Strategic Human Rights Litigation: Understanding and Maximising Impact

Description

Strategic human rights litigation (SHRL) is a growing area of international practice yet one that remains relatively under-explored. Around the globe, advocates increasingly resort to national, regional and international courts and bodies ‘strategically’ to protect and advance human rights. This book provides a framework for understanding SHRL and its contribution to various forms of personal, legal, social, political and cultural change, as well as the many tensions and challenges it gives rise to. It suggests a reframing of how we view the impact of SHRL in its multiple dimensions, both positive and negative. Five detailed case studies, drawn predominantly from the author’s own experience, explore litigation in a broad range of contexts (genocide in Guatemala; slavery in Niger; forced disappearance in Argentina; torture and detention in the ‘war on terror’; and Palestinian land rights) to reveal the complexity of the role of SHRL in the real world. Ultimately, this book considers how impact analysis might influence the development of more effective litigation strategies in the future. Preface: Personal Reflection and Acknowledgements Contents Part I 1. Introduction I. Introducing ‘Strategic’ Human Rights Litigation II. Overview of Chapters 2. The Growing Field of 'Human Rights' Litigation in the World Today: Context, Trends, Opportunities and Challenges I. An Expanding Panorama of Human Rights Litigation II. Challenges and Limitations to Pursuing Human Rights Litigation 3. Understanding Impact: Bursting the Bubble on the Champagne Moment I. Adjusting the Lenses to Capture the Impact of SHRL II. Approaches to Impact and the Meaning of Success III. Monitoring and (the Challenge of) Measuring Impact IV. Classifications and Distinctions 4. Identifying Levels of Impact I. Victim Impact II. Legal Impact III. Impact on Policy and Practice IV. Institutional Impact, Including Judicial Strengthening V. Information, Truth and the Historical Record VI. Social or Cultural Impact VII. Mobilisation and Empowerment VIII. Democracy and the Rule of Law Impact IX. Negative Impact Part II 5. Case Study—Hadijatou Mani v Niger: Slavery before the ECOWAS Court I. Introduction II. Background III. The Hadijatou Mani Case before the ECOWAS Court IV. The Impact of the Mani Case V. Conclusions 6.Case Study—Plan de Sánchez v Guatemala: Genocide in the Inter-American System I. Introduction II. Background III. The Plan de Sánchez Case IV. The Impact of the Plan de Sánchez Litigation V. Conclusions 7. Case Study—Arbitrary Detention, Torture and Extraordinary Rendition: Litigating the 'War on Terror' I. Introduction II. Litigating Arbitrary Detention III. Litigating Rendition and Torture IV. Conclusions 8. Case Study—Justice for Enforced Disappearance in Argentina I. Introduction II. Background III. The Nature and Cumulative Impact of Litigation on Enforced Disappearance in Argentina IV. Conclusions 9. Case Study—Litigating Palestinian Land Rights I. Introduction II. Background to Land Rights Litigation in Israeli Courts III. Impact of Litigation on Land Rights before Israeli Courts? IV. International Litigation on Palestinian Land Rights V. Conclusions Part III 10. Litigating Strategically and Meeting the Challenges I. Strategic Planning (and its Limits) II. Identifying Goals and Realistically Assessing Risks III. Litigating in Context: Understanding, Naming and Framing the Problem IV. Litigating for the Long Term: Incremental Change and the Question of Timing V. Strategic Nibbling at the Edges of Injustice v Judicial Confrontation? VI. Exploiting Litigation Synergies: Movement Building, Legal Advocacy and Reaching beyond the Court VII. Case Selection, Sourcing and Tactics: Is there a Right Case at the Right Time? VIII. Strategic Use of Fora IX. The Victim in the Human Rights Process: Whose Case is this Anyway? X. Additional Litigation Roles: Amicus, Expert or Observer? XI. Effecting Change in Real Time: Litigating to Stop or Prevent Violations XII. Creative Remedies and Implementation XIII. The Economy of Human Rights Litigation 11. Conclusion: Appreciating and Demythologising Strategic Human Rights Litigation Index