THE RIGHT TO HUMAN DIGNITY IN WESTERN BALKANS
The right to human dignity is a cornerstone of modern constitutional structures. Accordingly, constitutions of the Western Balkans states (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia) unequivocally confirm the importance and gravity of human dignity in their respective legal systems.
The paper wishes to analyse the normative and the judicial status of the right to human dignity in the Western Balkans. In its first part, the paper outlines national sets of laws pertinent to the right to human dignity. Along firm constitutional guarantees, the paper tries to exemplify provisions in separate legal frameworks addressing social and cultural diversity relative to the right to human dignity within the region. In the second part, the paper analyses cases of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) corresponding to human dignity in applications filed against the Western Balkans states. Special attention is given to judgments in which ECtHR found that the respective Government’s appeal to the notion of dignity did not amount to its absolution in situations when violation of the Convention has been identified.Keywords: human dignity, personal dignity, human rights, European Court of Human Rights, the Western Balkans.
Books, monographs and textbooks
Kant, I. 2006, Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Perry, M. J. 2023. Interrogating the Morality of Human Rights. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781035306275
Chapters in books/Collections of papers
Kirste, S. 2013. A Legal Concept of Human Dignity as a Foundation of Law. In: Brugger, W. & Kirste, S. (eds.). Human Dignity as a Foundation of Law. Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag, pp. 63-81.
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Scholarly articles
Botha, H. 2009. Human Dignity in Comparative Perspective. Stellenbosch Law Review = Stellenbosch Regstydskrif, 20(2), pp. 171-220.
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Donnelly, J. 1982. Human Rights and Human Dignity: An Analytic Critique of Non-Western Conceptions of Human Rights. The American Political Science Review, 76(2), pp. 303-316. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055400187015
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Eberle, E. J. 2012. Observations on the Development of Human Dignity and Personality in German Constitutional Law: An Overview. Liverpool Law Review, 33(2), pp. 201-233. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10991-012-9120-x
Isensee, J. 2006. Menschenwürde: die säkulare Gesellschaft auf der Suche nach dem Absoluten. Archiv des öffentlichen Rechts, 131(2), pp. 173-218. https://doi.org/10.1628/000389106780282105
Mattson, D. J. & Clark, S. G. 2011. Human Dignity in Concept and Practice. Policy Sciences, 44(4), pp. 303-319. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11077-010-9124-0
Orgad, L. 2010. The Preamble in Constitutional Interpretation. International Journal of Constitutional Law, 8(4), pp. 714-738. https://doi.org/10.1093/icon/mor010
Legal sources and case-law
Protocol No. 13 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms concerning the abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances. Available at: https://www.echr.coe.int/documents/d/echr/convention_eng (29. 6. 2023).
The Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union (2000). Available at: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/charter/pdf/text_en.pdf (27. 8. 2023).
The United Nations Charter. Available at: https://www.un.org/en/about-us/un-charter/full-text (21. 6. 2023).
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Available at: https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights (25. 8. 2023).
Constitutions
The Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany – Grundgesetz für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Bundesgesetzblatt, 1, Bonn, 23. Mai 1949. Available at: https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/englisch_gg/ (21. 6. 2013).
The Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina – Ustav Bosne i Hercegovine = Устав Босне и Херцеговине, Aneks IV Opšteg okvirnog sporazuma za mir u Bosni i Hercegovini. Available at: https://www.ohr./ohr-dept/legal/laws-of-bih/pdf/001%20-%20Constitutions/BH/BH%20CONSTITUTION%20.pdf (19. 6. 2013).
The Constitution of Montenegro – Ustav Crne Gore, Službeni list Crne Gore 1/2007 i 38/2013 – Amandmani I-XVI. Available at: https://faolex.fao.org/docs/pdf/mne136175.pdf (19. 6. 2013).
The Constitution of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina – Ustav Federacije Bosne i Hercegovine, Službene novine FBiH, br. 1/1994, 1/1994 – Amandman I, 13/1997 – Amandmani II-XXIV, 13/1997 – Amandmani XXV i XXVI, 16/2002 – Amandmani XXVII-LIV, 22/2002 – Amandmani LVI-LXIII, 52/2002 – Amandmani LXIV-LXXXVII, 60/2002 – ispravka Amandmana LXXXI, 18/2003 – Amandman LXXXVIII, 63/2003 – Amandmani LXXXIX-XCIV, 9/2004 – Amandmani XCV-CII, 32/2007 – ispravka, 20/2004 – Amandmani CIII i CIV, 33/2004 – Amandman CV, 71/2005 – Amandmani CVI-CVIII, 72/2005 – Amandman CVI, 88/2008 – Amandman CIX, 79/2022 – Amandmani CX-CXXX, 80/2022 – ispravka i 31/2023 – Amandman CXXXI). Available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6b56e4.html (19. 6. 2013).
