Access to justice as a human right In international law as in any other legal system respect and protection of human rights can be guaranteed only by the availability of effective judicial remedies. When a right is violated or damage is caused access to justice is of fundamental importance for the injured individual and it is an essential component of the rule of law. Yet access to justice as a human right remains problematic in international law. First because individual access to international justice remains exceptional and based on specific treaty arrangements rather than on general principles of international law; second because even when such right is guaranteed as a matter of treaty obligation other norms or doctrines of international law may effectively impede its exercise as in the case of sovereign immunity or non reviewability of UN Security Council measures directly affecting individuals.