Självförsvar mot terrorism? - En rättslig utredning av institutet självförsvar inom folkrätten i relation till terrororganisationer
(2020) LAGF03 20201Department of Law
Faculty of Law
- Abstract
- This essay addresses the question of to what extent the right to self-defense under international law can be used to legitimize the use of force against terrorist organizations. The issue has arisen in connection to the joint efforts by several UN member states against the terrorist organization the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Several states invoked the right to self-defense to legitimize their use of force. A legal dogmatic method is used to investigate applicable law, and strengths and shortcomings discovered during the investigation are analyzed through a critical perspective.
The right to self-defense is one of two exceptions to the prohibition of violence in article 2(4) of the UN Charter. It is found in article 51 of the UN... (More) - This essay addresses the question of to what extent the right to self-defense under international law can be used to legitimize the use of force against terrorist organizations. The issue has arisen in connection to the joint efforts by several UN member states against the terrorist organization the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Several states invoked the right to self-defense to legitimize their use of force. A legal dogmatic method is used to investigate applicable law, and strengths and shortcomings discovered during the investigation are analyzed through a critical perspective.
The right to self-defense is one of two exceptions to the prohibition of violence in article 2(4) of the UN Charter. It is found in article 51 of the UN Charter, as well as in customary law. However, the scope of the right of self-defense under customary law is vague, which has led to differing interpretations of what can actually be regarded as applicable law. Article 51 does not stipulate against whom it can be used, thus allowing for discussions about the legality of self-defense against non-state actors, such as terrorist organizations. The ICJ, however, recognized in 1986 that the legality of such a right is dependent on whether state complicity can be proved. The court has in later judgements avoided the question of self-defense against non-state actors. Despite this the Security Council has passed resolutions against the threat of terrorism. These are considered to legitimize a right to self-defense against terrorist organizations, regardless of state complicity. State practice since the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001 suggests that some states have opened up to the possibility of self-defense against terrorist organizations. It is, however, clear that such a right would require that the requisites drawn up by the right of self-defense are fulfilled.
The issue of self-defense against terrorist organizations is problematic. The lack of an internationally valid definition of terrorism and terrorist organizations makes it uncertain as to what extent and against which groups such a right could apply. States have developed various kinds of tests to determine under what circumstances the right to self-defense can be invoked against a terrorist organization without the consent of the state from which the organization is operating. However, state practice is still too limited for these to be considered applicable law. Thus, it is uncertain as what extent the right to self-defense under international law can legitimize the use of force by a state against a terrorist organization. (Less) - Abstract (Swedish)
- Denna uppsats behandlar frågan om i vilken utsträckning en utomterritoriell attack eller våldsanvändning utförd av en stat mot en terrororganisation kan legitimeras genom självförsvarsinstitutet i folkrätten. Frågan har aktualiserats i samband med insatser av flera av FN:s medlemsländer mot terrororganisationen Islamiska Staten i Irak och Syrien under åberopande av en rätt till självförsvar. Den rättsdogmatiska metoden tillämpas för att utreda gällande rätt och ett kritiskt perspektiv används för att analysera eventuella styrkor och brister som uppdagas under utredningen.
Självförsvarsrätten utgör ett av två undantag till det allmänna våldsförbudet i artikel 2(4) FN-stadgan. Rätten till självförsvar återfinns både i FN-stadgan, i... (More) - Denna uppsats behandlar frågan om i vilken utsträckning en utomterritoriell attack eller våldsanvändning utförd av en stat mot en terrororganisation kan legitimeras genom självförsvarsinstitutet i folkrätten. Frågan har aktualiserats i samband med insatser av flera av FN:s medlemsländer mot terrororganisationen Islamiska Staten i Irak och Syrien under åberopande av en rätt till självförsvar. Den rättsdogmatiska metoden tillämpas för att utreda gällande rätt och ett kritiskt perspektiv används för att analysera eventuella styrkor och brister som uppdagas under utredningen.
