The Evolutionary Interpretation of Treaties

Bjorge, Eirik

doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780198716143.001.0001

Cited by 115 publications

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“…An analysis of the scientific literature certifies that the discussion of approaches is reduced to the analysis of static and dynamic legal interpretative approaches (Bjorge, 2014). For example, according to A.…”

Section: Theoretical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolutionary trends in the interpretation of the European Court of Human Rights under the European Convention on Human Rights

2021

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The purpose of this Article is to analyse evolutionary trends in the interpretation of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). To achieve this goal, a wide range of general philosophical methods were used. The Article submits that the ECHR has shown a growing commitment to the evolutionary method of interpretation, using the doctrine of a "living instrument", the ECHR, which is particularly important for Member States with specific problems, although this method limits the scope in the discretion of the State. It is concluded that the interpretative methodology used by the ECHR involves the use of its methods, including increasingly developing methods of consensus, efficiency, judicial activism, comparison, innovative interpretation, autonomous method, and "balance" method. This demonstrates, inter alia, the unlimited potential to improve the ECHR's interpretation of conventional standards. In the context of modern transformations in the direction of proactive international justice, judicial activism objectively departs from a formal application of legal norms and reflects the ECHR's desire to protect the fundamental human rights of individuals and communicatethem.

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Section: Theoretical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evolutionary trends in the interpretation of the European Court of Human Rights under the European Convention on Human Rights

2021

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“…Thus, states may decide that placing weapons in orbit around the Earth to deter and respond to attacks is in their national security interest, eventually triggering a security dilemma. Alongside the current race to space may come an arms race in outer space 3 . Some observers even contend that an arms race has already begun [Silverstein, Porras, Borrie 2020:18].…”

Section: Weaponization Of Outer Space Law and Negotiationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space: Multilateral Negotiations’ Effects on International Law

Vestner

2020

Mosc. j. int. law

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INTRODUCTION. Outer space is an increasingly competitive environment. This raises incentives for states to place conventional weapons in outer space. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty (OST), the applicable legal regime, is silent on the legality of the placement of conventional weapons, however. Since the early 1980’s, the multilateral diplomatic process on the Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space (PAROS) aims to explicitly prohibit the weaponization of outer space by a new international treaty. Yet states have not agreed on such a weapons ban treaty so far. This article analyses the multilateral negotiations’ effects on the applicable international law, namely the legal gap (lacuna) in the OST regime.MATERIALS AND METHODS. This study analyzes treaty texts, UN General Assembly resolutions, treaty proposals, states’ working papers, states’ statements, and reports from international negotiations and meetings. Th analytical framework is the rules for treaty interpretation according to the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (VCLT). Consistent with explanatory and theory–building research, the methods used are those of historical legal research as well as general scientific methods, such as analysis, synthesis, analogy, description, and deduction.RESEARCH RESULTS. This article identifi s three mechanisms by which the multilateral negotiations on PAROS clarify and inform international law regarding the weaponization of outer space. First, the negotiations led states to communicate their legal positions regarding the issue. This clarifies how states interpret the law. It also allows to assess whether the continuous state practice to not place kinetic weapons in outer space represents subsequent practice of the OST according to Article 31(2)(b) VCLT. Second, the PAROS process produced annual UN General Assembly resolutions that strengthened the principle of peaceful use of outer space and linked it with states’ general understanding that this implies limits to the weaponization of outer space. As such, this is relevant for the interpretation of the gap in light of the OST’s context and object and purpose according to Article 31(1) VCLT. Third, the negotiations have produced precise language on a prohibition of weaponization in the form of the draft Treaty on Prevention of the Placement of Weapons in Outer Space and of the Threat or Use of Force Against Outer Space Objects (PPWT), which enables the emergence of a prohibition under customary international law. For the interpretation of the OST’s gap, this would constitute “any relevant rules of international law” according to Article 31(3)(c) VCLT.DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS. This article argues that the multilateral negotiations have broken the legal silence regarding the placement of conventional weapons in outer space. While the three mechanisms help to identify and clarify the law, they also influence the material substance of the law. The PA-ROS negotiations have not led the existing law to clearly prohibit the weaponization of outer space. Yet the negotiations have informed the law such that the existing law hardly authorizes such action. The result is that the issue is unequivocally regulated by international law, i.e. the OST’s gap is undoubtedly a legal gap. Yet the Lotus principle according to which what is not prohibited under international law is authorized falls short of the existing legal situation. This suggests that lex ferenda, the law in the making, has effects on lex lata. Multilateral negotiations – even deadlocked or failed ones – thus may be more than the making of future law but also the shaping of existing law. Accordingly, ongoing multilateral negotiations might be analyzed as supplementary means of treaty interpretation according to Article 32 VCLT. For policymakers, this suggests that negotiations may be used to influence the existing law, even if reaching agreement on a new treaty is not possible.

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“…No obstante, en otros casos, como Mangouras c. España, es posible identificar que, ante la posibilidad de una interpretación evolutiva, el tribunal optó por un resultado distinto, en razón de la práctica ulterior de las partes 96 .…”

Section: La Conducta Ulterior Y La Interpretación Evolutivaunclassified

La Conducta Ulterior De Las Partes Como Regla Principal De Interpretación De Los Tratados

Novak¹

2019

SYbIL

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El presente estudio analiza los recientes avances y desarrollos en torno a una de las reglas más importantes de interpretación de los tratados: la conducta ulterior de las partes. En este sentido, este estudio tiene como propósito establecer el contenido y los alcances de este principio principal de interpretación, recogido tanto por la Convención de Viena de 1969 sobre Derecho de los tratados como por la costumbre internacional, teniendo en cuenta su aplicación por parte de la jurisprudencia internacional, pero también el Proyecto de conclusiones sobre los acuerdos ulteriores y la práctica ulterior en relación con la interpretación de los tratados aprobado por la CDI, en agosto de 2018. Esto será especialmente útil para los aplicadores del Derecho internacional, tanto en el interior de los Estados como por las entidades de carácter internacional, en su permanente labor de interpretación, aplicación e implementación de los tratados internacionales.

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The Evolutionary Interpretation of Treaties

Cited by 115 publications

References 0 publications

Evolutionary trends in the interpretation of the European Court of Human Rights under the European Convention on Human Rights

Evolutionary trends in the interpretation of the European Court of Human Rights under the European Convention on Human Rights

Prevention of an Arms Race in Outer Space: Multilateral Negotiations’ Effects on International Law

La Conducta Ulterior De Las Partes Como Regla Principal De Interpretación De Los Tratados

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