La Cour européenne des droits de l’homme et le traitement de la connaissance scientifique sur la nocivité des ondes électromagnétiques, produits chimiques et autres activités polluantes
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
VertigO-la revue électronique en sciences de l'environnement
Publisher
Vertigo
School
School of Business and Law
RAS ID
23292
Abstract
This article offers a critical approach of the ways the European Court of Human rights deals with scientific knowledge or its lack in the cases linked to healthy and environmental issues. It shows that the Court adopts two types of strategies : (1) the easiest one occurs when unanimous national studies have concluded to a risk and a causal link or when the thresholds have been clearly exceeded ; (2) the more difficult cases are connected to ongoing scientific controversy and/or uncertainty. In such cases the ECtHR, surprisingly, does not even attempt to seek truth beyond the information given by the respondent State and, taking the easiest way out, hides behind the margin of appreciation doctrine. This study questions the continuation of the causal link and mostly the refusal of a Court of human rights to deliver justice by refusing to equip itself with the scientific information in view of dealing with the cases brought before it by victims looking for justice.
DOI
10.4000/vertigo.17858
Access Rights
subscription content
Comments
Please note: This item is in the French language
Lambert Abdelgawad, E. (2016). La Cour européenne des droits de l’homme et le traitement de la connaissance scientifique sur la nocivité des ondes électromagnétiques, produits chimiques et autres activités polluantes. VertigO-la revue électronique en sciences de l'environnement, (Hors-série 27). Available here