The Nijmegen Principles and Guidelines on Interim Measures Maintaining and Enhancing the Protective Potential of Interim Measures in Human Rights Cases

Recently, scholars have paid considerable attention to interim (or provisional) measures (both in general [see here, here and here], and in the context of human rights adjudication [for a focus on interim measures in inter-state cases, see here and here]). Indeed, the international community and the adjudicators are facing a daunting task to maintain and enhance the protective potential of interim measures.

The timely adoption of the Nijmegen Principles and Guidelines on Interim Measures for the Protection of Human Rights addresses both the legal obligations of states and the role of the adjudicators. They list the existing state obligations in the context of interim measures and put forward good judicial practices for international adjudicators (both courts and quasi-judicial bodies such as Committees and Commissions) that may assist in enhancing the protective potential of their interim measures.