The Constitution of the Republic of Albania – Kushtetuta e Republikës së Shqipërisë, Fletoren Zyrtare nr. 28/1998, ligji nr. 8417, datë 21.10.1998. Available at: https://euralius.eu/index.php/en/library/albanian-legislation?task=download.send&id=178&catid=9&m=0 (19. 6. 2013).
The Constitution of the Republic of North Macedonia – Устав на Република Македонија, Службен весник на Република Македонија бр. 1/92, 31/98, 91/2001, 84/2003, 107/2005, 3/2009, 49/2011, 6/2019, 36/2019. Available at: https://www.sobranie.mk/the-constitution-of-the-republic-of-macedonia-ns_article-constitution-of-the-republic-of-north-macedonia.nspx (19. 6. 2023).
The Constitution of the Republic of Serbia – Устав Републике Србије, Службени гласник Републике Србије бр. 98/2006 и 115/2021. Available at: http://www.ustavni.sud.rs/page/view/en-GB/235-100028/constitution (19. 6. 2023).
The Constitution of the Republic of Srpska – Устав Републике Српске, Службени гласник Републике Српске бр. 21/2092 – пречишћен текст, 28/2094, 8/2096, 13/2096, 15/2096, 16/2096, 21/2096, 21/2002, 26/2002, 30/2002, 31/2002, 69/2002, 31/2003, 98/2003, 115/2005, 117/2005. Available at: https://legislationline.org/sites/default/files/documents/6a/BiH_Constitution_Republic_Srpska_am2011_en.pdf (19. 6. 2013).
The Constitution of Ireland. Enacted by the People on 1st July, 1937. Available at: https://www.irishstatutebook.ie/eli/cons/en/html (12. 9. 2023).
Statutes
Albanian Protection from Discrimination Act – Ligji nr. 10221/2010 “Për mbrojtjen nga diskriminimi”.
Montenegrin Code of Criminal Procedure – Zakonik o krivičnom postupku, Službeni list CG, br. 57/2009, 49/2010, 47/2014 – odluka USCG, 2/2015 – odluka USCG, 35/2015, 58/2015 – dr. zakon, 28/2018 – odluka USCG i 116/2020 – odluka USCG.
Montenegrin Enforcement and Security Interests Act – Zakon o izvršenju i obezbjeđenju, Službeni list CG, br. 36/2011, 28/2014, 20/2015, 22/2017, 76/2017 – odluka USCG i 25/2019.
Serbian Code of Criminal Procedure Code – Законик о кривичном поступку, Службени гласник Републике Србије бр. 72/2011, 101/2011, 121/2012, 32/2013, 45/2013, 55/2014, 35/2019, 27/2021 – одлука УСС и 62/2021 – одлука УСС.
The 2016 Employment Act of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina – Zakon o radu, Službene novine FBiH br. 26/2016, 89/2018, 23/2020 – odluka US, 49/2021 – dr. zakon, 103/2021 – dr. zakon i 44/2022. Available at: https://advokat-prnjavorac.com/legislation/Labour-Law-FBiH-2015.pdf (20. 6. 2023).
The Civil Procedure Code of the Republic of Albania – Kodi i Procedurës Civile i Republikës së Shqipërisë, Miratuar me ligjin nr.8116, datë 29.3.1996 dhe ndryshuar me ligjet nr.8431, datë 14.12.1998; nr.8491, datë 27.5.1999; nr.8535, datë 18.10.1999; nr.8812, datë 17.5.2001; nr.9953, datë 14.7.2008, nr.10 052, datë 29.12.2008, nr.49/2012; 122/2013; 160/2013.
The Code of Criminal Procedure of the Republic of Albania – Kodi i Procedurës Penale i Republikës së Shqipërisë, ndryshuar me ligjet: nr. 7977, datë 26.7.1995, 8027, datë 15.11.1995, nr. 8180, datë 23.12.1996, nr. 8460, datë 11.2.1999, nr. 8570, datë 20.1.2000, nr.8602, datë 10.4.2000, nr. 8813, datë 13.6.2002, nr.9085, datë 19.6.2003, nr. 9187, datë 12.2.2004, nr. 9276, datë 16.9.2004, nr. 9911, datë 5.5.2008, nr. 10 054, datë 29.12.2008, nr. 145/2013, datë 2.5.2013, nr. 21/2014, datë 10.3.2014, nr.99/2014, datë 31.7.2014, nr. 35/2017, datë 30.3.2017; nr. 147/2020, datë 17.12.2020; nr. 41/2021, datë 23.3.2021; vendimet e Gjykatës Kushtetuese nr. 55, datë 21.11.1997, nr. 15, datë 17.4.2003 dhe nr. 31, datë 17.5.2012.
