Chagos Islanders v. United Kingdom

Abstract

Human rights — Scope of application — European Convention on Human Rights, 1950 — Territorial scope — Colonies and dependent territories — Whether Convention extended to dependent territory — Whether right of individual petition extended — Article 56 of Convention — Relationship between Article 1 and Article 56 — Mauritius — Declaration by United Kingdom extending Convention to Mauritius when Mauritius a colony — Subsequent detachment from Mauritius of Chagos Islands

Human rights — Right of abode — Chagos Islands — Removal of islanders to Mauritius — Litigation concerning removal — Settlement — Whether islanders capable of being regarded as victims of violation in view of settlement

Territory — Colonies and dependent territories — Chagos Islands — Dependency of Colony of Mauritius — Separation from Mauritius — Effect on treaty application

Treaties — Application — Extension of treaties by State to colony — Dependency of colony — Subsequent detachment of dependency to form separate territory — Whether affecting extension of treaty