Inter-State Accountability for Violations of Human Rights [Hardcover]

Menno T. Kamminga challenges one of the cornerstones of classic international law: the presumption that states are entitled to exercise diplomatic protection only on behalf of their own nationals. Kamminga systematically reexamines this position, arguing that if a state violates its international human rights obligations, other states are entitled to exercise full protection on behalf of the victims, regardless of their nationality.

Kamminga has successfully proved that the (old) rule that a state cannot be held accountable by others for the way in which it treats its own citizens has (long ago) become obsolete. The author's analysis is meticulous and detailed; his research, based on an inductive method, is in-depth and extensive. —Netherlands International Law Review

Kamminga provides a solid basis for further studies on how the international community could or should ensure that offending states are forced in practice to actually comply with their international obligations. —Netherlands Quarterly of Human Rights

A very thorough and useful book. —International and Comparative Law Quarterly

In this important work, Menno T. Kamminga challenges one of the cornerstones of classic international law: the presumption that states are entitled to exercise diplomatic protection only on behalf of their own nationals.

Well balanced, convincing, and based on a sound methodological approach, as well as a thorough analysis of the relevant theory and practice. He clearly proves that states may be legally held accountable for any violation of their international human rights obligations by other states, either individually or in the framework of international organizations. —Human Rights Quarterly