European System — ECHR 1950 — KSLU Hr Notes

European System — ECHR 1950

European Convention on Human Rights — signed 4 November 1950; entered into force 3 September 1953. Managed by the Council of Europe (not the EU).

flowchart TD
    EC["European Convention on Human Rights 1950"]:::root
    EC --> RTS["Rights Protected — Arts. 2–14"]:::section
    EC --> P1["Protocol 1 — Property, Education, Free Elections"]:::section
    EC --> ECtHR["European Court of Human Rights — Strasbourg"]:::court
    ECtHR --> IND["Individual Application — Art. 34 — any person, NGO, group"]:::mech
    ECtHR --> INTER["Inter-State Application — Art. 33"]:::mech
    ECtHR --> ADM["Admissibility — exhaust domestic remedies — Art. 35"]:::mech
    ECtHR --> JUST["Just Satisfaction — Art. 41 — damages to applicant"]:::mech
    ECtHR --> GC["Grand Chamber — 17 judges — for major cases"]:::mech

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Key ECHR Rights

ArticleRight
Art. 2Right to life
Art. 3Prohibition of torture — absolute, no derogation
Art. 4Prohibition of slavery
Art. 5Right to liberty and security
Art. 6Right to a fair trial
Art. 7No punishment without law
Art. 8Right to private and family life
Art. 9Freedom of thought, conscience, religion
Art. 10Freedom of expression
Art. 11Freedom of assembly and association
Art. 14Prohibition of discrimination

European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR)

FeatureDetail
SeatStrasbourg, France
CompositionOne judge from each member State (46 judges)
AccessIndividual right of petition — any person
AdmissibilityMust exhaust domestic remedies; application within 4 months
Landmark casesSoering v. UK (1989) — extradition to death row; Osman v. UK (1998) — positive duty to protect life; Handyside v. UK (1976) — margin of appreciation

Art. 15 — Derogation in Emergencies

Any ECHR member may derogate in time of war or other public emergency — but:

  • Art. 3 (no torture), Art. 4(1) (no slavery), Art. 7 (no retroactive law) — absolutely non-derogable
  • Derogation must be strictly necessary and notified to Secretary-General

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