Reservations to the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms

Wojciech Burek

Uniwersytet Jagielloński w Krakowie


Abstract

The first part of this article presents Article 57 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR) and other reservation clauses (in protocols to the Convention) and discusses the characteristics of a system of reservations established by the ECHR and its Protocols. The second and third part analyse and critically appraise states’ practice concerning the formulation of reservations, and objections to other states’ reservations/declarations. The latter were formulated only in respect to some reservations formulated to the Protocol No. 1 to the ECHR. Before concluding with a general assessment of how this system works and what was its impact on other treaty regimes and on the general discussion on reservations to treaties, the role of the European Court of Human Rights (and the Commission before the entry into force of the Protocol No. 11) in the context of reservations is also discussed. 


Keywords:

European Convention on Human Rights, Reservations, The ILC Guide to Practice on Reservations to Treaties, State practice.


Åkermark S.S., Reservation clauses in treaties concluded within the Council of Europe, “International & Comparative Law Quarterly” 1999, Vol. 48.

Bourguignon H.J., The Belilos Case: new light on reservations to multilateral treaties, “Virginia Journal of International Law” 1989, Vol. 29.

Burek W., Zastrzeżenia do traktatów z dziedziny ochrony praw człowieka, Warszawa 2012.

Cameron I., Horn F., Reservations to the European Convention on Human Rights: The Belilos Case, “German Yearbook of International Law” 1990, Vol. 33.

Collected edition of the “Travaux préparatoires” of the European Convention on Human Rights, Vol. IV, The Hague 1977.

Frowein J.Abr., Reservations to the European Convention on Human Rights, [w:] Matscher F., Petzold H. (red.), Protecting human rights: the European dimension.
Studies in honour of Gérard J. Wiarda, Köln–Berlin–Bonn–München 1988.

Gardner J.P. (red.), Human rights as general norms and a state’s right to opt out, London 1997.

Garlicki L., Art. 57 [w:] Garlicki L. (red.), Konwencja o Ochronie Praw Człowieka i Podstawowych Wolności. Tom II. Komentarz do artykułów 19–59 oraz Protokołów
dodatkowych, Warszawa 2011.

Imbert P.H., Reservations and human rights conventions, “Human Rights Review” 1981, Vol. 6.

Imbert P.H., Reservations to the European Convention on Human Rights before the Strasbourg Commission: The Temeltasch case, “International and Comparative
Law Quarterly” 1984, Vol. 33.

Kamiński I.C., Protokół nr 14 bis do EKPCz – doraźna reforma procedury przed ETPCz, „Europejski Przegląd Sądowy” 2009, nr 11.

Lijnzaad L., Reservations to UN-Human Rights Treaties. Ratify or Ruin?, Dordrecht– Boston–London 1995.

LinderfalkU., Reservations to treaties and norms of jus cogens – a comment on Human Rights Committee GeneralComment No. 24, [w:] Ziemele I. (red.), Reservations to human rights treaties and the Vienna convention regime: confl ict, harmony or reconciliation, Leiden–Boston 2004.

MacDonald R. St. J., Reservations under the European Convention on Human Rights, “Revue Belge de Droit International” 1998, Vol. 21.

Marks S., Reservations unhinged: The Belilos case before the European Court of Human Rights, “International and Comparative Law Quarterly” 1990, Vol. 39.

Pellet A., The ILC Guide to Practice on Reservations to Treaties: A General Presentation by the Special Rapporteur, “The European Journal of International Law” 2013, Vol. 24, No. 4.

Redgwell C., Reservations to treaties and Human Rights Committee General Comment No. 24 (52), “International and Comparative Law Quarterly” 1997, Vol. 46.

Rumpf C., Türkei, EMRK und Zypernfrage: Der Fall Chrysostomos u.a., “Europäische Grundrechte Zeitsschrift” 1991, Vol. 18.

Schabas W.A., Reservations to human rights treaties: time for innovation and reform, “Canadian Yearbook of International Law” 1994, Vol. 32.

Szarek A., Nieważność zastrzeżeń do traktatów – kilka uwag w związku z zakończeniem prac Komisji Prawa Międzynarodowego nad zagadnieniem zastrzeżeń do traktatów, „Problemy Współczesnego Prawa Międzynarodowego, Europejskiego i Porównawczego” 2010, Vol. X.

van Dijk P., van Hoof F., van Rijn A., Zwaak L. (red.), Theory and practice of the European Convention on Human Rights, Antwerpen–Oxford 2006.

Wieruszewski R., Komitet Praw Człowieka a zastrzeżenia do Paktu Praw Osobistych Politycznych oraz do Protokołu Fakultatywnego [w:] Haliżak E., Kuźniar R. (red.),
Prawo, instytucje i polityka w procesie globalizacji, Warszawa 2003.

Wyrozumska A., Umowa międzynarodowa. Teoria i praktyka, Warszawa 2006.

Published
2019-08-04

Cited by

Burek, W. (2019). Reservations to the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms. Studia Prawnoustrojowe, (42), 189–208. https://doi.org/10.31648/sp.5009

Wojciech Burek 
Uniwersytet Jagielloński w Krakowie