THE USE OF PROVISIONAL/INTERIM MEASURES BY INTERNATIONAL COURTS IN CASES OF MASS HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS

COMPARATIVE ANALYSES OF ICJ, UNHRC, IACTHR AND ECTHR PRACTICE

Resumen

In situations of mass human rights violations, one of the most powerful tools available to international courts is the use of interim (also termed provisional or precautionary) measures. Such measures are designed to prevent irreparable harm from occurring in the interim period before a final judgment on the merits of a case can be rendered. This paper compares the practice of four of the key international human rights bodies and draws attention to fundamental commonalities in their application of interim measures.