntemleri demokrasi ve insan haklarının korunması gibi değerlere uygunluğu bakımından tartışılmaktadır. Türkiye’nin İstanbul Sözleşmesi’nden Cumhurbaşkanı Kararı ile çekilmesi ve aynı yöntemle İnsan Hakları Avrupa Sözleşmesi’nden de çekilmenin mümkün olduğunun dillendirilmesi, diğer boyutlarının yanında, hukuki açıdan tartışmalara ve eleştirilere neden olmuştur. Daha çok anayasa hukukçularının dahil olduğu çekilme kararının alınmasında yetki ve usul tartışmaları, İstanbul Sözleşmesi’nden çekilmenin antlaşmalar hukuku bağlamında diğer taraf Devletler bakımından ve bölgesel örgütler çerçevesindeki etkileri nedeniyle uluslararası hukukçular açısından da ilgi çekicidir. Özellikle, Türkiye’nin üyesi olduğu Avrupa Konseyi’nin insan haklarının korunmasına dair temel belgeleri arasında sayılan İstanbul Sözleşmesi’nden çekilmesi, bu Örgüt’ün üye devletler bakımından bir yükümlülüğe dönüştürdüğü demokrasi ve insan haklarının korunması açısından değerlendirilmeye muhtaçtır. Türkiye’nin İstanbul Sözleşmesi’nden çekilmesi örneğinden hareketle uluslararası antlaşmalardan çekilme yetkisine ve usulüne ilişkin tartışmalara uluslararası hukuk açısından bakmayı amaçlayan bu çalışma, uluslararası hukukun yürütme merkezli yaklaşımını ve bu yaklaşımın sorgulanmasına neden olan değişimleri, özellikle insan haklarının korunmasına dair antlaşmalar bağlamında incelemektedir.

Keywords

İstanbul Sözleşmesi, Uluslararası hukuk, Antlaşmalar hukuku, Sözleşmelerden çekilme, İnsan hakları hukuku, Demokrasi, Avrupa Konseyi

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