Alfred-Maurice de Zayas on Justice

"Self-determination is now recognized as a principle of legitimacy underlying modern international law."

"Although the human rights dimension of trade is obvious, investors and corporations think that they can continue working in a human-rights-free zone."

"Disarmament is not just an idle promise; it is also a commitment under article 26 of the Charter of the United Nations."

"It would be preferable to teach that honour and glory can also be won through civil courage and working for social justice."

"Transnational Corporations must be legally accountable for the negative human rights impacts of their activities."

"Democracy is not an end in itself, but a means to achieve the sacred promises of human dignity, justice and peace"

"The strengthening of the human rights enforcement system is necessary to counter the prevalent architecture of corporate impunity."

"Democracy and self-determination serve the overall goal of enabling human security and human rights."

"Decolonization was not only just and consistent with the Charter; it was necessary to end violence."

"The bearers of the right of self-determination possess justiciable rights, not mere promises."

"The role of parliaments is crucial in ensuring human rights protection while promoting trade."

"To the extent that bilateral investment treaties and free trade agreements lead to violations of human rights, they should be modified or terminated"

"There is nothing more undemocratic and corrosive to the rule of law than a coup d’état."

"Unilateralism is one of the most serious obstacles to achieving a just world order."

"Without peace and the rule of law, civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights cannot be enjoyed, when killing, maiming and mutual poisoning prevail."

"Never must the courts become instruments of injustice. Never should they lend themselves to the execution of manifestly unjust investor-State dispute settlement awards."

"Peace is not the silence of cemeteries, but the song of social justice."

"Guarantees of equality and non-discrimination are necessary for the internal stability of States, but non-discrimination alone may not be enough to keep peoples together."

"A violation of the right of self-determination gives rise to a legitimate human rights claim by individuals and groups and triggers State responsibility to make reparation."

"Human dignity is the source of all human rights, which, since 1945, have expanded into an international human rights treaty regime, many aspects of which have become customary international law."

"Among the rights that States must ensure are the rights to life, security of person, participation in the conduct of public affairs, homeland, movement, health, education, employment and social security"

"One of the problems that we have in the human rights community is that special interests often forget the interests of other victims, and there’s competition among victims expressions that are unnecessary."

"Sterile legalisms, the fetishism of law — otherwise known as the doctrine of positivism — have emerged as a serious impediment to a world order based on the rule of law, which must also be the rule of justice"

"All international investment agreements under negotiation should include a clear provision stipulating that in case of conflict between the human rights obligations of a State and those under other treaties, human rights conventions prevail"

"There is consensus among States, judges of international tribunals and professors of international law that self-determination is not only a principle but also a right that has achieved the status of jus cogens."

"Direct, participatory and responsive democracy has been shown to be conducive to achieving a more just world order. Only such an approach will allow progressing from predator societies to human rights oriented societies."

"The weaponization of human rights has transformed the individual and collective entitlement to assistance, protection, respect and solidarity – based on our common human dignity and equality – into a hostile arsenal to target competitors and political adversaries. In the stockpile of weaponized human rights, the technique of “naming and shaming” has become a sort of ubiquitous Kalashnikov."

"Grave crimes of this nature, and the impunity that has accompanied them, entail violations of numerous international treaty provisions and constitute an assault on the rule of law, an affront to the international community and a threat to the international order."

"Countries that benefit from World Bank financing should ensure that all loans they request and all foreign direct investment they receive are used in a manner that advances the enjoyment of human rights and does not result in the enrichment of a few at the expense of the many."

"I am especially worried about the impact that investor-state-arbitrations have already had and foreseeably will have on human rights, in particular the provision which allows investors to challenge domestic legislation and administrative decisions if these can potentially reduce their profits."