Law in action through international courts

Recommended Prerequisites

International law.

Teaching Methods

Exposition and debate of the topics included in the syllabus.

Learning Outcomes

1. Characterization of the behavior of the international jurisdictional institutions, in the various spheres of law, and analysis of some of their decisions so as to critically assess their contribution to the law in action.

2. In particular, the behavior of regional courts in the protection of human rights (ECHR, IACHR, ACHPR), and the international courts in what concerns international crimes (ad hoc tribunals, the ICC) and environmental law (ICJ, ECHR, ECJ, ICLOS, DSU/WTO) will be considered.

3. The interrelation between different levels of the legal system either under the European Union jurisdiction or within the jurisdictions competent for foreign investment, and in this one, the possible

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1 Comparison between the regional human rights courts’ perspectives, methodologies, approaches and discourses of human rights and its role in society.

2. Evolution of international criminal courts in areas such as liability of superiors and obedience to superior orders as well as relations between genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, in the context of treaty law and customary law.

3. Critical evaluation of the effectiveness of different international jurisdictions for the protection of the environment and the achievement of environmental and ecological justice.

4. Analysis of the inter-relation of European Union law with other normative levels (international human rights law, state law and WTO law) considered in the implementation of EU law.

5. The law applicable in settling disputes on foreign investment (unilateral and multilateral treaties for investment protection, the "choice of law clauses" and the role of national law) and the standards of protection

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Students will have the opportunity to write an essay on a specific topic of the module, which will be assessed according to its theoretical and practical relevance and actuality.: 100.0%

Bibliography

ARAGÃO, Alexandra – O Princípio do Nível Elevado de Protecção e a renovação ecológica do Direito do Ambiente, Coimbra, Almedina, 2006.
DOLZER, Rudolf; Schreuer, Christoph - Principles of international investment law, Oxford University Press, 2008.
FAUCHALD, Ole Kristian; Nollkaemper, André - The Practice of International and National Courts and the (De-) Fragmentation of International Law, Oxford, Hart Publishing, 2012.
FERREIRA DE ALMEIDA, Francisco - Codificação e desenvolvimento progressivo do direito internacional penal, 2012 (policopiado) (em vias de publicação no BFD).
FERREIRA DE ALMEIDA, Francisco - Direito Internacional Público, 2ª edição, Coimbra Editora, 2003.
FERREIRA DE ALMEIDA, Francisco - Os Crimes Contra a Humanidade no Actual Direito Internacional Penal, Livraria Almedina, Coimbra, 2009.
GRISEL, Florian, L’arbitrage international ou le droit contre l’ordre juridique, Fondation Varenne, LGDJ, Paris, 2010

KISS, Alexandre; Dinah Shelton- International environmental law, http://faculty.ksu.edu.sa/Almutaz/Documents/Enviro_courses/ENVS-564/Guide%20to%20International%20Environmental%20Law_by-Alexandre%20Kiss%20and%20Dinah%20Shelton.pdf
MACHADO, Jónatas - Direito da União Europeia, Coimbra, Coimbra Editora, 2010.
MACHADO, Jónatas - Direito Internacional, do Paradigma Clássico aos Pós-11 de Setembro, Coimbra, Coimbra Editora, 2006.
MACRORY, Richard (ed.) Principles of European Environmental Law, Europa Law Publishing, Amsterdam, 2004 http://www.europalawpublishing.com/EN/webshop/the-avosetta-series/0/1/8428
MARTÍN MATEO, Ramón - La Revolución Ambiental Pendiente, Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes, Alicante, 2000 (http://www.cervantesvirtual.com/servlet/SirveObras/12706186436704839876657/index.htm)
MOURA RAMOS, Rui - Estudos de Direito da União Europeia, Coimbra, Coimbra Editora, 2013.

ROE, Thomas; Happold, Matthew, Settlement of Investment Disputes under the Energy Charter Treaty, Cambridge University Press, 2011.
TAVARES DA SILVA, Suzana / Vicente, Marta, Direito e Contencioso do Investimento Estrangeiro, (em publicação), 2013
THIBIERGE, Catherine (org), La force normative. Naissance d'un concept, LGDJ, Paris, 2009. http://www.forcenormative.fr/