Självförsvarsrätten utgör ett av två undantag till det allmänna våldsförbudet i artikel 2(4) FN-stadgan. Rätten till självförsvar återfinns både i FN-stadgan, i artikel 51, och i sedvanerätten. Då den sedvanerättsliga självförsvarsrätten inte är närmare fastställd är rättsläget oklart, vilket har öppnat upp för vitt skilda tolkningar av vad som faktiskt kan anses utgöra gällande rätt. Artikel 51 stadgar inte uttryckligen mot vem den kan göras gällande och det finns därför utrymme för argumentation kring självförsvar mot icke-statliga aktörer såsom terrororganisationer. 1986 uppställde ICJ dock krav på hänförbart mellan den icke-statlig aktören och en stat, och har i senare fall undvikit frågan. Mot detta står dock resolutioner utav FN:s säkerhetsråd som anses ha öppnat upp för existensen av legitimt självförsvar mot terrororganisationer, oberoende av en koppling mellan terrororganisationen och staten den verkar från. Även statspraxis sedan terrorattentat mot USA den 11 september 2001 tyder på att vissa stater öppnat upp för möjligheten till självförsvar mot terrororganisationer. Från doktrin står det klart att om en sådan rätt finns krävs att de rekvisit som självförsvarsrätten uppställer är uppfyllda.
Frågan om självförsvar mot terrororganisationer är dock problematisk. Bristen på en internationellt giltig definition av terrorism och terrororganisationer gör det osäkert i vilken utsträckning och mot vilka grupper en självförsvarsrätt mot terrororganisationer skulle kunna göras gällande. I statspraxis har stater utvecklat olika slags tester för att avgöra under vilka förutsättningar självförsvarsinstitutet kan tillämpas mot en terrororganisation, på en annan stats territorium, utan statens samtycke. Dessa är dock ännu inte tillräckligt beprövade för att kunna anses utgöra gällande rätt. Det är därför osäkert i vilken utsträckning en utomterritoriell attack eller våldsanvändning utförd av en stat mot en terrororganisation kan legitimeras genom självförsvarsinstitutet i folkrätten. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9010957
- author
- Björkengren, Amanda LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- LAGF03 20201
- year
- 2020
- type
- M2 - Bachelor Degree
- subject
- keywords
- folkrätt, självförsvar, terrororganisation, icke-statliga aktörer, FN-stadgan
- language
- Swedish
- id
- 9010957
- date added to LUP
- 2020-09-18 11:35:01
- date last changed
- 2020-09-18 11:35:01
@misc{9010957,
abstract = {{This essay addresses the question of to what extent the right to self-defense under international law can be used to legitimize the use of force against terrorist organizations. The issue has arisen in connection to the joint efforts by several UN member states against the terrorist organization the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. Several states invoked the right to self-defense to legitimize their use of force. A legal dogmatic method is used to investigate applicable law, and strengths and shortcomings discovered during the investigation are analyzed through a critical perspective.
The right to self-defense is one of two exceptions to the prohibition of violence in article 2(4) of the UN Charter. It is found in article 51 of the UN Charter, as well as in customary law. However, the scope of the right of self-defense under customary law is vague, which has led to differing interpretations of what can actually be regarded as applicable law. Article 51 does not stipulate against whom it can be used, thus allowing for discussions about the legality of self-defense against non-state actors, such as terrorist organizations. The ICJ, however, recognized in 1986 that the legality of such a right is dependent on whether state complicity can be proved. The court has in later judgements avoided the question of self-defense against non-state actors. Despite this the Security Council has passed resolutions against the threat of terrorism. These are considered to legitimize a right to self-defense against terrorist organizations, regardless of state complicity. State practice since the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001 suggests that some states have opened up to the possibility of self-defense against terrorist organizations. It is, however, clear that such a right would require that the requisites drawn up by the right of self-defense are fulfilled.
The issue of self-defense against terrorist organizations is problematic. The lack of an internationally valid definition of terrorism and terrorist organizations makes it uncertain as to what extent and against which groups such a right could apply. States have developed various kinds of tests to determine under what circumstances the right to self-defense can be invoked against a terrorist organization without the consent of the state from which the organization is operating. However, state practice is still too limited for these to be considered applicable law. Thus, it is uncertain as what extent the right to self-defense under international law can legitimize the use of force by a state against a terrorist organization.}},
author = {{Björkengren, Amanda}},
language = {{swe}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Självförsvar mot terrorism? - En rättslig utredning av institutet självförsvar inom folkrätten i relation till terrororganisationer}},
year = {{2020}},
}