Armed non-state actors and human rights law – authority without responsibility?
Abstract
The aim of this article is to determine the status of armed non-state actors under international law from the perspective of human rights law. The article seeks to answer the question whether armed non-state actors are bound by international human rights norms, as well as what could be the potential legal grounds of these obligations, what would be their scope and their consequences. The paper explores the thesis that armed non-state actors are not obliged by human rights norms. In order to examine this problem, first of all, one needs to explain why it is justified to link the activities of armed non-state actors with the human rights regulations at all. Further, some general remarks on the status of armed non-state actors are made. The main part of the article discusses different arguments which supports the thesis, such as the role of international legal norms addressed to armed non-state actors, conclusions of soft law instruments and the approach adopted by both States and armed non-state actors towards the discussed issue.
Keywords:
armed conflict, armed non-state actors, human rights, international humanitarian lawReferences
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Petrov A. O., Non-State Actors and Law of Armed Conflict Revisited: Enforcing International Law through Domestic Engagement, „Journal of Conflict & Security Law” 2014, Vol. 19 No. 2
Pictet J. S. (red.), Commentary – I Geneva Convention for the Amelioration of the Condition of the Wounded and Sick in Armed Forces in the Field, Genewa 1952
Roberts A., Sivakumaran S., Lawmaking by Nonstate Actors: Engaging Armed Groups in the Creation of International Humanitarian Law, „Yale Law Journal” 2012, Vol. 37 issue 1
Ronen Y., Human Rights Obligations of Territorial Non-State Actors, „Cornell International Law Journal” 2013, Vol. 46
Schneckener U., Spoilers or Governance Actors? Engaging Armed Non-State Groups in Areas of Limited Statehood, „SFB Governance Working Paper Series” 2009, No. 21,
Sivakumaran S., Binding armed opposition groups, „International and Comparative Law Quarterly” 2006, Vol. 55
van Steenberghe R., Non-state actors from the perspective of the International Committee of the Red Cross, J. d’Aspremont (red), Participants in the International Legal System. Multiple perspective on non-state actors in international law, Abingdon 2013
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Kleczkowska, A. (2019). Armed non-state actors and human rights law – authority without responsibility?. Polski Rocznik Praw Człowieka I Prawa Humanitarnego, (9), 125–142. https://doi.org/10.31648/prpc.3758
