CYIL Vol. 7, 2016

CYIL 7 ȍ2016Ȏ INTERNATIONAL HUMANRIGHTS OBLIGATIONS OF POSTǧCOMMUNIST COUNTRIES Child and many others. After describing the work of Czech NGOs on the national level, the author focuses on their international work. And naturally, the part I enjoyed the most was the part on the success of Czech NGOs in cases before the European Court of Human Rights. There were at least 11 Czech cases with NGO involvement, and, with the exception of the two of them, the applicants always won. But as the author specifies, the actual number may be even higher, because many other cases could actually be a part of the strategic litigation of NGOs (p. 175). I am a fan of legal NGOs because the lawyers who work for them are usually terrific. But on the other hand, I share the author’s view on risks brought by the strategic litigation of NGOs, namely a certain level of separation from the actual client in the case and a degree of inability to conduct a dialogue with the decisive actors on the domestic level. And mainly, the author is spot on in stressing that one win in court is not enough. The aftermath of the D. H. and others v. the Czech Republic 13 case fully supports that. 5. So, is it a must-have? Every legal book with more than one author cannot have one-voice. Especially, if the authors have various background, legal practice and, in the case of this book, they even come from different countries. For this reason, the book speaks with multiple Czechoslovak voices. But I think that every character of this human rights story has his or her important role. And apart from other collective monographs, I did not find that the voices speak with an unbearably varying quality, not allowing me to understand what they are saying. The book is complex. It covers the life of international human rights treaties in domestic law from the moment of their conception (negotiation) and birth (ratification), to growing up and becoming a member of the legal community (implementation in domestic law), being the pillars and safeguards that the community does not break up (application by courts) and keeps good health when attacked by a contagious disease (the work of NGOs). Even after my bad experience in the criminal case described above, this book affirmed my belief that international human rights treaties do have a point. And to answer the question raised above: Yes. If you are a fan of international human rights law, the book is a must-have. Martin Kopa* 13 The Grand Chamber judgment of the European Court of Human Rights in case D. H. and others v. the Czech Republic , no. 57325/00, 13. 11. 2007. * Martin Kopa, JUDr., Ph.D. (Palacky University) is a senior lecturer, Department of Constitutional Law, Palacky University in Olomouc (Czech Republic). Law Clerk, Constitutional Court of the Czech Republic. Needless to say all omissions and errors remain mine, and views expressed in this review are strictly my own. This book review is one of the outcomes of grant project no. IGA_PF_2015_005 (Self-restraint of judiciary in review of constitutionality of interferences with fundamental rights).

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