This diploma thesis with the topic of ,,The Concept of Serious Harm in Refugee Law" had three basic objectives. The first one was to analyse single notions which belong to the concept of serious harm. The second objective was to compare the concept of serious harm under the Qualification Directive and under the Czech Asylum Act. By means of the interpretation of single notions of serious harm and the comparison of the Qualification Directive with the Czech Asylum Act, I managed to answer the question ,,who is protected by Article 15 of the Qualification Directive and the second section of paragraph 14a in the Czech Asylum Act," which was the third basic objective of this diploma thesis, and at the same time its research question. My diploma thesis is structured into 6 chapters, further it contains the list of abbreviations, the introduction, the conclusion, the list of literature, the Czech and English abstract, and key words. The first chapter deals with the evolution of the concept of serious harm since the year 2001 till the contemporary version of the Qualification Directive from the year 2011, and with the incorporation of this concept into the Czech Asylum Act. From the depiction of history of the concept of serious harm in this chapter, it resulted how uneasy it was for the member states of...

This limited scope dissertation deals with the protection against torture in international law. The mechanisms which have been established over the years to protect individuals against torture are analysed. The principles of international customary law dealing with torture and the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT) have been examined against the failure by States to honour their obligations under the Treaty and other legal normative rules. This required deep exploration of the definition of torture and how States can compromise the rule of law by manipulating the definition of torture as contemplated by the Treaty or other instruments. Examples from the former US government highlight the ways in which domestic laws can be used and are continued to be used to allow the use of torture. Measures by South Africa in joining the international community in the fight against torture are also discussed as a case study. While all efforts have been made by the South African system to adopt desirable frame works on the protection of individuals against torture, the lack of education on torture remains the down fall of the system. The dissertation clearly explains that universal jurisdiction applies in respect of torture and this is recognised by both treaty law and customary law. Indeed despite all the current measures in place the use of torture persists. The research clearly reveals that countries hide behind their own laws to perpetrate acts of torture. It is then recommended that proper implementation of the legal structures, informed of the objectives of the structures, is essential in completely eradicating torture. / Public, Constitutional, and International Law / LLM

La France a mis en place en juillet 2015 une réforme en vue de transposer le nouveau « paquet asile » européen alors que le Canada a renforcé depuis décembre 2012 ses procédures d’asile en adoptant des changements ayant essentiellement pour objet de lutter contre les abus du système d’asile canadien. En s’orientant vers des politiques dissimulées visant les expulsions expéditives des demandeurs d’asile déboutés et des personnes indignes de la protection, la France et le Canada, connus en tant que terre d’asile, respectent-ils toujours leur obligation international du non-refoulement ? Cette thèse s’appuie sur les lois en vigueur des deux États notamment le Code de l’entrée et du séjour des étrangers et du droit d’asile (France) et la Loi sur l’immigration et la protection des réfugiés (Canada), les jurisprudences nationales et internationales, et les textes internationaux. Elle met en lumière les pratiques et législations nationales relatives à l’octroi de l’asile et à l’éloignement des demandeurs d’asile et des réfugiés qui peuvent ou pourraient porter atteinte au principe de non-refoulement, tel que consacré par le droit international des réfugiés ainsi que par le droit international des droits de l’homme / In July 2015, France adopted an asylum reform bill in order to transpose the EU asylum legislative package. In comparison, Canada has, since 2012, strengthened its national asylum procedures by introducing a number of changes with the objective of preventing the abuse of Canada’s inland refugee determination system. In moving towards hidden policies aimed at the efficiency of removals of failed refugee claimants and persons unworthy of international protection, are France and Canada, known as safe havens, respecting their international obligations of Non-Refoulement ? This thesis focuses on the laws in force in both States in particular the Code of the Entry and Stay of Foreigners and Asylum Law (France) and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada), national and international jurisprudence, and other relevant international documents. The present study aims at highlighting the national legislations and practices relating to the grant of asylum and the expulsion of asylum seekers and refugees which violate or could violate the Principle of Non-Refoulement as enshrined in both International Refugee Law and International Human Rights Law