European Court of Human Rights

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European Court of Human Rights

Piece of Berlin Wall in front of the European Court of Human Rights, Strasbourg

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Council of Europe (orthographic projection)

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European Court of Human Rights, courtroom, 2014 (cropped)

European Court of Human Rights case processing chart

Courtroom European Court of Human Rights 01

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The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is an international court established by the European Convention on Human Rights. It hears applications alleging violations of the civil and political rights set out in the Convention by member states of the Council of Europe. The Court is based in Strasbourg, France.

History

The ECHR was established in 1959 by the European Convention on Human Rights, which was adopted by the Council of Europe in 1950. The Court was created to ensure the observance of the engagements undertaken by the High Contracting Parties in the Convention and its Protocols.

Structure

The Court is composed of 47 judges, one from each member state of the Council of Europe. Judges are elected by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and serve for a non-renewable term of nine years. The Court is divided into five sections, each of which is responsible for a number of member states.

Jurisdiction and Procedure

The ECHR has jurisdiction to hear applications from individuals, groups of individuals, or non-governmental organizations claiming to be victims of a violation of the rights set out in the European Convention on Human Rights by one of the member states. The Court can also hear inter-state cases brought by one member state against another.

Applications to the Court must meet certain admissibility criteria, including the exhaustion of domestic remedies and the submission of the application within six months of the final domestic decision. If an application is declared admissible, the Court will proceed to examine the merits of the case and may hold a hearing. The Court's judgments are binding on the member states concerned.

Impact

The ECHR has had a significant impact on the protection of human rights in Europe. Its judgments have led to changes in national laws and practices in many member states, and it has played a key role in the development of international human rights law.

Criticism

The Court has faced criticism on various grounds, including the length of time it takes to process cases, the perceived inconsistency of its judgments, and concerns about its independence and impartiality. Some member states have also criticized the Court for what they see as its interference in their domestic affairs.

See also

• European Convention on Human Rights
• Council of Europe
• Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
• Human rights in Europe
• International human rights law

Related pages

• European Convention on Human Rights
• Council of Europe
• Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
• Human rights in Europe
• International human rights law