The Employment Act of Montenegro – Zakon o radu, Službeni list Crne Gore br. 74/19, 8/21 i 59/21.
The Employment Act of the Republic of Serbia – Закон о раду, Службени гласник Републике Србије бр. 24/2005, 61/2005, 54/2009, 32/2013, 75/2014, 13/2017 – одлука УС, 113/2017 и 95/2018 – аутентично тумачење.
The Employment Act of the Republic of Srpska – Закон о раду, Службени гласник Републике Српске бр. 1/2016, 66/2018, 91/2021 – одлука УС и 119/2021.
The Employment Relations Act of the Republic of North Macedonian – Закон за работните односи, Службен весник на Република Македонија бр. 62/2005; 106/2008; 161/2008; 114/2009; 130/2009; 149/2009; 50/2010; 52/2010; 124/2010; 47/2011; 11/2012; 39/2012; 13/2013; 25/2013; 170/2013; 187/2013; 113/2014; 20/2015; 33/2015; 72/2015; 129/2015 и 27/2016. Available at: https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/MONOGRAPH/71332/109716/F-1464727386/MKD71332%20Eng.pdf (20. 6. 2023).
The Enforcement Procedure Act of the Republic of Srpska – Закон о извршном поступку, Службени гласник Републике Српске бр. 59/2003, 85/03, 64/05, 118/07, 29/10, 57/12 и 67/13.
The Labour Code of the Republic of Albania – Kodi i Punës i Republikës së Shqipërisë, ligj Nr. 7961, datë 12.7.1995. Available at: https://www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/docs/ELECTRONIC/41344/138926/F-2112635654/ALB41344%20Eng%202015.pdf (19. 6. 2023).
The Prevention and Protection from Discrimination Act of North Macedonia – Закон за спречување и заштита од дискриминација, Службен весник на РСМ, бр. 25.
The Prohibition of Discrimination Act of Bosnia and Herzegovina – Zakon o zabrani diskriminacije, Službeni glasnik BIH br. 59/2009 i 66/2016.
The Prohibition of Discrimination Act of Montenegro – Zakon o zabrani diskriminacije, Službeni list Crne Gore br. 46/2010, 40/2011 – dr. zakon, 18/2014 i 42/2017.
The Prohibition of Discrimination Act of Serbia – Закон о забрани дискриминације, Службени гласник Републике Србије бр. 22/2009 и 52/2021.
Case-law
Bodrožić and Vujin v. Serbia 2009, ECtHR, Application no. 38435/05. Available at: https://www.vk.sud.rs/sites/default/files/attachments/Бодрожић%20против%20Србије%20%2838435-05%29_0.pdf (30. 6. 2023).
L.R. v. North Macedonia 2020, ECtHR, Application no. 38067/15. Available at: http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/fre#{%22itemid%22:[%22001-200433%22]} (29. 6. 2023).
Law v. Canada (Minister of Employment and Immigration) 1999, the Supreme Court of Canada, [1999] 1 SCR 497, Case number 25374. Available at: https://scc-csc.lexum.com/scc-csc/scc-csc/en/item/1691/index.do (29. 6. 2023).
Lepojić v. Serbia 2007, ECtHR, Application no. 13909/05. Available online: https://www.legal-tools.org/doc/18a3e5/pdf/ (30. 6. 2023).
Lüth 1958, German Federal Constitutional Court – Bundesverfassungsgerichts, BVerfGE 7, 198. Available at: https://germanlawarchive.iuscomp.org/?p=51 (21. 6. 2023).
Manuel Wackenheim v France 2002, UN Human Rights Committee, Communication No 854/1999, U.N. Doc. CCPR/C/75/D/854/1999. Available at: http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/undocs/854-1999.html (30. 6. 2023).
Špadijer v. Montenegro 2021, ECtHR, Application no. 31549/18. Available at: https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/fre#{%22tabview%22:[%22document%22],%22itemid%22:[%22001-212970%22]} (29. 6. 2023).