The many lives of effet utile in treaty interpretation

• José Rogelio Gutiérrez Álvarez ^[1]
  1. [1] University of Cambridge

     University of Cambridge

     Cambridge District, Reino Unido

     
• Localización: Anuario Mexicano de Derecho Internacional, ISSN-e 1870-4654, Nº. 25, 2025
• Idioma: inglés
• Títulos paralelos:
  • Les nombreuses vies de l’effet utile dans l’interprétation des traités
  • Las muchas vidas del principio del effet utileen la interpretación de tratados
• Enlaces
  • Texto completo
• Resumen
  • español

    Este artículo estudia las múltiples formas en las que el principio de efectividad en la interpretación de los tratados ha sido aplicado en la jurisprudencia internacional. Se propone una categorización de las diferentes versiones de este principio, en atención a a) el objeto y fin que el intérprete intenta realizar (i.e., el objeto y fin del tratado en su totalidad o aquel de sus componentes particulares; b) la medida para evaluar la efectividad (i.e., una versión ‘restringi-da’ que únicamente previene que el tratado o sus componentes sean absolutamente privados de sentido o una versión ‘amplia’ que procura la maximización de sus efectos) y c) la relevancia de los hechos específicos del caso bajo estudio por la corte o tribunal internacional para determinar el sentid general de los términos del tratado.

  • English

    This article studies the many ways in which the principle of effectiveness in treaty in-terpretation has been applied in international dispute settlement. It argues that the different ver-sions of effet utile may be categorised according to: a) the object and purpose that the interpreter attempts to fulfil (i.e., that of a treaty as a whole or that of specific components within it); b) the yardstick for assessing the effectiveness (i.e., a ‘narrow’ approach that would solely prevent that a treaty or its provisions are completely deprived of meaning, or a ‘broader’ one that aims towards the maximisation of its effects) and c) the relevance of the specific facts assessed by the court or tribunal to ascertain the general meaning of treaty provisions.

  • français

    Cette article analyse les nombreuses versions du principe de l’effet utile dans le rè-glement des différends internationaux. L’article suggère qui ces versions peuvent être classifies conformément à: a) l’objet et le but qui l’interpréteur souhaite rendre efficace (i.e. l’objet et le but de tout le traite ou celle d’une de son parts); b) l’indicateur de l’efficacité (i.e. une version ‘limitée’ qui seulement souhaite éviter qui le traité soit privé de tout conséquence, ou une ver-sion ‘libéral’, qui peut augmenter ses effets) et c) la pertinence des faits spécifiques évalués par la cour ou le tribunal pour déterminer le sens général des dispositions du traité

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