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The Michigan Guidelines On Refugee Freedom Of Movement
The Michigan Guidelines On Refugee Freedom Of Movement
Michigan Journal of International Law
Despite the clear legal foundation of refugee freedom of movement at international law, states are also committed to the deterrence of human smuggling and trafficking, to the maintenance of effective general border controls, to safeguarding the critical interests of receiving communities, and to effectuating safe and dignified repatriation when refugee status comes to an end. Legal obligations to respect refugee freedom of movement therefore co-exist with, and must be reconciled to, other important commitments.
All Other Breaches: State Practice And The Geneva Conventions’ Nebulous Class Of Less Discussed Prohibitions, Jesse Medlong
All Other Breaches: State Practice And The Geneva Conventions’ Nebulous Class Of Less Discussed Prohibitions, Jesse Medlong
Michigan Journal of International Law
With respect to the protections afforded by the Geneva Conventions, a great deal of ink has been spilled in recent years over the two-tiered system of tribunals employed by the United States in its prosecution of enemy combatants in the “war on terror.” Less discussed, though, is the wholly separate two-tiered system for sorting violators of the Geneva Conventions that emerges from the very text of those agreements. This stratification is a function of the Conventions’ distinction between those who commit “grave breaches” and those who merely commit “acts contrary to the provisions of the present convention” or “all other …
The Michigan Guidelines On The Exclusion Of International Criminals
The Michigan Guidelines On The Exclusion Of International Criminals
Michigan Journal of International Law
With a view to promoting a shared understanding of the proper approach to Article 1(F)(a) exclusion from refugee status, we have engaged in sustained collaborative study and reflection on relevant norms and state practice. Our research was debated and refined at the Sixth Colloquium on Challenges in International Refugee Law, convened in March 2013 by the University of Michigan’s Program in Refugee and Asylum Law. These Guidelines are the product of that endeavor, and reflect the consensus of Colloquium participants on how decision makers can best ensure the application of Article 1(F)(a) in a manner that conforms to international legal …
International Law's Erie Moment, Harlan Grant Cohen
International Law's Erie Moment, Harlan Grant Cohen
Michigan Journal of International Law
The episode put the question starkly: Who fills the gaps in international law and how? A series of tribunals operating under Chapter 11 of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) had adopted broader interpretations of vague treaty language than those recommended by the state parties. In response, government ministers from the three state parties, Mexico, Canada, and the United States, operating through the Free Trade Commission (FTC) established by the treaty, adopted "Notes of Interpretation" clarifying their view of the treaty's meaning. International tribunals are generally tasked with examining state practice, either to recognize rules of customary international law …
The Use Of Article 31(3)(C) Of The Vclt In The Case Law Of The Ecthr: An Effective Anti-Fragmentation Tool Or A Selective Loophole For The Reinforcement Of Human Rights Teleology?, Vassilis P. Tzevelekos
The Use Of Article 31(3)(C) Of The Vclt In The Case Law Of The Ecthr: An Effective Anti-Fragmentation Tool Or A Selective Loophole For The Reinforcement Of Human Rights Teleology?, Vassilis P. Tzevelekos
Michigan Journal of International Law
In Part I the Article will briefly introduce the question of the fragmentation of international law, and will more extensively delineate the role that the ILC attributed to Article 31(3)(c) and the ILC's expectations regarding its success in this role. Next, Part II will give an overview of the special elements of the ECHR socio-normative environment, which gave rise to the case law into which Article 31(3)(c) came into force. The Article will argue that, in addition to benefiting from the very special nature of the ECHR, the Strasbourg Court also has a significant number of interpretative tools that allow …
The Varied Policies Of International Juridical Bodies- Reflections On Theory And Practice, John H. Jackson
The Varied Policies Of International Juridical Bodies- Reflections On Theory And Practice, John H. Jackson
Michigan Journal of International Law
It can be seen that "fragmentation" can have several dimensions, and that the difference between juridical approaches as well as legislative approaches to treaty or other norm stating documents can result not only from different institutional settings, but also from different policy goals assumed for differing dispute settlement systems.
