CLASS 6 – STATE RESPONSIBILITY
Overview Literature:
Henriksen, Chapter 7
Cases:
- ICJ, Tehran Hostages Case.
Other materials:
- Articles on the Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts;
- Knowledge clip for class 5;
- Press Release “Government apologises for the Netherlands’ role in the history of
slavery”
Learning objectives: At the end of this class, students:
- Understand the legal status of the Articles on Responsibility of States for
Internationally Wrongful Acts;
- Know which three elements must be fulfilled for the determination of an
internationally wrongful act for which a state could possibly be held responsible;
- Are able to determine whether certain violations of international law can be
attributed to a state;
- Are able to distinguish the forms of reparation provided for in the ARSIWA;
- Can distinguish the various circumstances precluding wrongfulness contained
in the ARSIWA;
- Understand which measures can be taken against states that violate their
obligations under international law.
, Notes
Art 2 ARSIWA Phase 1: Phase 2: Act Question 1 Question 2
(elements) omission acknowledgem
failing to ent
protect the
embassy
Issue: Act or Omission: Act: attack A: act attack
omission Iranian officials against the and prolonging
look what’s not taking any embassy, hostages
given in the measures to taking hostages situation
context prevent attack and prolonging B: omission
their detention insufficient
protection
Attributable Article 4 Article 11, yes: Yes: organ of the Art. 5 ARSIWA
art. Yes, conduct of states adopted state - Monopoly
4,5,6,7,8,11 state organs the acts as track
their own - Wage War
Activity
WIC
attributable to
the Netherlands
Breach of Yes, obligation Yes, obligation Yes: obligation Jus cogens
international to protect the to protect the protect an
obligation embassy from embassy from embassy
art. 12 intrusion, intrusion,
article 22 article 22
Vienna Vienna
Convention on Convention on
Diplomatic Diplomatic
Relations Relations
Difference art 7&8 and 11: Retrospect? Took place after the events occurred.
Primary and secondary rules
Primary rules
- Define rights and obligations upon subjects of international law
- Define the conduct which is required from States (to do something or abstain
from doing something)
E.g. rules on immunity: refrain from exercising jurisdiction
Secondary rules
- Determine the consequences of a breach of a primary obligation
Rules on state responsibility are secondary rules
E.g. the consequence of failing to respect immunity
How to establish state responsibility?
- Source:
International Law Commission, Responsibility of States for Internationally
Wrongful Acts (ARSIWA) – reflect customary law
- Article 1: ‘Every internationally wrongful act of a state entails the
international responsibility of that state’
- Article 2: 3 elements of internationally wrongful act
1. An act or omission
2. Attributable to the state
3. Constituting a violation of international law
Overview Literature:
Henriksen, Chapter 7
Cases:
- ICJ, Tehran Hostages Case.
Other materials:
- Articles on the Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts;
- Knowledge clip for class 5;
- Press Release “Government apologises for the Netherlands’ role in the history of
slavery”
Learning objectives: At the end of this class, students:
- Understand the legal status of the Articles on Responsibility of States for
Internationally Wrongful Acts;
- Know which three elements must be fulfilled for the determination of an
internationally wrongful act for which a state could possibly be held responsible;
- Are able to determine whether certain violations of international law can be
attributed to a state;
- Are able to distinguish the forms of reparation provided for in the ARSIWA;
- Can distinguish the various circumstances precluding wrongfulness contained
in the ARSIWA;
- Understand which measures can be taken against states that violate their
obligations under international law.
, Notes
Art 2 ARSIWA Phase 1: Phase 2: Act Question 1 Question 2
(elements) omission acknowledgem
failing to ent
protect the
embassy
Issue: Act or Omission: Act: attack A: act attack
omission Iranian officials against the and prolonging
look what’s not taking any embassy, hostages
given in the measures to taking hostages situation
context prevent attack and prolonging B: omission
their detention insufficient
protection
Attributable Article 4 Article 11, yes: Yes: organ of the Art. 5 ARSIWA
art. Yes, conduct of states adopted state - Monopoly
4,5,6,7,8,11 state organs the acts as track
their own - Wage War
Activity
WIC
attributable to
the Netherlands
Breach of Yes, obligation Yes, obligation Yes: obligation Jus cogens
international to protect the to protect the protect an
obligation embassy from embassy from embassy
art. 12 intrusion, intrusion,
article 22 article 22
Vienna Vienna
Convention on Convention on
Diplomatic Diplomatic
Relations Relations
Difference art 7&8 and 11: Retrospect? Took place after the events occurred.
Primary and secondary rules
Primary rules
- Define rights and obligations upon subjects of international law
- Define the conduct which is required from States (to do something or abstain
from doing something)
E.g. rules on immunity: refrain from exercising jurisdiction
Secondary rules
- Determine the consequences of a breach of a primary obligation
Rules on state responsibility are secondary rules
E.g. the consequence of failing to respect immunity
How to establish state responsibility?
- Source:
International Law Commission, Responsibility of States for Internationally
Wrongful Acts (ARSIWA) – reflect customary law
- Article 1: ‘Every internationally wrongful act of a state entails the
international responsibility of that state’
- Article 2: 3 elements of internationally wrongful act
1. An act or omission
2. Attributable to the state
3. Constituting a violation of international law
