Human dignity and fundamental rights in South Africa and Ireland , livre ebook
659
pages
English
Ebooks
2014
YouScribe est heureux de vous offrir cette publication
659
pages
English
Ebook
2014
YouScribe est heureux de vous offrir cette publication
Publié par
Date de parution
01 janvier 2014
Nombre de lectures
0
EAN13
9781920538217
Langue
English
Poids de l'ouvrage
2 Mo
Post-apartheid South Africa has yielded enlightened judicial decisions in contrast to the limited interpretation of human rights in Ireland. The value of human dignity with its central position in international law underpins both countries’ Constitutions, but has left a more striking mark in South Africa. There it has impacted significantly on punishment for crimes, family life, children’s rights, defamation, sexual violence investigations, substantive equality and socio-economic rights. Practical guidance can be gleaned from South Africa to revitalise Irish jurisprudence. While its focus is on South Africa and Ireland, this book draws on the experience of many countries and regions.
Voir
Publié par
Date de parution
01 janvier 2014
Nombre de lectures
0
EAN13
9781920538217
Langue
English
Poids de l'ouvrage
2 Mo
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Human dignity and fundamental rights in South Africa and Ireland
1
Anne Hughes
Pretoria University Law Press PULP
2014
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Human dignity and fundamental rights in South Africa and Ireland
2014
Published by Pretoria University Law Press (PULP). PULP is a publisher at the Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, South Africa. PULP endeavours to publish and make available innovative, high-quality, scholarly texts on law in Africa. PULP also publishes a series of collections of legal documents related to public law in Africa, as well as text books from African countries other than South Africa.
For more information on PULP, visit www.pulp.up.ac.za
The contents of this book were peer reviewed prior to publication.
To order, contact:
PULP Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria South Africa 0002 Tel: +27 12 420 4948 Fax: +27 12 362 5125 pulp@up.ac.za www.pulp.up.ac.za
ISBN 978-1-920538-21-7
© The author 2014
Design and typography: HOND CC, Pretoria Printed and bound: BusinessPrint, Pretoria
The financial assistance of the Arthur Cox Foundation and the support of the TCD Association and Trust is gratefully acknowledged
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Contents
Acknowledgment .................................................................. viii Preface ................................................................................. ix Table of authorities ................................................................ xii Cases ............................................................................ xii Legislation .................................................................. xliii Constitutions ............................................................... xlvi International instruments and resolutions ....................... xlviii Abbreviations ....................................................................... liii
Chapter 1INTRODUCTION ..................................................... – 1 1.1 Introduction .................................................................... 1 1.2 Framework of study and relevance to proposition ................. 6 1.3 Purposive interpretation ................................................... 8 1.3.1 Review of interpretative methods in the case-law ...... 12 1.3.2 A preamble as an indicator of values ....................... 15 1.3.3 The preamble in the courts .................................... 17 1.3.4 Philosophies supporting a values-based interpretation ...................................................... 25 1.3.5 Judicial practice ................................................... 29 1.4 Research methodology .......................................... 33 1.5 Summary of major lessons ..................................... 33
Chapter 2– THE ROLE OF DIGNITY IN CONTEMPORARY JURISPRUDENCE .................................. 36 2.1 The philosophical dimension ........................................... 36 2.2 Law ............................................................................. 49 2.2.1 History .............................................................. 49 2.2.1.1 UN Charter and Universal Declaration ...... 50 2.2.1.2 ECHR and EU Charter ............................ 55 2.2.1.3 Popularity of dignity ............................... 57 2.2.1.4 International humanitarian texts ................ 57 2.2.1.5 UN human rights instruments since the 1960s ........................................ 58 2.2.1.6 Regional treaties ..................................... 61 2.2.1.7 National constitutions ............................. 64 2.2.2 Sources .............................................................. 65 2.2.3 Roles and impact ................................................. 67
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2.3 2.4 2.5
2.2.4 Association with other rights ................................. 75 2.2.4.1 Equality ................................................ 75 2.2.4.2 Freedom and security .............................. 77 2.2.4.3 Fair trial ................................................ 78 2.2.4.4 Privacy and autonomy ............................. 79 2.2.4.5 Freedom of expression ............................ 82 2.2.4.6 Social, economic and cultural rights ........... 84 2.2.5 Groups ............................................................... 87 Horizontal application .................................................... 89 Democracy ................................................................... 92 Assessment ................................................................... 93
