Al-Dulimi and Montana Management Inc. v. Switzerland

Abstract

Human rights — Right to a fair hearing — Right of access to court — Freezing and confiscation of applicants’ assets — Applicants complaining of lack of procedure complying with Article 6 of European Convention on Human Rights, 1950 — Scope of case before Grand Chamber — Admissibility of application — Whether compatible ratione personae and ratione materiae with Convention provisions — Whether applicants’ right of access to court restricted — Whether restriction justified — Whether restriction pursuing legitimate aim — Whether proportionate — International normative context — Whether conflict of international obligations — Extent of obligations of respondent State — Whether respondent State violating Article 6 of European Convention on Human Rights, 1950

Relationship of international law and municipal law — Treaties — United Nations Charter — European Convention on Human Rights, 1950 — Respondent State’s obligations under United Nations Charter and European Convention — Whether conflict of obligations — Article 103 of UN Charter asserting primacy of obligations deriving from Charter in event of conflict — Whether primacy rule engaged — Implementation of United Nations Security Council resolution at national level — Whether respondent State having any discretion in implementation — UN Security Council resolution — Interpretation of resolution — Whether restrictive interpretation legitimate — Whether courts of respondent State prevented from reviewing in terms of human rights protection measures taken at national level to implement resolution — Whether respondent State can rely on binding nature of Security Council resolutions — Whether respondent State having duty to ensure measures not arbitrary — Whether practical measures taken by Swiss authorities to improve situation of applicants adequate — Whether respondent State faced with real conflict of obligations — Whether respondent State violating Article 6 of European Convention on Human Rights, 1950

Treaties — Interpretation — Application — Human rights treaties — European Convention on Human Rights, 1950 — Rights and freedoms enshrined in European Convention — Whether guarantees of fair hearing jus cogens norm — Applicability of relevant public international law norms — Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, 1969 — United Nations Charter — Article 103 of UN Charter asserting primacy of obligations deriving from Charter in event of conflict with obligations arising from another international agreement — UN Security Council resolutions — Whether conflict between obligations arising under UN Charter and European Convention — Interpretation of Security Council resolutions — Presumption of intention not to impose on Member States obligation breaching fundamental human rights principles — Harmonization of treaty obligations — Whether respondent State violating Article 6 of European Convention on Human Rights, 1950

International organizations — United Nations — Security Council — Maintenance of international peace and security — Threat of terrorism — Economic sanctions — Security Council resolutions — Interpretation — European Convention on Human Rights, 1950 — Role of United Nations in promoting human rights — Presumption of intention not to impose on Member States obligation breaching fundamental human rights principles — United Nations sanctions system — UN Sanctions Committee — Criticisms — Whether procedures adequate — Whether conflict of obligations under UN Charter and European Convention on Human Rights, 1950 — Whether primacy rule of Article 103 of UN Charter engaged

International tribunals — European Court of Human Rights — Role of Court with respect to acts of UN Security Council — State relying on need to apply Security Council resolution to justify limitation on Convention right — Whether resolution consonant with Convention — Examination of resolution’s wording and scope — Purposes of United Nations — Maintenance of international peace and security — Promotion of respect for human rights — Article 24(2) of UN Charter

Economics, trade and finance — Economic sanctions — Security Council resolutions — Implementation at national level — Freezing and confiscation of applicants’ assets — UN sanctions regime — UN Sanctions Committee — Procedures — Listing and delisting of applicants — Respondent State implementing resolution — Whether text of resolution allowing for delay necessary to grant access to a court to examine whether names appearing arbitrarily on the UN sanctions list — Whether implementing State having discretion — Whether respondent State violating Article 6 of European Convention on Human Rights, 1950

Terrorism — Threat of terrorism — Maintenance of international peace and security — Security Council — Chapter VII of United Nations Charter — Security Council resolutions — Implementation at national level — Economic sanctions — Freezing and confiscation of applicants’ assets — Guarantees under Article 6 of European Convention on Human Rights, 1950 — Whether respondent State violating Article 6 of European Convention on Human Rights, 1950