The European Court of Human Rights

Question 1

The Court

Answer 1

Set up in 1959.
The Court is based in Strasbourg.
Rules violations of the civil and political rights set out in the European Convention on Human Rights. Its judgments are binding.

Question 2

The European Convention on Human Rights

Answer 2

Signed on 4 November 1950 in Rome, entered into force in 1953.

Question 3

The Convention secures…

Answer 3

the right to life,
the right to a fair hearing,
the right to respect for private and family life,
freedom of expression,
freedom of thought, conscience and religion and,
the protection of property

Question 4

The Convention prohibits…

Answer 4

torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,
slavery and forced labour,
death penalty,
arbitrary and unlawful detention, and
discrimination in the enjoyment of the rights and freedoms set out in the Convention

Question 5

Jurisdiction

Answer 5

Cannot take up a case on its own initiative.
Complaints submitted to the Court must concern violations of the Convention allegedly committed by aState partyto the Convention.
As of August 1, 2018, the Court also has advisory jurisdiction.

Question 6

Composition of the court

Answer 6

Organized into five sections.
Within the Court, the judges work in four different kinds of groups: Single Judge - Committee - Chamber - Grand Chamber.

Question 7

How the Court works

Answer 7

The Registry is composed of lawyers, administrative and technical staff and translators.
The head of the Registry is the Registrar, who holds overall responsibility for its judicial and
administrative activities.
Each of the Court’s five judicial Sections is assisted by a Section Registrar and a Deputy Section
Registrar.
The Jurisconsult is responsible for ensuring the consistency of case-law and supplying opinions and information.