On September 29, 2021, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), in order to ensure fulfillment of “the right to a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment,” presented a draft of an additional protocol to the European Convention on Human Rights. The Assembly explained in its Resolution 2396 that an explicit right would be an “incentive for stronger domestic environmental laws and a more protection-focused approach.” The Assembly’s draft will now be considered by the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers.
International Law in Brief
International Law in Brief (ILIB) is a forum that provides updates on current developments in international law from the editors of ASIL's International Legal Materials.
On September 22, 2021, the UN General Assembly, to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, adopted Resolution A/RES/76/1 “United against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.” The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action provide a framework and foundation for combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, and related intolerance. The Resolution adopted by the General Assembly similarly, by acknowledging the rise in discrimination, hate speech, racism, and xenophobia, reiterated the commitment...
On September 29, 2021, the European Commission presented its Report on Migration and Asylum. The Commission has also adopted an updated EU Action Plan Against Migrant Smuggling and a Communication on the Application of the Employers Sanctions Directive. The Commission, by presenting and adopting these documents, which are a reflection and follow-up to the New Pact on Migration and Asylum dated September 23, 2020, aims to further prevent organized exploitation of migrants and reduce irregular migration. The Report explains achievements and key developments in migration and asylum policy,...
On September 23, 2021, the Advocate General Rantos issued his Opinion in the Cases C-128/20 GSMB Invest, C-134/20 Volkswagen, and C-145/20 Porsche Inter Auto and Volkswagen before the Court of Justice of the European Union. According to a press release from the Court, the cases deal with purchasing of motor vehicles containing software that limits nitrogen oxide emission reductions. The Court was asked to rule on whether such software is a “defeat device” (see art. 3(10) of Regulation 715/2007/EC), and whether exceptions to the prohibition of defeat devices apply...
On September 27, 2021, the Dispute Settlement Body of the World Trade Organization established two new dispute panels. One of the panels will rule on China’s anti-dumping measures imposed on stainless steel products from Japan. The other panel will rule on the measures imposed by Panama on various imports originating from Costa Rica, including dairy products, meat products, fish food, strawberries, pineapple, plantains, and bananas.
On September 22, 2021, the Secretariats of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) and the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) published the updated version (version three) of the draft Code of Conduct for Adjudicators in International Investment Disputes. The Code of Conduct, which is developed under the work of UNCITRAL Working Group III (ISDS reforms), introduces principles and provisions related to independence and impartiality, fairness, efficiency, and civility.
On September 23, 2021, the Republic of Azerbaijan instituted proceedings against the Republic of Armenia before the International Court of Justice. The proceedings concern the interpretation and the application of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. Azerbaijan claims that Armenia has conducted and continues to conduct “discriminatory acts against Azerbaijanis on the basis of their ‘national or ethnic’ origin,” continues its “ethnic cleansing” policy and “incites hatred and ethnic violence against Azerbaijanis.” Azerbaijan requests the...
On September 21, 2021, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruled in the case of Carter v. Russia that Russia has violated Article 2 (Right to Life) of the European Convention on Human Rights in its procedural and substantive aspects. The case dealt with the poisoning and death in London of Mr. Aleksandr Litvinenko's, a former Soviet and Russian security services agent who had been granted asylum in the UK. In January 2016, the inquiry of the UK authorities established that Mr. Litvinenko was, beyond reasonable doubt, poisoned by Mr. Lugovoy and Mr. Kovtun. The ECtHR held...
On September 27, 2021, ICC Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan QC issued a statement outlining his application to resume the investigation into the Situation in Afghanistan. The ICC investigation was suspended in March 2020, following a request by the Government of Afghanistan to defer the investigation to Afghan national authorities. However, as Khan states, "[r]ecent developments in Afghanistan and the change in the national authorities, represent a significant change of circumstances with import for our ongoing assessment of the deferral request" and that "there is no longer the prospect of...
On Wednesday, September 22, 2021, the District Court for the District of Columbia ordered Facebook to release records of Facebook accounts linked to anti-Rohingya violence. Facebook opposed release of the data, arguing that it would violate the Stored Communications Act (SCA), which prohibits e-communication service providers from knowingly releasing to the public the contents of its users' communications. Rejecting that argument and noting that "an update to the SCA is sorely needed," the Judge pointed out that the Act does permit the disclosure of deleted data--and Facebook has deleted...