Home

ECHR

The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is a treaty of the Council of Europe, designed to protect fundamental rights and freedoms in Europe. It opened for signature in 1950 and entered into force in 1953. The ECHR established a regional human rights regime and created the European Court of Human Rights to adjudicate complaints.

The Convention guarantees civil and political rights, including the right to life, prohibition of torture and

The European Court of Human Rights, based in Strasbourg, interprets the Convention and rules on complaints

The ECHR framework influences national constitutions and ordinary laws, with many member states incorporating the Convention

slavery,
liberty
and
security,
right
to
a
fair
trial,
freedom
of
expression,
assembly
and
association,
and
respect
for
private
and
family
life.
It
has
been
amended
and
extended
by
Protocols
to
broaden
protection
and
refine
procedures,
such
as
safeguards
in
criminal
justice
and
the
expansion
of
jurisdiction.
against
states.
Individuals,
groups,
or
sovereign
states
may
bring
petitions
after
exhausting
domestic
remedies.
Court
judgments
are
binding
on
the
states
involved,
and
the
implementation
is
overseen
by
the
Committee
of
Ministers
of
the
Council
of
Europe.
The
Court
can
issue
pilot
judgments
to
address
systemic
issues.
into
domestic
law.
It
is
a
cornerstone
of
post-war
European
human
rights
protection,
though
it
faces
ongoing
challenges
such
as
backlog,
balancing
of
competing
rights,
and
ensuring
effective
enforcement
across
diverse
legal
systems.