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Environmental Torts Do Not Violate Customary International Law

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 March 2017

Abstract

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Type
Contemporary Practice of the United States Relating to International Law
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of International Law 2004 

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References

1 28 U.S.C. §1350 (2000). The ATCA provides for a civil action in U.S. federal court by an alien “for a tort only, committed in violation of the law of nations or a treaty of the United States.”

2 Flores v. S. Peru Copper Corp., 253 F.Supp.2d 510, 512-14 (S.D.N.Y. 2002).

3 Id. at 525. The court alternatively dismissed the claim on grounds of forum non conveniens. Id. at 525-44.

4 Flores v. S. Peru Copper Corp., 343 F.3d 140, 172 (2d Cir. 2003).

5 Filartiga v. Pena-Irala, 630 F.2d 876 (2d Cir. 1980).

6 Kadic v. Karadzic, 70 F.3d 232 (2d Cir. 1995).

7 343 F.3d at 149-58.

8 Id. at 159-60 (citations omitted) (footnote omitted).

9 See Universal Declaration of Human Rights, GA Res. 217A (III), Art. 25, UN Doc. A/810, at 71 (1948) (“Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family “).

10 See International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Dec. 19, 1966, Art. 12, 993 UNTS 3, 8, 6 ILM 360, 363 (1967) (“The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.”).

11 See Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, UN Doc.A/CONF.151/5/Rev.l,princ. 1 (1992),31 ILM 874, 876 (1992) (“Human beings are . . . entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature.”)

12 343 F.3d at 160–61.

13 Id. at 161.

14 The treaties were the the American Convention on Human Rights, Nov. 22, 1969, 1144 UNTS 123, 9ILM 673 (1970), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Dec. 19, 1966, 999 UNTS 171, 6 ILM 368 (1967), the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, Nov. 20, 1989, 1577 UNTS 3, 28 ILM 1448 (1989).

15 343 F.3d at 162-65.

16 Id. at 164 (citations omitted).

17 Id. at 165-72.

18 Id. at 170-71.