The European Court of Human Rights is an independent international court which examines complaints about violations of human rights. The Court sits in the French city of Strasbourg.

It works on the basis of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms which is also known as the European Convention on Human Rights. You can find the basic provisions on the types of human rights violations the court will examine, how the court works and what the rules are for sending an application to the court within this convention and the Rules of the Court.

The Court belongs to  the Council of Europe, an organisation established in 1949 with the aim to promote human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Currently, the Council of Europe has 47 member states, i.e. all European states except of Belarus. The Council of Europe is not to be confused with the Council of the European Union or the European Council that are decision-making bodies of the European Union.

Although the Court was established as a part of the Council of Europe, it is an independent court, which examines complaints about possible human rights violations in those countries which have signed and ratified the European Convention on Human rights.

Resources

Last updated 15/12/2020