Taking Universality Seriously: A Functional Approach to Extraterritoriality in International Human Rights Law

The Law & Ethics of Human Rights. Volume 7, Issue 1, Pages 47–71, Forthcoming

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem International Law Forum Research Paper No. 14-13

2 Pages Posted: 13 Sep 2013 Last revised: 31 Mar 2016

See all articles by Yuval Shany

Yuval Shany

Hebrew University of Jerusalem - Faculty of Law and Institute of Criminology; Israel Democracy Institute

Date Written: September 13, 2013

Abstract

International human rights law (IHRL) has struggled to define a standard for determining the extraterritorial applicability of its norms that would reconcile the ethos of universal entitlement, on the one hand, with the centrality of borders in delineating state powers and responsibilities under international law, on the other hand. The case law of the UN Human Rights Committee and the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) favors barring states from engaging in conduct outside their borders that would be impermissible if undertaken inside their borders. Still, attempts to demarcate the precise scope of extraterritorial application through allusion to degrees of control over individuals or areas, or by the nature of the obligation itself – have led to unsatisfactory, if not arbitrary results. This article opines a move to functionalism as the basis for extraterritorial applicability – requiring states to protect IHRL in situations where they can do so. Under this approach, which takes universality seriously, borders lose much of their normative significance. I suggest limiting the functional approach to extraterritorial applicability in accordance with two key notions: (1) the intensity of power relations – factual relations of power entailing direct, significant and foreseeable potential impact – should result in the application of IHRL obligations; or, alternatively, (2) special legal relations – relations of power that put the state in a unique legal position to afford IHRL protection would also justify the imposition of extraterritorial obligations.

Keywords: human rights, borders, universality, extraterritorial, state power, international human rights law

Suggested Citation

Shany, Yuval, Taking Universality Seriously: A Functional Approach to Extraterritoriality in International Human Rights Law (September 13, 2013). The Law & Ethics of Human Rights. Volume 7, Issue 1, Pages 47–71, Forthcoming, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem International Law Forum Research Paper No. 14-13, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2324999

Yuval Shany (Contact Author)

Hebrew University of Jerusalem - Faculty of Law and Institute of Criminology ( email )

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