Sovereignty, Norms and the Alien Tort Claims Act: An inquiry into the sovereignty implications of the ATCA

Abstract

This paper examines the impact of the United States Alien Tort Claims Act (ATCA) on the concept of state sovereignty. The ATCA holds that any foreign national(s) can be found liable in a United States civil court for torts committed on foreign soil. A recent increase in the use of the ATCA has raised concerns within the international community over the degree to which the ATCA infringes on individual state sovereignty. This paper argues that while the Act represents a unique category of action with respect to international human rights abuses, the traditional sovereign authority afforded to states and state leaders remains in tact. Thus, established concepts of sovereignty have been left relatively unchanged.

Cet article examine I'impact du 'United States Alien Tort Claims Act' (ATCA) sur le concept de souverainete nationale. L’ATCA soutient que tout etranger peut etre tenu responsable devant un tribunal civil pour tout delit civil commis a I'etranger. Recemment, I'appel de plus en plus frequent a I’ATCA souleve des inquietudes au sein de la communaute internationale vis-a-vis le degre auquel I’acte viole le principe de souverainete nationale. Cet article maintient que, bien que I’acte represente une categoric d'action unique en ce qui conceme les abus internationaux de droits de la personne, I'autorite souveraine traditionnelle accordee aux etats et chefs d'etats demeure intacte. Ainsi, les concepts de souverainete etablis demeurent relativement intacts.