Bridging Fragmentation And Unity: International Law As A Universe Of Inter-Connected Islands, Joost Pauwelyn
Bridging Fragmentation And Unity: International Law As A Universe Of Inter-Connected Islands, Joost Pauwelyn
Michigan Journal of International Law
The fragmentation of the international legal system is not new. The consent-based nature of international law inevitably led to the creation of almost as many treaty regimes, composed of different constellations of states, as there are problems to be dealt with. Traditionally, these different regimes operated in virtual isolation from each other. Most importantly, the Bretton Woods institutions (World Bank, IMF, and GATT, now WTO) focused on the world's economic problems, while the UN institutions tackled the world's political problems. Both the IMF and World Bank articles of agreement, for example, explicitly state that political factors cannot be taken into …
Interpreting The Wto Agreements- A Commentary On Professor Pauwelyn's Approach, Joshua Meltzer
Interpreting The Wto Agreements- A Commentary On Professor Pauwelyn's Approach, Joshua Meltzer
Michigan Journal of International Law
In his paper, Professor Pauwelyn argues that pursuant to Article 31(3)(c) of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (Vienna Convention), the Appellate Body should consider other rules of international law in the interpretation of the WTO Agreements, when that law reflects the "common intentions" of the parties to the WTO. He argues that this does not mean that "all the parties to the WTO treaty must have formally and explicitly agreed, one after the other, to the new non-WTO rule; nor even that this rule must be otherwise legally bind all WTO members; but rather, that this new …
Compliance With Icj Provisional Measure And The Meaning Of Review And Reconsideration Under The Vienna Convention On Consular Relations: Avena And Other Mexican Nationals (Mex. V. U.S.), Linda E. Carter
Michigan Journal of International Law
Many aspects of the Avena case could lead to significant developments, there are two that will be addressed in this essay. The first issue has an immediate impact on the pending executions. What must the United States do to comply with the provisional measures order? What are "all measures necessary"? The second issue will have an impact in later litigation in the cases of the fifty-two Mexican defendants named in Avena and on other future defendants. What must the United States do to provide "review and reconsideration of the conviction and sentence by taking account of the violation of the …
Some Troubling Elements In The Treaty Language Of The Rome Statute Of The International Criminal Court, Catherine R. Blanchet
Some Troubling Elements In The Treaty Language Of The Rome Statute Of The International Criminal Court, Catherine R. Blanchet
Michigan Journal of International Law
This Note will examine problems that arise from the language of the Rome Statute itself. Part II will examine the potential strategic uses of the Rome Statute's jurisdictional aspects. It will also examine how the fairness concerns raised by this potential usage are exacerbated when the potential State abuser is a permanent member of the Security Council. Part III will look at the language of the Rome Statute's definition of crimes against humanity. It will also examine the various and varying interpretations of this language by the scholars and commentators who have examined the issue.
Repairing The Legacy Of Ins V. Elias-Zacarias, Shayna S. Cook
Repairing The Legacy Of Ins V. Elias-Zacarias, Shayna S. Cook
Michigan Journal of International Law
This Article examines the evolution of the nexus requirement in United States refugee law since the Elias-Zacarias decision. Part I discusses the Supreme Court's decision in Elias-Zacarias, identifying the choices the Court made among the arguments presented before it that resulted in the motive-oriented approach to nexus. This Part also delves into the Court's statement about the evidence required to demonstrate motive, concluding that the Court's treatment of the evidence before it foreshadows the confusion lower courts have demonstrated in evaluating evidence of motive. Part II looks at appellate decisions on the nexus issue since 1992, highlighting cases that …
Causation In Context: Interpreting The Nexus Clause In The Refugee Convention, Michelle Foster
Causation In Context: Interpreting The Nexus Clause In The Refugee Convention, Michelle Foster
Michigan Journal of International Law
The aim of this Article is to explore current approaches to identifying and applying the causation test inherent in the "for reasons of" clause and to attempt to devise a sui generis test appropriate to the unique aims and objects of the Convention. Part I begins by reviewing both the principles governing the causation analysis and their methods of application in different jurisdictions. Part II then proceeds to review the considerations that might inform the development of a causation standard in refugee law, including guidance that might be obtained from other areas of law, against the background of the need …
Persecution In The Fog Of War: The House Of Lords' Decision In Adan, Michael Kagan, William P. Johnson
Persecution In The Fog Of War: The House Of Lords' Decision In Adan, Michael Kagan, William P. Johnson
