Evolution of mechanisms for considering disputes between international intergovernmental organizations and their employees

Available in Russian


Author: Alexandra Popova

DOI: 10.21128/2226-2059-2017-4-55-66

Keywords: equivalent protection; formal and informal mechanisms for considering internal labor disputes; functional immunity; international employees; quasi-judicial authorities

Abstract

The immunity of international intergovernmental organizations from the jurisdiction of national courts, as well as the special status of the employees of such organizations, which are both broadly accepted concepts today, have demanded the establishment of special mechanisms ensuring the protection of the rights of international servants for settling internal labor disputes that arise. Nowadays there are various formal and informal mechanisms for considering relevant internal labor disputes between international organizations and their employees. These mechanisms function within most international intergovernmental organizations. Their establishment has provided a possibility for employees of international organizations to resolve labor disputes with an international organization employer in the absence of access to national courts. Nevertheless, there is a problem of efficiency with such mechanisms, which can be especially observed now through the lens of providing the appropriate standards for protection of the rights of international employees and the availability of justice. In the present article, the author focuses on the questions of the evolution of the mechanisms for considering dis­putes between international organizations and their employees in the light of realizing the right of access to the court. The author also carries out an analysis of the contemporary approaches of international and national courts regarding this issue. Having analyzed various decisions of these courts, the author comes to the conclusion that the existing mechanisms for considering internal labor disputes between international intergo­vernmental organizations and their employees should be improved in a certain way that takes into account the context of contemporary international law realities.

About the author: Alexandra Popova – Postgraduate student, Faculty of law, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia.

Citation: Popova A. (2017) Evolyutsiya mekhanizmov rassmotreniya sporov mezhdu mezhdunarodnymi mezhpravitel’stvennymi organizatsiyami i ikh sluzha­shchimi [Evolution of mechanisms for considering disputes between international intergovernmental organizations and their employees]. Mezhdu­narodnoe pravosudie, no.4, pp.55–66. (In Russian).

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