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The Interception of Refugees and Migrants on the High Seas- The Scope of Applicability of the Principle of Non-Refoulement and Extraterritorial Jurisdiction

Mustafaeva, Dilshodakhon LU (2021) LAGF03 20211
Department of Law
Faculty of Law
Abstract
According to the European Convention on Human Rights, jurisdiction is a prerequisite for holding a contracting state responsible when an allegation of infringement of the ECHR arises, such as the principle of non-refoulement. States implement extraterritorial migration management measures trying to avoid triggering the principle of non-refoulement arguing that it cannot be applied extraterritorially. The cooperation between Italy and Libya is an example of extraterritorial migration management, that highlights the difficulties in determining the extent of the applicability of non-refoulement. Migrants as well as refugees are intercepted on the high seas and returned to Libya with the support of Italy in accordance with the 2017 Memorandum... (More)
According to the European Convention on Human Rights, jurisdiction is a prerequisite for holding a contracting state responsible when an allegation of infringement of the ECHR arises, such as the principle of non-refoulement. States implement extraterritorial migration management measures trying to avoid triggering the principle of non-refoulement arguing that it cannot be applied extraterritorially. The cooperation between Italy and Libya is an example of extraterritorial migration management, that highlights the difficulties in determining the extent of the applicability of non-refoulement. Migrants as well as refugees are intercepted on the high seas and returned to Libya with the support of Italy in accordance with the 2017 Memorandum of Understanding. Whilst in Libya migrants and refugees face the risk of torture and other ill-treatment.

The aim of this thesis is to examine to what extent the principle of non-refoulement in ECHR protects refugees and migrants intercepted on the high seas. This study shows that extent of the protection of non-refoulement in the ECHR extends to the high seas, however this is dependent on the extent of extraterritorial jurisdiction within the ECHR. According to the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights extraterritorial jurisdiction is applicable in interception operations if there is de jure and or de facto control. However new developments raise the question if contactless control can constitute for de facto jurisdiction; this could potentially expand the extent of the protection of non-refoulement in the ECHR of refugees and migrants intercepted on the high seas. (Less)
Abstract (Swedish)
Enligt den Europeiska konventionen om skydd för de mänskliga rättigheterna och grundläggande friheterna (EKMR) krävs jurisdiktion för att en avtalsslutande part ska kunna hållas ansvarig, när ett påstående om intrång av non-refoulement enligt EKMR uppstår. Stater genomför extraterritoriella gränskontroller för att kontrollera migranter och internationella flyktingar utanför statens egna territorium. Stater försöker undvika att utlösa principen om non-refoulement genom att hävda att non-refoulement principen inte kan tillämpas extraterritoriellt. Samarbetet mellan Italien och Libyen är ett exempel på ett extraterritoriell migrationshantering, som belyser svårigheterna med att fastställa utsträckningen av tillämpligheten av non-refoulement.... (More)
Enligt den Europeiska konventionen om skydd för de mänskliga rättigheterna och grundläggande friheterna (EKMR) krävs jurisdiktion för att en avtalsslutande part ska kunna hållas ansvarig, när ett påstående om intrång av non-refoulement enligt EKMR uppstår. Stater genomför extraterritoriella gränskontroller för att kontrollera migranter och internationella flyktingar utanför statens egna territorium. Stater försöker undvika att utlösa principen om non-refoulement genom att hävda att non-refoulement principen inte kan tillämpas extraterritoriellt. Samarbetet mellan Italien och Libyen är ett exempel på ett extraterritoriell migrationshantering, som belyser svårigheterna med att fastställa utsträckningen av tillämpligheten av non-refoulement. Enligt överenskommelsen Memorandum of Understanding från 2017 blir migranter och flyktingar tillbakavisade av libyska statliga aktörer på öppet hav, och återförs tillbaka till Libyen. Detta sker med stöd av den Italienska regeringen. I Libyen står migranter och flyktingar inför inhumana bemötanden och risk för tortyr.

Syftet med denna avhandling är att undersöka i vilken utsträckning principen om non-refoulement i EKMR skyddar flyktingar och migranter som fångas upp på öppet hav. Denna studie visar att omfattningen av skyddet för non-refoulement i Europakonventionen sträcker sig till öppet hav, men detta beror på omfattningen av extraterritoriell jurisdiktion inom Europakonventionen. Enligt Europadomstolens rättspraxis är extraterritoriell jurisdiktion tillämplig på öppet hav om det finns de jure och eller de facto kontroll. Men en ny utveckling väcker frågan om kontaktlös kontroll kan utgöra de facto jurisdiktion; detta kan eventuellt öka utsträckningen av skyddet för non-refoulement i EKMR för flyktingar och migranter som fångats upp på öppet hav. (Less)
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author
Mustafaeva, Dilshodakhon LU
supervisor
organization
course
LAGF03 20211
year
type
M2 - Bachelor Degree
subject
keywords
Public International Law, Interception, Refugee, Migrant, extraterritorial jurisdiction, the principle of non-refoulement, migration management, European Convention on Human Rights
language
English
id
9062247
date added to LUP
2021-09-24 10:52:51
date last changed
2021-09-24 10:52:51
@misc{9062247,
  abstract     = {{According to the European Convention on Human Rights, jurisdiction is a prerequisite for holding a contracting state responsible when an allegation of infringement of the ECHR arises, such as the principle of non-refoulement. States implement extraterritorial migration management measures trying to avoid triggering the principle of non-refoulement arguing that it cannot be applied extraterritorially. The cooperation between Italy and Libya is an example of extraterritorial migration management, that highlights the difficulties in determining the extent of the applicability of non-refoulement. Migrants as well as refugees are intercepted on the high seas and returned to Libya with the support of Italy in accordance with the 2017 Memorandum of Understanding. Whilst in Libya migrants and refugees face the risk of torture and other ill-treatment. 

The aim of this thesis is to examine to what extent the principle of non-refoulement in ECHR protects refugees and migrants intercepted on the high seas. This study shows that extent of the protection of non-refoulement in the ECHR extends to the high seas, however this is dependent on the extent of extraterritorial jurisdiction within the ECHR. According to the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights extraterritorial jurisdiction is applicable in interception operations if there is de jure and or de facto control. However new developments raise the question if contactless control can constitute for de facto jurisdiction; this could potentially expand the extent of the protection of non-refoulement in the ECHR of refugees and migrants intercepted on the high seas.}},
  author       = {{Mustafaeva, Dilshodakhon}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{The Interception of Refugees and Migrants on the High Seas- The Scope of Applicability of the Principle of Non-Refoulement and Extraterritorial Jurisdiction}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}