Chapter 3– DIGNITY IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN CONSTITUTION .................................... 96 3.1 Historical background .................................................... 96 3.1.1 Politics .............................................................. 96 3.1.2 Legal system ...................................................... 102 3.1.3 International isolation ......................................... 103 3.1.4 Apartheid jurisprudence ...................................... 106 3.2 Fundamental rights in the South African Constitution ......... 115 3.2.1 Transitional phase .............................................. 115 3.2.2 Constitution of 1996 ........................................... 120 3.2.2.1 Drafting and adoption ............................ 120 3.2.2.2 Supremacy and values ............................ 123 3.2.3 The Bill of Rights ............................................... 127 3.2.3.1 Scope .................................................. 127 3.2.3.2 Horizontal application ........................... 129 3.2.3.3 Socio-economic rights ............................ 130 3.2.3.4 Environmental rights ............................. 153 3.2.4 Dignity ............................................................. 154 3.2.4.1 The values dimension in South African jurisprudence .................... 156 3.2.4.2 Human dignity and substantive rights ....... 169
Chapter 4.................................... 173THE RIGHT TO DIGNITY – 4.1 Equal respect ............................................................... 175 4.2 Punishment ................................................................. 176 4.2.1 Corporal punishment of children .......................... 182 4.2.2 Punishment of adults ........................................... 189 4.3 Family ........................................................................ 202 4.4 Defamation .................................................................. 208 4.5 Sexual violence ............................................................ 220 4.6 Children ...................................................................... 226
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Chapter 5– ASSOCIATION OF DIGNITY WITH OTHER RIGHTS ...................................................... 229 5.1 Freedom and security .................................................... 230 5.1.1 Personal freedom ............................................... 230 5.1.2 Damages for breach of fundamental rights .............. 242 5.1.3 Bodily and psychological integrity ........................ 245 5.2 Fair trial and imprisonment ........................................... 246 5.2.1 Criminal trials ................................................... 246 5.2.2 Humane detention conditions ............................... 250 5.3 Privacy and autonomy .................................................. 260 5.3.1 Common lawdignitas.......................................... 260 5.3.2 Scope of constitutional privacy ............................ 263 5.3.3 Rationale for privacy protection ........................... 265 5.3.4 Contextual extent of privacy ................................ 267 5.3.5 Conflicting interests ............................................ 267 5.4 Freedom of expression .................................................. 270 5.4.1 Rationale for freedom of expression ...................... 271 5.4.2 Exclusions from protection .................................. 277 5.4.3 Limits to protection ............................................ 279 5.5 Equality ...................................................................... 284 5.5.1 Gender ............................................................. 289 5.5.2 Marital status ..................................................... 292 5.5.3 Sexual orientation .............................................. 295 5.5.4 Group identity ................................................... 301 5.5.5 Comparative equality jurisprudence ...................... 303
Chapter 6................................. 322– SOCIO-ECONOMIC RIGHTS 6.1 Interpretation of economic and social rights ...................... 322 6.2 Enforceability of socio-economic rights ........................... 325 6.3 Separation of powers .................................................... 326 6.4 International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ....................................................... 330 6.4.1 Justiciability ...................................................... 334 6.4.1.1 Judicial enforcement in Europe ............... 336 6.4.1.2 Judicial enforcement under the African Charter ..................................... 345 6.4.2 Progressivity ..................................................... 347 6.5 Judicial enforcement in South Africa ............................... 348 6.6 Housing ...................................................................... 349 6.7 Healthcare, water and social security ............................... 361
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Chapter 7 – IRISH CASE-LAW ON DIGNITY ........................... 375 7.1 Historical development ................................................. 375 7.2 Philosophy .................................................................. 386 7.3 Personal responsibility .................................................. 395 7.3.1 Criminal law ...................................................... 395 7.3.2 Vicarious liability in tort ..................................... 403 7.4 Prisoners’ rights ........................................................... 410 7.4.1 Humane detention conditions ............................... 410 7.4.2 The franchise ..................................................... 418 7.5 Family ....................................................................... 420 7.6 Children’s rights ........................................................... 