Reflection of Human Rights Considerations and Public Interests in Investment Treaties from the Perspective of Public Law: A Comparative Study with a Focus on Iran's Bilateral Investment Treaties

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Ph.D. in International Law, Allameh Tabataba'i University, Tehran, Iran.

2 Master's student in International Law, Imam Sadiq University, Tehran, Iran.

Abstract

In recent decades, international investment treaties have faced significant criticism for imposing restrictions on governmental regulatory rights and the implementation of public policies, particularly within the framework of public law related to human rights and public interests. The primary issue of this research, from the perspective of public law, is to examine the extent to which human rights considerations and public interests are reflected in investment treaties, especially Iran's bilateral investment treaties, and to achieve a balance between the public obligations of states in safeguarding public interests and human rights on one hand, and the protection of foreign investors' rights on the other. This article, utilizing a descriptive-analytical method and a comparative approach within the framework of public law, examines and analyzes the provisions of Iran's investment treaties and compares them with modern international treaties such as CETA, CEPA, and European and American models. The research findings indicate that Iran's investment treaties, compared to the new generation of treaties, pay less attention to public law principles such as governmental regulatory rights, compliance with human rights, and sustainable development goals, which could limit the public sovereignty of the state in the face of foreign investment requirements. Furthermore, this article examines the status of Iran's investment treaties and their challenges in protecting human rights and public interests from a public law viewpoint. It also analyzes how experiences from modern international treaties can be utilized to improve Iran's investment treaties and establish a balance between investors' rights and the human rights and public obligations of states.

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References

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