An examination of the role of soft law in international human rights law: the Robben Island Guidelines on the Prevention of Torture in Africa

审查软法在国际人权法中的作用：《非洲防止酷刑罗本岛准则》

• 批准号: AH/F017111/1
• 负责人: Rachel Murray
• 金额: $ 73.44万
• 依托单位: University of Bristol
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2008
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2008 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=AH%2FF017111%2F1
• 关键词: examination; role; soft; law; international

Torture, what it means and whether states have an obligation to prevent torture and other forms of ill treatment has been of increasing political and therefore legal importance in recent years. How one defines torture, who sets the standards and how one implements these are now matters of international and national importance.The standards relating to torture have been created through international law. This has been done in a number of ways, most notably through written agreements between states (known as treaties) which create legal obligations for states. There are also a number of other documents which are created over which there is a question as to whether they create legal obligations. These are known as 'soft law' documents. On the one hand states and others are more likely to agree to these documents because they are not binding. However, the content of them can develop the detail on what states should do to prevent torture, for example, and various organisations and actors may use them to try to set standards for states and hold them to account. Although there has been some literature on their role and their potential importance in setting and developing legal standards, less attention has been paid to practical examples of these type of documents and to considering how they are used by states, non-governmental organisations and others, whether internationally or within particular countries.This research takes one example of a 'soft law' document, the Robben Island Guidelines on the Prevention of Torture (RIG) and aims to consider how they were created, whether they create legal obligations, how they are used internationally and nationally and how the standards within them can be implemented. The Robben Island Guidelines were created under the regional human rights body for Africa, the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, and they set out requirements for states to prevent and criminalise torture.This is a unique opportunity for high value research in this contentious area of torture given the background and experience of both the Principal Investigator, Co-Applicant and the Research Assistant. The Principal Investigator and the Research Assistant will carry out a literature review relating to soft law before examining the documents and material of the African Commission and its Follow Up Committee established to implement the RIG. It will also undertake a series of trips to several African countries to determine views on the use of the Guidelines nationally. A series of seminars will also be held. A PhD studentship will track what mechanisms are available to prevent torture in one African state of the candidate's choice.The outputs of the research will be both academic and practical.They will include a book length study on the Creation and Implementation of Standards of Torture, and several articles in leading journals on torture and the strategic use of soft law. More practically, the research will involve seminars the result of which shall be the adoption of policy papers and guidance on implementation of RIG, including a strategic plan for the Follow Up Committee on implementation of RIG. The seminars will bring together members of the Follow Up Committee and other international organisations such as the APT and national bodies such as police and prison ombudsmen and NGOs, as well as government and others to discuss implementation of RIG. A final conference at the end of the project will examine the role of soft law in international human rights law. This will invite key individuals and organisations from the field of international law generally as well as RIG in particular. The research will also provide a website on the RIG and their implementation. A PhD will be completed within the period of the project.

近年来，酷刑、其含义以及国家是否有义务防止酷刑和其他形式的虐待，在政治上因而在法律的上越来越重要。如何定义酷刑、由谁制定标准以及如何执行这些标准，现在已成为国际和国家的重要问题，有关酷刑的标准是通过国际法制定的。这是通过若干方式实现的，最主要的是通过国家之间的书面协定（称为条约），这些协定为国家规定了法律的义务。还有一些其他的文件，它们是否产生了法律的义务，这是一个问题。这些被称为“软法律”文件。一方面，各国和其他国家更有可能同意这些文件，因为它们没有约束力。然而，它们的内容可以发展国家应该做些什么来防止酷刑的细节，例如，各种组织和行为者可能会使用它们来试图为国家制定标准并追究其责任。虽然有一些文献论述了这些文件在制定和发展法律的标准方面的作用和潜在重要性，但对这类文件的实际例子以及国家、非政府组织和其他方面如何使用这些文件的问题关注较少，无论是在国际上还是在特定国家内。本报告是对《罗本岛防止酷刑准则》的一次审查，目的是审议这些准则是如何制定的，它们是否产生了法律的义务，它们在国际和国内如何使用，以及如何执行其中的标准。《罗本岛准则》是在非洲区域人权机构--非洲人权和人民权利委员会之下制定的，其中规定了各国防止酷刑和将酷刑定为刑事犯罪的要求。鉴于主要研究员、共同申请人和研究助理的背景和经验，这是在酷刑这一有争议的领域进行高价值研究的独特机会。首席调查员和研究助理将先审查与软法律有关的文献，然后再审查非洲委员会及其为执行区域执行小组而设立的后续委员会的文件和材料。它还将对几个非洲国家进行一系列访问，以确定各国对使用《准则》的看法。还将举办一系列研讨会。博士研究生将跟踪候选人选择的一个非洲国家有什么机制可以防止酷刑。研究成果将是学术和实践的。它们将包括一本关于酷刑标准的制定和执行的书长研究报告，以及在领先期刊上发表的关于酷刑和软法律战略使用的几篇文章。更实际的是，研究将包括举办研讨会，研讨会的结果将是通过关于执行区域治理小组的政策文件和指导，包括为后续委员会制定关于执行区域治理小组的战略计划。研讨会将汇集后续行动委员会和其他国际组织的成员，如防止酷刑协会和国家机构，如警察和监狱监察员和非政府组织，以及政府和其他方面，讨论执行《区域治理原则》的问题。项目结束时的最后一次会议将审查软法律在国际人权法中的作用。这将邀请国际法领域的主要个人和组织，特别是RIG。这项研究还将提供一个关于区域治理小组及其执行情况的网站。博士学位将在项目期间完成。

项目成果

Technical paper on the African Commission's draft General Comment on the Right to Redress

关于非洲委员会关于补救权的一般性意见草案的技术文件

• 发表时间: 2016
• 作者: Long D

Ten years of the Robben Island Guidelines and Prevention of Torture in Africa: For What Purpose?

《罗本岛准则》和非洲酷刑预防十年：目的为何？

• 发表时间: 2012
• 期刊: African Human Rights Law Journal
• 作者: Long D

National Responses to Human Rights Judgments: The Need for Government Co-Ordination and Implementation

国家对人权判决的回应：政府协调和实施的必要性

• 发表时间: 2012
• 期刊: European Human Rights Law Review
• 作者: Mottershaw E

Submission to technical meeting on the CPTA's General Comment on the Right to Redress

向关于 CPTA 关于补救权的一般性评论的技术会议提交的意见

• 发表时间: 2016
• 作者: Long D

Role of Domestic Institutions

国内机构的作用

• 发表时间: 2010
• 作者: Murray R