Abstract
Numerous attempts have been made to address the question of whether economic, social and cultural rights (ESCRs) are justiciable.2 Unfortunately, however, none of the existing analyses of the subject are investigated outside the broader context of comparing such rights with civil and political rights (CPRs). Thus the shortcomings inherent in such an approach inevitably affect the reliability of the conclusions on justiciability.
1. I would like to thank the Commonwealth Secretariat for permission to reproduce material in this chapter which appeared in the Common-wealth Law Bulletin.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Notes
E.W. Vierdag, ‘The Legal Nature of the Rights Granted by the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights’, in Vol. 9 (1978), Neth. Yr. Bk. of I.L., p.69 — 105. See also Cranston, ‘Human Rights, Real and Supposed’, in D.D, Raphael (ed.), Political Theory and the Rights of Man (London: Macmillan, 1967) pp.43 – 53. See further, H. Kapp, ‘Some Preliminary Views on the Relationship Between Civil and Political Rights and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the Context of Development and on the Right to Development’, (Geneva Int’l Comm. of Jurists. nd).
H.R.W. Wade, Administrative Law (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1977), p.786.
Geoffrey Marshall, ‘Justiciability’, in A.G. Guest (ed.), Oxford Essays in Jurisprudence (Oxford: OUP, 1961). p.265.
The United States policy since Ronald Raegan has been to marginalise economic, social and cultural rights. On this see Forsythe, ‘Socioeconomic Human Rights: The United Nations, The United States and Beyond’, Vol. 4, 1982, Hum. Rts. Quart., p.435 et seq. See also, attitudes to the European Social Charter in A. Ph. C. M. Jaspers and L. Betten (eds), 25 Years, European Social Charter (London: Kluwer, 1988).
See Article 25 of The European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (1950). Text in I. Brownlie, (ed.) Basic Documents on Human Rights (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1985), p.243. See also Article 44 of The American Convention on Human Rights (1969). Text in I. Brownlie, Basic Documents, op. cit., p.391. See further, Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966). Text in I. Brownlie, Basic Documents, op. cit., p.146.
See generally on this subject, G.J.H. van Hoof, ‘The Legal Nature of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights: a Rebuttal of Some Traditional Views’, in P. Alston and K. Tomasevski (eds), The Right to Food (Utrecht, The Netherlands: Martinus Nijhoff/Sims, 1984).
P. Alston, ‘Development and the Rule of Law: Prevention Versus Cure as a Human Rights Strategy’, in Development, Human Rights and the Rule of Law, Report of the International Commission of Jurists Conference held in the Hague (Oxford: Pergamon Press, 1981), pp.31, 52.
See H. Kelsen, Pure Theory of Law (M. Knight transl.), (Berkeley, California: University of California Press, 1967) in which he asserts that: [T]he essential element [of a right] is the legal power bestowed upon the latter [individual] by the legal order to bring about, by a law suit the execution of a sanction as a reaction against non-fulfilment of the obligation … Only if the legal order confers such a legal power are we faced with a‘right’ in a specific, technical sense of the word. (Ibid., p.134 – 5.)
See, for instance, the Constitution of India (1947); the now suspended Constitution of Ghana (1979). For further discussion of this subject in the European Context, see, C. Start, ‘Europe’s Fundamental Rights in their Newest Garb’, Vol. 3, 1982, Hum. Rts Law Journal, p.103.
For discussion of this subject in relation to the Indian Constitution see, D. Basu, Limited Government and Judicial Review (Calcutta: Sarker, 1972). The United States Constitution, which does not have express references to economic, social and cultural rights, has also been interpreted as raising incidental issues on the subject before the courts. See on this F.I. Michelman, ‘Welfare Rights in a Constitutional Democracy’, Wash. Univ. L. Q., 1979, p.659. For a contrary perception see, R.H. Bork, ‘The Impossibility of Finding Welfare Rights in the Constitution’, Wash. Univ. L.Q., p.595.
See ECOSOC Resln. 1985/17 (1985). Text in UN Doc. E/1985/85 (1985). For further discussion of the shortcomings of the ECOSOC Sessional Working Group, see P. Alston, ‘Out of the Abyss: the Challenges Confronting the New U.N. Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights’, Hum. Rts. Quart., Vol. 9, No. 3. 1987, pp.332, 340. There is a similar state reporting arrangement in Part IV of the European Social Charter, op. cit. (Article 21 – 29).
For a discussion of this subject see D. Vincent-Davis, ‘Human Rights Law: A Research Guide to the Literature — Part III: The ILO and Human Rights’, NYUJIL & Pol., Vol. 15, 1982, p.211, 250 – 1.
Treaty Establishing the European Economic Community (1957) reprinted in Official Publications of the European Communities, Treaties Establishing in European Communities (Luxembourg, 1973) (hereinafter referred to as the EEC Treaty). Article 119 and Article 7. For a discussion of the legal significance of some of these provisions see P. D. Dagtoglou, ‘Human Rights and European Community Law’, Tulane L.R., Vol. 56, 1981, p.294.
See also, L. Marcoux, Jr., ‘The Concept of Fundamental Rights in European Economic Community Law’, GA J. Int’l. & Comp. Law, Vol. 13, 1983, p.667.
A. J. Riley, ‘The European Social Charter and Community Law’, E.L. Rev., Vol. 1, 1989, pp.80, 83.
E. Osieke, ‘The Exercise of the Judicial Function with Respect to the International Labour Organisation’, Brit. Y.B. Int’l L., Vol. 47, 1974–75, pp.315, 325.
For a further discussion of this subject see, R.E. Howard, ‘Law and Economic Rights in Commonwealth Africa’, Cal. West I.L.J., Vol. 15, 1985, pp. 607 – 32.
Foreign Office of the Federal Republic of Germany, Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany (hereinafter referred to as the German Basic Law), as adopted by the Parliamentary Council (Deutscher Bundestag) 1955. Constitution of the USSR (1977). Text in F.J.M. Feldbrugge (ed.), The Constitutions of the U.S.S.R. and the Union Republics: Analysis, Texts, Reports (Alphen an den Rijn: Sijthoff & Noordhoff, 1979) p.69. Syrian Constitution, Article 37.
Text in A. Blaustein and G. Flanz, (eds), Constitutions of the Countries of the World (Dobbs Ferry, New York: Oceana, 1974). See similar provisions in the Constitution of the United Arab Emirates under Chapter Two, on Fundamental Social and Economic Bases of the State.
Text in Blaustein and Flanz, Constitutions of the Countries of the World, op. cit., 1982.
Also the Swiss Constitution as discussed in C. Stark, ‘Europe’s Fundamental Rights’, H.R.L.J., Vol. 3, 1982, p.103.
P. Alston and B. Simma, ‘First Session of UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights’, A.J.I.L, Vol. 81, 1987, pp.747, 752.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 1992 Ralph Beddard and Dilys M. Hill
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Addo, M.K. (1992). Justiciability Re-examined. In: Beddard, R., Hill, D.M. (eds) Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Southampton Studies in International Policy. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-21794-6_5
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-21794-6_5
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-21796-0
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-21794-6
eBook Packages: Palgrave Economics & Finance CollectionEconomics and Finance (R0)