Right to reparations in international law for victims of armed conflict: Convergence of law and ...

257 Pages·2014·9.25 MB·English

The London School of Economics and Political Science
The Right to Reparations in International Law for
Victims of Armed Conflict: Convergence of Law and Practice?
E. Christine Evans
A thesis submitted to the Law Department of the London School of
Economics for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy,
London, July 2010
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UMI Number: U61B447
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Declaration
I certify that the thesis I have presented for examination for the PhD degree of the London
School of Economics and Political Science is solely my own work other than where I have
clearly indicated that it is the work of others.
The copyright of this thesis rests with the author. Quotation from it is permitted, provided that
full acknowledgement is made. This thesis may not be reproduced without prior written
consent of the author.
I warrant that this authorization does not, to the best of my belief, infringe the rights of any
third party.
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Abstract
This thesis analyses the international legal standing of the right to reparations for victims of
serious human rights and humanitarian law violations and assesses the degree of practical
implementation of the right at the national level through post-conflict and transitional justice
measures. The central objective of this study is to chart and evaluate developments in law and
practice in order to substantiate arguments in favour of an emerging customary right for
individuals to receive reparations for serious violations of human rights and a corresponding
responsibility of States.
To this end, Part I explores the customary nature of human rights and humanitarian law
provisions, outlines the basic premise of State responsibility in relation to violations and
identifies the general international norms which establish the obligation of States to provide
reparations. An examination of the jurisprudence of the International Court of Justice, the
Articles on State Responsibility of the International Law Commission and the convergence of
norms in different branches of international law, notably human rights law, humanitarian law
and international criminal law as well as extensive human rights jurisprudence, international
as well as regional, supports the position that the right to reparations is gaining customary
recognition. The adoption in 2006 of the Basic Principles and Guidelines on the Right to a
Remedy and Reparation for Victims of Gross Violations of International Human Rights Law
and Serious Violations of International Humanitarian Law by the General Assembly of the
United Nations further strengthens this claim.
Following the legal analysis, Part II of the study explores State practice in relation to
reparations through four case studies; Guatemala, Sierra Leone, East Timor and Colombia
between 1999 and 2009. Analysis is undertaken of peace agreements and to what extent post-
conflict measures, such as Truth Commissions, have promoted State responsibility for
reparations, been supported by the United Nations, interacted with human rights mechanisms
and prompted subsequent elaboration of domestic legislation and reparations policies.
The thesis concludes that there is significant convergence in law in favour of the right to
reparations. The lacuna between norm and implementation should be overcome by reinforcing
State responsibility to provide reparations for victims.
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Table of Contents
Page
Abstract 3
Acknowledgements............................................................................................................................. 7
Abbreviations ......................... 8
1. Introduction, Objectives and Method........................................................................... 9
1.1 Introduction of the Research Topic and Context............................................ 9
1.2 Aim and Objectives of the Study........................................................................ 14
1.3 Methodology and Sources...................................................................................... 16
1.4 Structure and Outline............................................................................................ 18
1.5 Definition of Key Concepts.................................................................................... 20
Part I- Responsibility and Legal Standards
2. State Responsibility, the International Legal Order and
Development of Legal Norms for Victims.................................................................. 23
2.1 Introduction.............................................................................................................. 23
2.2 Recognition of Human Rights as Customary Law.......................................... 23
2.3 Individuals as Beneficiaries of Reparations and their
Recognition in General International Law ..................................................... 33
2.4 Reparations in International Humanitarian Law........................................... 35
2.5 Reparations in International Human Rights Law.......................................... 38
2.6 Provisions in Regional Human Rights Instruments........................................ 39
2.7 Basic Principles on the Right to Reparation for Victims............................... 41
2.8 A Customary Right to Reparations? ................................................................. 43
2.9 Conclusions............................................................................................................... 45
3. Human Rights Jurisprudence on Reparations, International and Regional 48
3.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 48
3.2 The International Human Rights Treaty Body System................................ 49
3.3 The European System for Human Rights Protection.................................... 58
3.4 The Inter-American System for Human Rights Protection......................... 65
3.5 The African System for Human Rights Protection......................................... 74
3.6 Conclusions............................................................................................................... 79
4. Victims’ Rights in International Criminal Law......................................................... 82
4.1 Introduction.............................................................................................................. 82
4.2 Origins of Reparations Provisions in International Criminal Law 83
4.3 Reparations and the Ad Hoc International Tribunals.................................... 84
