001070
(1) "Every individual shall have the right to freedom of movement and residence ...
(2) "Every individual shall have the right to leave any country, including his own, and to
return to his country ..."
122.
Similarly, Article 12 (1) of ICCPR provides that “Everyone lawfully within the territory
of a State shall, within that territory, have the right to liberty of movement and freedom to
choose his residence’.
123. The Court thus notes that the right to freedom of movement as enunciated under
Article 12 of the Charter is guaranteed to “every individual” lawfully present within
the territory of a State regardless of his national status, that is, regardless of whether
or not he or she is a national of that State. According to Article 12 of the Charter and
of ICCPR,
this
right “may
only be subject to restrictions,
provided
for by law for the
protection of national security, law and order, public health or morality”.
124. The Court underscores that nationals of a State, by virtue of their citizenship, are
presumed
nationals
to be “lawfully in the territory” of that State.
are
concerned,
“the question
whether
an
However,
alien
as far as non-
is “lawfully”
within the
territory of a State is a matter governed by domestic law, which may subject the entry
of an alien to the territory of a State to restrictions, provided they are in compliance
with the State’s international obligations”.29
125.
The
Court
notes
that
Applicant is presumed
Applicant
in the
State
and
case,
it has
already
established
that the
to be a national of the Respondent State. Accordingly, the
is considered
Respondent
instant
to
thus,
have
has
been
the
lawfully
present
right to exercise
in the
his
territory
of the
right to freedom
of
movement.
8 United Nations Human Rights Committee, General Comment No. 27: Article 12 (Freedom of Movement).
See also Communication No. 456/1991, Celepli v. Sweden, § 9.2.
32