422 7.6.1 Corporal punishment .......................................... 425 7.6.2 Privacy and property interests .............................. 431 7.6.3 Non-traditional relationships ............................... 432 7.7 The embryo, body parts and human tissue ........................ 434 7.8 Privacy ....................................................................... 444 7.9 Socio-economic rights ................................................... 450 7.10 Equality ...................................................................... 464 7.10.1 Substantive equality? .......................................... 464 7.10.2 Public recognition .............................................. 466 7.10.3 Contractual freedom ........................................... 468 7.10.4 Consumers ........................................................ 472 7.10.5 Employees ........................................................ 474 7.11 Blasphemy .................................................................. 477
Chapter 8– REMEDIES AND SCOPE OF FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS IN IRELAND ....................................................... 483 8.1 Remedies .................................................................... 483 8.1.1 Damages ........................................................... 483 8.1.1.1 Defamation .......................................... 483 8.1.1.2 Catastrophic injuries .............................. 489 8.1.2 Detention of mentally ill patients .......................... 493 8.1.3 Mediation ......................................................... 495 8.2 Scope of fundamental rights ........................................... 496 8.2.1 Who has obligations? .......................................... 496 8.2.1.1 The state and public enterprises ............... 497 8.2.1.2 Transnational corporations ..................... 498 8.2.1.3 Private relationships .............................. 506 8.2.1.3.1 Irish case-law ..................................... 507 8.2.1.3.2 Analysis of Irish approach ................... 512 8.2.1.4 Alternative models ................................ 517 8.2.1.5 The way forward in Ireland .................... 519 8.2.2 Positive obligations on the state ............................ 522 8.2.3 Limitation of actions .......................................... 529
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Chapter 9– SUMMARY OF CONCLUSIONS ............................. 534 9.1 Normative framework ................................................... 534 9.2 Philosophical understandings of dignity in South Africa and Ireland ............................................ 536 9.3 Substantive rights ......................................................... 538 9.4 Scope ......................................................................... 539 9.5 Remedies .................................................................... 540 9.6 Constitutional imperatives ............................................. 542 9.6.1 Interpretation of the Constitution .......................... 542 9.6.2 Proportionality .................................................. 545 9.6.3 The democratic mandate for accountability ............ 547 9.6.4 Refashion torts ................................................... 549 9.7 Lessons from the comparative study ................................ 551
Bibliography........................................................................... 559 Books ................................................................................. 559 Contributions to books .......................................................... 567 Articles .............................................................................. 579 Newspaper and internet publications ....................................... 602 Reports .............................................................................. 603
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Acknowledgment
THE ARTHUR COX FOUNDATION
Arthur Cox, solicitor, classical scholar and former president of the Incorpo-rated Law Society of Ireland, was associated with the setting up of many Irish companies, not least the Electricity Supply Company (ESB). He was a specialist in company law and was a member of the Company Law Reform Committee which sat from 1951 and reported to the Government in 1958, ultimately giving rise to the Companies Act 1963. When he decided to retire from practice as a solicitor in 1961 a number of his clients, professional colleagues and other friends, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to Ireland and his profession, thought that a fund should be established as a tribute to him which fund would be used to encourage the writing and publication of legal text books. There was a generous response to this appeal. After his retirement Arthur Cox studied for the priesthood and was ordained in 1963. He went to Zambia to do missionary work. He died there in 1965 as a result of a car accident. The Foundation was established to honour Arthur Cox and was for many years administered by Mr. Justice John Kenny in conjunction with the Law Society. John Kenny was the encouraging force behind the publication of a number of Irish legal textbooks. Without his quiet drive and enthusiasm there would have been no Foundation. To both Arthur Cox and John Kenny we pay tribute. The Foundation’s funds have been used to assist the writing and publica-tion of Irish legal textbooks and the development of electronic databases of Irish legal materials. The Foundation has recently inaugurated an annual prize for the best overall results in the business and corporate law modules of the Law Society’s Professional Practice Courses. The Law Society, as the continuing trustee of the Foundation, is pleased to have been able to assist in the publication of this book.