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4.4 Reparations in the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.... 94
4.5 The Trust Fund for Victims of the International Criminal Court 99
4.6 Steps backwards? The Special Panels for Serious Crimes in
East Timor, the Special Court for Sierra Leone and the
Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia.................................. 104
4.7 Contributing Factors to the Shift in the Focus on Victims’ Rights
within International Criminal Law: Victimology,
Restorative justice, Feminist Critique............................................................... 110
4.8 Conclusions............................................................................................................... 114
5. Conclusions Part I
Legal State of Play: Convergence of International Law and
Reparation as an Individual Legal Right with Customary Recognition 117
Part II- Transferring Standards into Reality
6. The Role of the UN,
Promotion of Victims’ Rights and Reparations in Practice...................................... 122
6.1 Introduction to Transitional Justice Mechanisms and
Truth Commissions................................................................................................ 122
6.2 The United Nations Compensation Commission............................................. 129
6.3 Compensation in Darfur?...................................................................................... 134
7. Case Study: Reparations in Guatemala....................................................................... 136
7.1 Introduction.............................................................................................................. 136
7.2 Brief Historical Background................................................................................ 137
7.3 Peace Negotiations................................................................................................... 138
7.4 Establishment and Mandate of the Truth Commission................................. 139
7.5 Operational Aspects of the Historical Clarification Commission................ 140
7.6 The Final Report of the Historical Clarification Commission..................... 141
7.7 Follow-up and Implementation of the Recommendations
regarding Reparations.......................................................................................... 144
7.8 Conclusions............................................................................................................... 149
8. Case Study: Reparations in Sierra Leone................................................................... 153
8.1 Introduction.............................................................................................................. 153
8.2 Brief Historical Background................................................................................. 154
8.3 Lome Peace Agreement......................................................................................... 155
8.4 The Truth and Reconciliation Commission Act of 2000................................ 158
8.5 Operational Aspects of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission 161
8.6 The relationship between the TRC and the Special Court............................ 162
8.7 The Final Report of the Truth Commission and its Recommendations ... 164
8.8 Follow-up and Implementation of the Recommendations
regarding Reparations.......................................................................................... 168
8.9 Conclusions............................................................................................................... 171
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9. Case Study: Reparations in East Timor................................................................... 173
9.1 Introduction............................................................................................................ 173
9.2 Brief Historical Background.............................................................................. 174
9.3 Prosecutions and the Truth Commission........................................................ 174
9.4 Establishment of the Commission for Reception, Truth
and Reconciliation.................................................................................................. 177
9.5 Operational Aspects of the Commission for Reception,
Truth and Reconciliation...................................................................................... 179
9.6 The Final Report of the Truth Commission and its Recommendations ... 183
9.7 Follow-up and Implementation of the Recommendations
regarding Reparations.......................................................................................... 185
9.8 Conclusions............................................................................................................. 188
10. Case Study: Reparations in Colombia...................................................................... 190
10.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 190
10.2 Brief Historical Background.............................................................................. 191
10.3 Negotiations with the Paramilitaries................................................................ 193
10.4 The “Alternative Justice” Bill............................................................................ 196
10.5 Law 975 of 2005, La Ley de Justicia y Paz..................................................... 197
10.6 Reparations in Law 975 of 2005......................................................................... 199
10.7 National Commission on Reparations and Reconciliation......................... 201
10.8 Administrative Reparations Programme........................................................ 203
10.9 Conclusions............................................................................................................. 205
11. Conclusions Part II
Reparations in Practice: Comparative Analysis of Practice,
Lessons Learnt and Future Challenges ..................................................................... 208
12. Final Remarks
The Right to Reparations and Implementation of the Legal Norm;
Convergence of Law and Practice?............................................................................. 216
Bibliography...................................................................................................................... 223
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Acknowledgements
The topic of this thesis has been a long standing interest of mine since undertaking volunteer
work in 1999 with victims of the armed conflict in Guatemala. The strength of victims of
human rights violations and of the advocates who act on their behalf has constituted the major
source of inspiration while working on this thesis.
