Holding International Organizations Accountable on the Example of the International Organization for Migration: Current Issues

https://www.doi.org/10.32523/2791-0954-2024-8-2-51-63

Abstract

The responsibility of subjects of international law is one of the most important subjects of public international law. Despite the fact that holding States responsible is sufficiently defined in international law, it is not possible to make such a statement regarding the attribution of responsibility to international organisations due to the insufficient volume of practice and the lack of international legal norms of a binding nature, to a greater or lesser extent regulating aspects of the institution considered in the framework of this study. It is established that two criteria must be met simultaneously for an organization to be held responsible: the fact of a breach of international legal obligations and attribution under international law. The author concludes that it is necessary to further theoretical research of this set of norms, attracting the attention of the international community to the problems of bringing international organisations to responsibility. It seems that in case of violation of the undertaken obligations of international legal nature, such subjects of international law should be held responsible. The problem is particularly acute when an international organization is held accountable for human rights violations, which is examined on the example of the International Organization for Migration.

The present article attempts to reveal through the lens of international law the basic concepts of holding international organizations accountable and to analyze the prospects for the current and further international legal regulation of issues relating to the accountability of international organisations.