Michigan Journal of International Law
In this Article, we argue that the House of Lords' reasoning in Adan was seriously flawed. The House of Lords correctly recognized that evidence that minorities face a heightened risk of being persecuted can be sufficient to show a nexus to a Convention ground. Yet it erred when it went on to hold that only differentially at-risk individuals or groups can benefit from refugee status. If a person's risk of being persecuted is causally linked to his or her race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group, or political opinion, the nexus requirement is satisfied irrespective of whether the …
The Michigan Guidelines On The Internal Protection Alternative
The Michigan Guidelines On The Internal Protection Alternative
Michigan Journal of International Law
In many jurisdictions around the world, 'internal flight' or 'internal relocation' rules are increasingly relied upon to deny refugee status to persons at risk of persecution for a Convention reason in part, but not all, of their country of origin. In this, as in so many areas of refugee law and policy, the viability of a universal commitment to protection is challenged by divergence in state practice. These Guidelines seek to define the ways in which international refugee law should inform what the authors believe is more accurately described as the 'internal protection alternative.' It is the product of collective …
Global Oceans Plitics: The Decision Process At The Third United Nations Conference On The Law Of The Sea, 1973-1982, Louis B. Sohn
Global Oceans Plitics: The Decision Process At The Third United Nations Conference On The Law Of The Sea, 1973-1982, Louis B. Sohn
Michigan Journal of International Law
Review of Global Oceans Politics: The Decision Process at the Third United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea, 1973-1982 by Edward L. Miles
Sharing The Benefits Of Outer Space Exploration: Space Law And Economic Development, Edwin W. Paxson Iii
Sharing The Benefits Of Outer Space Exploration: Space Law And Economic Development, Edwin W. Paxson Iii
Michigan Journal of International Law
Part I of this Note will outline the evolution of space law as it concerns the sharing of benefits debate. Part II will analyze interpretations of the provisions of the two treaties central in the sharing of benefits debate, and will focus the debate by discussing the lunar mining issue. Part III will consider the challenge the New International Economic Order concept poses to legal obligations to share benefits. Part IV will evaluate various ways to share benefits and propose a new method which could promote economic development without hampering the incentive to conduct outer space exploration.
International Service Of Process By Mail Under The Hague Service Convention, L. Andrew Cooper
International Service Of Process By Mail Under The Hague Service Convention, L. Andrew Cooper
Michigan Journal of International Law
This Note addresses the article 10(a) controversy and argues that the provision should be interpreted as not authorizing service by mail. Part I establishes that application of the Convention is mandatory, and that it supersedes inconsistent methods of service authorized by federal or state law. Part I then discusses the proper methods of interpreting international treaties. Part II applies these methods of treaty interpretation to the article 10(a) controversy, and argues that the article does not authorize service by mail. Part III addresses other considerations for courts and practitioners, including the availability of mail service under article 19 whenever mail …
Treaty Interpretation: The Authority Of Interpretive Communities, Ian Johnstone
Treaty Interpretation: The Authority Of Interpretive Communities, Ian Johnstone
Michigan Journal of International Law
Part I of this paper sets out a theory of interpretation (drawing on Stanley Fish's idea of interpretive communities) relevant to all interpretive techniques. In Part II, a conception of the purposes and conventions of treaty practice is offered with the aim of shedding light on the interpretive constraints structuring that enterprise. Part III identifies two interpretive communities associated with treaty practice (one narrow, the other broad) and describes their operation in the interpretive process. Special attention is paid to the government legal advisor, who plays a key role within the relevant interpretive communities. Part IV is a case study …
Interpreting The Withdrawal Clause In Arms Control Treaties, Cindy A. Cohn
Interpreting The Withdrawal Clause In Arms Control Treaties, Cindy A. Cohn
Michigan Journal of International Law
This Note argues that although a danger to future arms control may exist, a treaty clause must be susceptible to interpretation and boundaries of use which are in harmony with general international law principles. As Professor Schwelb has stated: "[I]t cannot have been… the intention of the parties to throw the principle of pacta sunt servanda overboard in favor of the anarchic idea of the unfettered right of a sovereign state to free itself unilaterally from a treaty obligation." Although Schwelb admits that the Clause itself is subject to "auto-interpretation" by the states parties to the treaty, he adds that …