John P. Shaw President – Law Society of Ireland December 2013
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Preface
Since the post-apartheid constitutional era commenced almost two decades ago, there have been many progressive judicial decisions on fundamental rights in South Africa. By contrast over the same period, the longer-esta-blished Irish legal system has gone through a phase of deference to the se-paration of powers resulting in a more restricted interpretation of human rights. As no comprehensive analysis of the comparison between funda-mental rights in South Africa and Ireland has hitherto been undertaken, this book aims to address that subject. I have carried out substantial doctrinal research and a literature review focusing primarily on fundamental rights in South Africa, Ireland and internationally, but extending to other countries and regional systems. The research goes beyond the South African and Irish constitutions to various European and African countries and to places with similar legal backgrounds to them or that have a particular emphasis on dignity. Within its ambit are Germany, Canada, India, Israel, the US, Au-stralia and New Zealand. Case-law and legislation are noted, and new de-velopments tracked. The conclusions result from deductive and inductive reasoning, refined by critical evaluations. While the Irish and South African Constitutions were introduced in different circumstances – the South African Bill of Rights being clearly of a transformative nature – there are many points in common between the two legal regimes. The constitutional value of human dignity underpins both documents. It has occupied a more prominent place in South African jurisprudence, where it is mentioned repeatedly in the text, whereas the term ‘dignity’ appears only in the Irish Preamble. The focus in South Africa is on substantive equality. In Ireland the constitutional equality guarantee has been confined to formal equivalence, and (unlike in South Africa) socio-economic rights are not firmly entrenched. Before embarking on a detailed review of the constitutions and jurisprudence on fundamental rights in both countries, this book sets the scene by describing the role of human dignity internationally. Its place in contemporary jurisprudence is examined, as is its philosophical meaning and its history, sources, roles and impact. Dignity is associated regularly
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Human dignity and fundamental rights in South Africa and Ireland
with equality and other rights. It occupies a pivotal place in human rights enquiries. Since the Second World War, it has been frequently referenced in international, regional and national legal instruments. The right to dignity – specifically granted in the South African Bill of Rights – and the idea of equal respect are studied. Attention to dignity has restricted the types of punishment that can be used as a legal sanction. It has enhanced the protection of family life, shaped the law of defamation, influenced the investigation of crimes of sexual violence, and permeated children’s rights. Dignity is associated with other basic entitlements such as the rights to freedom and security, fair trial, privacy and autonomy, and freedom of expression. There have been some contrasts, as well as similarities, between South Africa and Ireland in the development of substantive law. The principle of personal responsibility requiresmens reafor culpability for serious crimes and has provoked controversy in relation to vicarious liability in tort. There is a long tradition of judicial support for humane detention conditions for prisoners in South Africa, whereas evidence of the Irish judiciary’s commitment to this principle has been slow to emerge. Human dignity – a central component in the South African value-system – can help to deliver substantive equality and socio-economic rights. It could have a significant impact on the law of privacy and on issues arising in relation to the family, children’s rights and technological developments and research. This book extends to an examination of remedies and the scope of fundamental rights. As suggested in the South African jurisprudence, a more coherent values-driven structure could be created for ascertaining the appropriate level of damages for defamation and catastrophic injuries. Alternative reconciliatory remedies for defamation might also be considered. Mediation of disputes is arguably more compatible than adversarial litigation with the establishment of enduring human relationships that enhance human dignity. The horizontal application of rights and the extent of the state’s positive human rights obligations are probed. There is a constitutional base for mandating the courts to enforce rights where the state is not a direct protagonist. It is argued that the limitation rules that apply to actions concerning fundamental rights should not be the same as those that govern other claims in tort. A broad interpretation, as in South Africa, can give effect to the spirit of a constitution and its underlying values. Accountability is essential in a democracy to ensure that those in positions of power exercise the authority entrusted to them in a responsible manner.
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Because of the similarities in the normative constitutional framework in both countries, some useful guidelines can be extracted from the South African experience to reinvigorate Irish jurisprudence. Illustrations from various jurisdictions demonstrate that the South African approach is not idiosyncratic on account of the apartheid legacy, but is suitable for adoption in other countries. Fundamental Irish constitutional values have the capacity to produce a more rigorous prohibition on parental corporal punishment, to progress the delivery of substantive equality and the reduction of over-crowding in prisons, and to lead to recognition of the ethnic identity of Travellers. The law of torts could be refashioned, and contract law might be developed to provide further protection for consumers and others in an unequal bargaining position. The Irish judiciary could give a deeper meaning to human dignity by seeing it in a relational context, rather than adopting a restricted individualistic view of it. A mutually supportive and respectful relationship could develop between the judiciary and the executive.
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