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State responsibility and the acts of non-state actors (the problem of attribution)

Publication at Faculty of Law |
2021

Abstract

The rules on state responsibility for internationally illegal conduct are based on customary norms. These rules are codified in Articles on Responsibility of States for Internationally Wrongful Acts of 2001.

This paper is focused on issues of state responsibility in relation to the behaviour of non-state actors. From the point of view of the state's responsibility for internationally illegal behaviour, the state is only internationally responsible for its own behaviour, i.e., the behaviour of its bodies.

Especially problematic from the point of view of the attribution of the state is the situation when there are attacks of terrorists or armed gangs from the territory of the state on the territory of a foreign state. In this context, the question also arises of the application of the doctrine of the reluctance or inability of the host state to prevent such attacks.

In other cases, where the state is willing but unable to prevent such an infringement, because it is unable to control its territory (it does not effectively control it), it is not internationally responsible for such a failure. However, even in cases where the behaviour of non-state actors cannot be attributable to the host state, the state concerned may not tolerate the behaviour of terrorists, various armed gangs - non-state actors and may exercise its right to self-defence.