I wish to express gratitude to Prof. Stanley Cohen for encouraging me to apply to LSE, to
Prof. Gerry Simpson for his supervision and to Dr. Margot Salomon for her valuable
supervision and guidance during the final stages.
A warm expression of appreciation to my supervisors at the UN Office of the High
Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR): Jane Connors and Mercedes Morales for their
advice and support, without which this project could not have been undertaken. I wish to
thank the many colleagues and friends I have had the pleasure of working with and learning
from at OHCHR, especially in the Colombia Office (gracias) and within the Human Rights
Treaties Division in Geneva. A special warm thanks to Maja Andrijasevic-Boko, Helle Dahl
Iversen, Linnea Arvidsson, Therese Bjork and Katarina M&nsson for many shared smiles and
for encouragement over the years. I could not have done this without you.
For their friendship and inspiring commitment to human rights work, I thank: Marie-Christine
Siemerink, Sara Gustafsson, Bjom Pettersson, Ellen Colthoff, Laurence Perroud, Anna de la
Varga, Yasmin Keith Krelik, Martin Cinnamond, Ugo Cedrangolo, Joao Nataf, Joana Miquel
Gelabert, Elisabeth da Costa, Estelle Askew-Renaut, Carolin Schleker, Krista Oinonen,
Claudia de la Fuente, Judy Oder, Anna-Karin Holmlund, Jesus Pena, Diana Losada, Danielle
Kirby, Karen Sherlock and Carmen Bejarano.
A special mention of human rights treaty body members I am particularly grateful to have
worked with and learnt from: Lucy Smith, Jean Zermatten, Yanghee Lee and Fabian Salvioli.
I would like to extend gratitude to Prof. Gudmundur Alfredsson and the late Prof. Katarina
Tomasevski for their teachings and support at the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human
Rights and Humanitarian Law (RWI) in Sweden. Katarina’s legacy was an uncompromising
commitment to human rights. Other colleagues and friends at the RWI whom I wish to
acknowledge include: Ingela Stahl, Rolf Ring, Lena Olsson, Zophie Landahl, Johannes Eile
and Johan Hallenborg. A special appreciation is extended to Mr. Brian Burdekin for his
mentorship and advice over the years.
I would not have been able to complete this thesis without the scholarships received from the
British Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC), the LSE Law Research Studentship,
the Judge Rosalyn Higgins Scholarship and the Olive Stone Scholarship. I would also like to
thank OHCHR for enabling me to take a period of sabbatical leave in order to complete the
thesis.
With thanks for the support from the libraries of the United Nations Office in Geneva
(UNOG), LSE, OHCHR and RWI. A special appreciation to Anthony Donnarumma.
My final expression of gratitude is reserved for my family. To my parents Alice and Russell
Evans, thank you for all your unwavering support. A warm thanks also to Cecilia Engfelt,
Rolf Engfelt and Robyn Stalder.
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Abbreviations
ACHPR African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
CAT Committee against Torture
CAVR Commission for Reception, Truth and Reconciliation of Timor-Leste
CEH Historical Clarification Commission in Guatemala
CRC Committee on the Rights of the Child
ECCC Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia
ECHR European Convention on Human Rights
GA United Nations General Assembly
IACHR Inter-American Court of Human Rights
ICC International Criminal Court
ICCPR International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
ICJ International Court of Justice
ICRC International Committee of the Red Cross
ICTR Ad hoc Tribunal for Rwanda
ICTY Ad hoc Tribunal for Former Yugoslavia
ILC International Law Commission
MINUGUA United Nations Human Rights Verification Mission in Guatemala
OAS Organisation of American States
OAU Organisation of African Unity
OHCHR Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
PCIJ Permanent Court of International Justice
UNCC United Nations Compensation Commission
UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
UNTAET United Nations Transitional Administration for East Timor
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