logo czasopisma

Articles

2026: online-first

Derogation of Human Rights During States of Emergency and the Standards of a Democratic Rule of Law

DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36128/1prhn890
Submitted
8 September 2025
Published
19 December 2025
Versions

Abstract

This paper examines the legal ramifications of derogating from human rights during states of emergency in accordance with international law, with particular reference to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. It is predicated on the hypothesis that the political system's nature may influence the extent of human rights restrictions. The discussion is structured around the following research inquiries: How are human rights defined under international law, and in what ways do democratic standards affect the process of derogation from human rights? The analysis evaluates the legal modifications enacted in Poland in response to the declaration of the COVID-19 pandemic. The study employs the formal-dogmatic methodology.

References

  1. Lindgren José A., “The Declaration of Human Rights in Postmodernity” Human Rights Quarterly, No. 2 (2000): 478-500. https://www.jstor.org/stable/4489286.
  2. Daes Erica Irene, “The Individual’s Duties to the Community and the Limitations on Human Rights and Freedoms Article 29 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: a contribution to the freedom of the individual under law” UN Doc. E/CN.4/Sub.2/432/Rev.2, 82.XIV.1 (1983): 1-214.
  3. Barak Aharon, Proportionality. Constitutional Rights and their Limitations. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2012.
  4. Bobbio Norberto, The Age of Human Rights. Cambridge: Polity, 1996.
  5. Boerefijn Ineke, The Reporting Procedure under the Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. Practice and Procedures of the Human Rights Committee. Antwerpen-Oxford: Intersentia-Hart, 1999.
  6. Buzan Barry, Lene Hansen, The Evolution of International Security Studies. Cambridge Core: Cambridge University Press, 2009.
  7. Chowdhury Subrata Roy, Rule of Law in A State of Emergency: The Paris Minimum Standards of Human Rights Norms in a Sstate of Emergency. London: Pinter 1989.
  8. Fitzpatrick Joan, The International System for Protecting Rights During States of Emergency. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1994.
  9. Gewirth Alan, “Are there any Absolute Rights?” The Philosophical Quarterly, Vol. XXXI (1981): 1-16. Doi: 10.2307/2218674.
  10. Ghandhi Sandy, The Human Rights Committee and The Right of Individual Communication. Law and Practice, Ashgate-Dartmouth: Taylor&Francis, 1998; reissued: London: Routledge, 2018.
  11. Hafner-Burton Emilie M., Laurence R. Helfer, Christopher J. Fariss, “Emergency and Escape: Explaining Derogations from Human Rights Treaties” International Organization, No. 4 (2011): 673-707. Doi: 10.1017/S00208183110002IX.
  12. Hare Ivan, “Social Rights as Foundational Human Rights,” [in:] Social and Labour Rights in Global Context, ed. Bob Hepple. 153-181 Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2002.
  13. Hathaway Oona, ‘‘Do Human Rights Treaties Make a Difference?“ Yale Law Journal, No. 8 (2002): 1934-2042.
  14. Hill Daniel W. Jr., “Estimating the Effects of Human Rights Treaties on State Behavior” The Journal of Politics, No. 4 (2010): 1161-1174. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0022381610000599.
  15. Hopkins Carol A., “Basic Principles of Modern International Law By V.S. Mani and The United Nations and the Principles of International Law. Essays in Memory of Michael Akehurst” British Yearbook of International Law, No. 1 (1995): 465-467, https://doi.org/10.1093/bybil/66.1.465.
  16. Jasper Helen, Keegan James, Marco Guzman; Arturo J. Carrillo, “He who Dares not Offend Cannot be Honest: United Nations Human Rights Committee Jurisprudence and Defamation Laws Under the ICCPR” GW Law Faculty Publications & Other Works, 1679 (2023): 1-13. https://ssrn.com/abstract=4441859.
