The horizontal application of the environmental right to Juristic persons at sea
- Authors: Maseka, Ntemesha Mwila
- Date: 2024-04
- Subjects: Environmental law--South Africa , Marine Living Resources Act , Marine environment
- Language: English
- Type: Doctorial theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10948/66098 , vital:74350
- Description: Due to its vast resources, the ocean has been designated the new “economic frontier”. States are focusing on unlocking this potential to boost economic growth, employment and innovation. Because of their substantial resources, corporations are key actors in driving the development of the ocean economy. Although corporations undeniably contribute significantly to realising the ocean economy’s potential, their main activities—including offshore oil and gas exploration and production and fishing—pose great threats to marine ecosystems. This harm to the marine environment may also threaten and adversely impact many people’s lives, health, well-being, livelihood, culture and traditions. In the South African context, this reality is notably seen through Operation Phakisa. This government initiative aims to unlock the economic potential of the ocean economy to expedite the implementation of solutions to poverty, unemployment and inequality. This race to utilise the oceans and its resources brings to the fore the interaction between the right to have the environment protected and socio-economic development anticipated in section 24 of the South African Constitution. The South African Constitution through section 8(2) acknowledges that non-State actors such as corporations can abuse human rights in horizontal relationships. However, unlike the State, non-State actors are only bound in certain circumstances. Therefore, this thesis examines whether and, if so, to what extent section 24 of the Constitution binds juristic persons at sea. This thesis examines the direct application of international norms to non-State actors to determine how international human rights law addresses non-State actors' conduct that impairs an individual’s guaranteed rights. It was determined that international human rights law has an indirect horizontal effect. This means that in cases where a non-State actor impairs an individual’s human rights, international law permits the victim to hold the State responsible for the violation rather than the non-State actor who was the perpetrator. For a non-State actor to incur direct obligations to uphold certain human rights, the State must create these obligations in its domestic law. The thesis explored how the South African Bill of Rights imposes direct human rights obligations on non-State actors in a horizontal dispute. It was found that whether an entrenched right binds a non-State actor depends on a multi-factor enquiry confirmed by the Constitutional Court. Based on that enquiry, it concluded that the environmental right is capable of and suitable for horizontal application. Furthermore, non-State actors can bear positive and negative constitutional human rights obligations arising from the environmental right. A failure to comply with these obligations would violate this constitutional right. The most significant findings of this thesis pertain to the applicability of South Africa’s human rights law framework at sea. This is because the legal regime applicable at sea differs from that on land. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea assigns jurisdiction to States in the different maritime zones for different purposes. To elucidate South Africa's rights and obligations as delineated in the LOSC, the thesis focused on two examples: the exploitation of marine living resources and the prospection, exploration, and exploitation of marine non-living resources. Subsequently, the extent to which South Africa has taken measures in its domestic law to implement those rights and duties was assessed. In addition, this approach was appropriate because questions concerning the horizontal application of the South African Bill of Rights necessitate contextual analysis and cannot be answered a priori and in the abstract. Using the multi-factor enquiry, the study showed that, in principle, section 24 of the Constitution might bind juristic persons within South Africa’s territorial jurisdiction, exclusive economic zone jurisdiction, continental shelf jurisdiction and under South Africa’s personal jurisdiction. Furthermore, juristic persons who control vessels registered in South Africa or control a vessel entitled to be registered in South Africa but has departed to a place outside South Africa without being registered might also be constitutionally bound based on flag State jurisdiction. The sole means of preventing South Africa from exercising its authority this way requires severing the jurisdictional connection between South Africa and the juristic person. It was recommended that in ocean-related matters, the connecting factor between South Africa and the juristic person must be considered as an additional factor in the enquiry to determine whether a particular right binds that juristic person. Additionally, since the scope of corresponding rights-holders are “everyone”, even people outside South Africa present in places where the juristic person who is the corresponding duty- bearer operates or where their conduct is felt can hold these actors accountable for their constitutional human rights obligations. , Thesis (LLD) -- Faculty of Law, 2024
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- Date Issued: 2024-04
Accountability of United Nations peacekeepers for sexual violence
- Authors: Maseka, Ntemesha Mwila
- Date: 2019
- Subjects: United Nations -- Peacekeeping forces , Sex crimes Women (International law) Women -- Crimes against Women (International law)
- Language: English
- Type: Thesis , Masters , LLM
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/${Handle} , vital:36279
- Description: Over the last three decades reports of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN peacekeepers while on mission have emerged with predictable regularity. What is particularly disturbing is that peacekeepers, who are viewed as representatives of the international community in the arduous environments in which they operate, commit these crimes against the local population with apparent impunity. This impunity is rooted in the perception that peacekeepers are immune from prosecution for crimes they commit while deployed – which in most cases has not been far from the truth. This dissertation considers whether a lacuna in the existing law causes the impunity and thus lack of accountability of peacekeepers who commit sexual violence. The study considers this question from three main angles: the legal status of peacekeepers, the lex specialis prohibition of sexual violence and the domestic application of the law using South Africa as an example. The determination of the legal status of peacekeepers is the first port of call to establish the applicable framework when crimes are committed and the source of their immunity. To achieve this, a framework of UN peacekeeping operations is outlined which considers the origin, constitutional basis and legal principles governing such operations culminating in a definition of peacekeeping. The study relies on the definition of peacekeeping advanced by the Capstone Doctrine which besides sitting at the top of the doctrinal framework governing UN operations, identifies three categories of peacekeepers - military, police and civilian personnel. This distinction is important because each category is subject to different rules. The study concentrates only on the military personnel who form the largest contingent of peacekeepers, who are the most likely offenders and who are immune from host state jurisdiction. It is submitted that while peacekeepers’ immunity is based on the status-of-forces agreement concluded between the UN and a troop-contributing country, the doctrine of sovereign immunity confirms that one State cannot exercise jurisdiction over another State’s armed forces. This does not mean such forces exist in a legal vacuum, but rather the troop-contributing country is obliged to exercise criminal and disciplinary jurisdiction over them. Due to the operational environment of UN peacekeeping operations, IHL is identified as the lex specialis. A synopsis of this densely codified body of law reveals sexual violence is prohibited both expressly and implicitly in treaty and customary law. The study contends with the applicability of IHL to UN peacekeeping operations, drawing the conclusion that while it can be applied, the obligation for enforcement ultimately lies with individual States. South Africa’s legislative framework is examined, specifically the Implementation of the Geneva Conventions Act to determine whether the State complies with its IHL obligations which includes the exercise of criminal jurisdiction over peacekeepers deployed on a UN mission. The study concludes that while there is a complex relationship between international and national law applicable to peacekeepers when they commit a crime, the law – at least in the South African case - is not deficient. Based on the analysis, recommendations are proposed to ensure the accountability of peacekeepers who commit sexual violence.
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- Date Issued: 2019