NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS, HUMAN RIGHTS AND COUNCIL OF EUROPE SYSTEM
Authors : Evren Elverdi
Pages : 79-99
View : 12 | Download : 6
Publication Date : 2019-10-31
Article Type : Research
Abstract :National parliaments have an important role in the protection and realisation of human rights law. They are in a strong position to promote international human rights standards to implement their shared human rights obligations. They may interpret and apply human rights when holding the executive to account and in the laws, they make. In addition, national parliaments’ representative function has an important role in helping to shape views towards human rights. Therefore, they should be seen as a key institutional element of domestic human rights systems. However, they are well placed to evaluate the needs for implementation in their systems; national systems usually lack sufficient and effective engagement of their parliaments in practice. On the other hand, international human rights mechanisms have historically neglected national parliaments’ role in realisation and safeguarding of human rights. Nevertheless, there is a global trend and understanding on the importance of national parliaments in the subject in recent years. Especially in the Council of Europe system, their role has started to become the subject of serious consideration. It is clear that there are various challenges but also opportunities to involve national parliaments in the process and make legislation organ more effective.Keywords : National parliaments, Human rights, Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, Human rights mechanisms, Council of Europe