  17. Jasudowicz Tadeusz, “Czas a prawa człowieka. Garść refleksji” Prawo i Więź, No. 1 (2013): 7-25.
  18. Jayawickrama Nihal, The Judicial Application of Human Rights Law. National, Regional and International Jurisprudence. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2017.
  19. Joseph Sarah, Jenny Schultz, Melissa Castan, The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights: Cases, Materials, and Commentary. 3rd ed. Oxford, Oxford University Press, 2013.
  20. Mahmood Hasnain, “Significances of International Law to maintain International Security in the Context of International Law and Duties of States” Conference: Infinite Dimensions – International Innovation Summit 2022 At: Warsaw-Beijing Forum, Warsaw, Poland (Virtual), (2022): 1-10. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/360757280_Significances_of_International_Law_to_maintain_International_Security_in_the_Context_of_International_Law_and_Duties_of_States.
  21. McGoldrick Dominic, “The Interface Between Public Emergency Powers and International Law” International Journal of Constitutional Law, No. 2 (2004): 380-429. https://doi.org/10.1093/icon/2.2.380.
  22. Michalska-Sieniawska Dorota, „Obowiązek szczepień – nowe wyzwanie dla praw człowieka”. Medyczna Wokanda, No 14 (2020): 49-61. Doi: 10.32055/mw.2020.14.4.
  23. Monney Annabelle, “Human Rights: Law, Language and the Bare Human Being” Language & Communication, No. 3 (2012): 169-181. Doi: 10.1016/j.langcom.2011.12.001.
  24. Morawski Lech, „O tożsamości konstytucyjnej Polaków” Prawo i Więź, No. 1 (2012): 9-26.
  25. Neumayer Eric, “Do Governments Mean Business when they Derogate?: Human Rights Violations During Notified States of Emergency” The Review of International Organizations, No. 1 (2013): 1-31. Doi: 10.1007/s11558-012-9144-y.
  26. Neumayer Eric, “Qualified Ratification: Explaining Reservations to International Human Rights Treaties” Journal of Legal Studies, No. 2 (2007): 397-429, https://doi.org/10.1086/511894.
  27. Oniszczuk Jerzy, “The Concept of the State of Law” Studia z Polityki Publicznej, No. 2 (2015): 57-77. Doi:10.33119/KSzPP.2015.2.3.
  28. Przeworski Adam, Crises of Democracy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2019.
  29. Savitri Kadloor, “The United Nations Charter Framework for Conflict Resolution: Procedures and Practices of Pacific Settlement of Disputes” India Quarterly, No. 3/4 (1997): 61-100. https://www.jstor.org/stable/45072899.
  30. Sen Amartya, “Elements of a Theory of Human Rights” Philosophy and Public Affairs, No. 4 (2004): 315-356.
  31. Shelton Dinah, Patricia Roberts, Are there Differentiations among Human Rights? Jus Cogens, Core Human Rights, Obligations Erga Omnes and Non-Derogability. Strasbourg: European Commission for Democracy through Law-Venice Commission, 2005.
  32. Stenner Paul, “Subjective Dimensions of Human Rights: What do ordinary people understand by ‘human right’?” The International Journal of Human Rights, No. 15 (2011): 1215-1233. Doi:10.1080/13642987.2010.511997.
  33. Sur Serge, International Law, Power, Security and Justice: Essays on International Law and Relations: Oxford-Portland: Hart Publishing, 2010.
  34. Traisbach Knut, “International Law (Introduction)”, [in:] International Relations, ed. Stephen McGlinchey. 55-70. Bristol: e-International Relations Publishing, 2017.
  35. Warbrick Colin, “The Principles of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Response of States to Terrorism” European Human Rights Law Review, No. 3 (2002): 287-314.
  36. Wąsikowski Adam, “Prawa i wolności obywatelskie w warunkach epidemii COVID-19” Zbliżenia Cywilizacyjne, No. 1 (2021): 11-32. Doi: 10.21784/ZC.2021.002.
  37. Wayne Martin, Sándor Gurbai, “Surveying the Geneva Impasse: Coercive Care and Human Rights” International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, Vol. LXIV (2019): 117-128. Doi: 10.1016/j.ijlp.2019.03.001.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.