A/HRC/27/47
framework being in full conformity with international standards in order to protect against
secret detention or disappearance (A/HRC/22/45/Add.2, para. 91).
B.
Non-derogability of the right to challenge the lawfulness of detention
before court
21.
In its deliberation No. 9, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention stated that the
prohibition on arbitrary deprivation of liberty, and the right of anyone deprived of his or her
liberty to bring proceedings before court in order to challenge the lawfulness of the
detention, are non-derogable, under both treaty law and customary international law
(A/HRC/22/44, para. 47). That view is consistent with the conclusions of a number of
human rights mechanisms, as illustrated in the following section which deals with nonderogability of the right to challenge the lawfulness of detention in the contexts of an armed
conflict, states of emergency, and counter-terrorism measures.
1.
Non-derogability in armed conflict
22.
International human rights law, and the rights related to liberty and security of the
person in particular, apply everywhere and at all times, both in peace and in armed conflict,
at home and abroad. There is agreement that the norms of international human rights
instruments and customary international law protecting individuals against arbitrary
detention shall be complied with by Governments in situations of armed conflict
(A/HRC/16/47, para. 51).11 International human rights law against arbitrary detention
applies in parallel with the rules of international humanitarian law. International human
rights law and the law of international armed conflict provide protection for individuals,
and are complementary in nature. Neither provides authority for detention, and legality
requires that the grounds (and procedure) be established by national law, in compliance
with the further requirements of international law. That legal basis must satisfy the
requirement of non-arbitrariness, and be proportionate, predictable and fair. These human
rights law channels are not offered by the law of international armed conflict. This is
particularly manifest given that human rights instruments set up supervisory organs with
jurisdiction to provide adequate remedies to victims of breaches. When the laws of armed
conflict were codified in the Geneva Conventions of 1949, the most common type of
conflict was international armed conflict between States. Non-international armed conflicts
between a State and non-State armed group, or between two or more non-State armed
groups, are now the most common form of conflict. The treaty provisions relating to armed
conflict that are applicable in such conflicts are minimal, and international human rights
law provides important additional protections, as is clarified in the constant jurisprudence
of the Working Group.
23.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) refers to the International
Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as one of three instruments binding the States that
are Parties to them.12 Article 75, paragraph 4, of Protocol I reproduces most of the fair trial
guarantees provided for in international human rights instruments. As noted in ICRC’s
commentaries, in each of these treaties there is a clause permitting derogations from the
articles in question in times of war.13 Article 75 is not subject to any possibility of
derogation or suspension and these provisions will play an important role in armed
11
12
13
8
Also the ICRC commentaries to Protocol II, para. 4429, referring to United Nations General
Assembly resolution 2675 (XXV), and resolution 2675 (XXV) as cited in A/HRC/16/47, para. 45.
ICRC commentaries to Protocol I, para. 2928. See also A/HRC/16/47, para. 46.
Ibid., para. 3092.
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