About: European Convention on Human Rights

Coronavirus derogations from human rights send wrong signal, say MEPs

Five European countries have announced plans to derogate from the European Convention on Human Rights, (ECHR), invoking the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Critics, however, fear that this sends the wrong political signal.

Are geopolitics, trade and human rights compatible enemies?

Europe cannot turn a blind eye to the Human Rights abuses occurring in third countries, unless we rewrite the mandates of the functioning of the EU institutions and the Treaty, writes MEP Tomáš  Zdechovský.

Belgian PM seeks EU help in row over deported Sudanese

Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel said yesterday (11 January) he would seek EU help to settle a row over his country's deportation of Sudanese who were allegedly tortured on their return home.

Northern Ireland court rules gay marriage ban doesn’t violate rights

Northern Ireland's refusal to recognise same-sex marriage does not violate the rights of couples affected, the Belfast High Court ruled on Thursday (17 August), in a blow to campaigners in the only part of the United Kingdom that bans gay marriage.

Europe rights court blasts Romania prison conditions

The European Court of Human Rights on Tuesday (25 April) took Romania to task for its dismal prison conditions, saying they could be considered inhumane and degrading.

Brexit: Future of the European Arrest Warrant in question

With Brexit and two recent controversial cases of extradition requests made this year by Romania, the future of the European Arrest Warrant (EAW) is re-emerging as an issue of particular concern, not only in the UK but also in other EU member states, writes Willy Fautré.

Turkey working with Council of Europe on post-coup prosecutions

A delegation from Turkey's justice ministry has met with the Council of Europe to review European human rights standards and conventions as Ankara prepares to prosecute those it holds responsible for the failed 15 July coup, the head of the CoE said.

Human rights: A scapegoat for the ills of Europe

The public debate in the run-up to the Brexit vote was often based on racist and xenophobic resentments that wrongly associated human rights with the rights of minorities, writes Michael O’Flaherty. But human rights are simply not a minority issue. They are for everyone, he argues.

Bulgarians outraged by deportation of Gülen supporter to Turkey

Bulgarian NGOs, columnists and a junior coalition partner in Boyko Borissov’s government have all expressed outrage at the news of the extradition to Turkey of an alleged supporter of Fetullah Gülen, the US-exiled cleric accused by Ankara of masterminding the 15 July coup.

Turkey to ‘follow France’ and suspend European rights convention

Turkey will follow France's example in suspending temporarily the European Convention on Human Rights following its declaration of a state of emergency, Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus said on Thursday (21 July), according to broadcaster NTV.

Institutions start discussing way forward after ECHR setback

More than a year after the European Court of Justice (ECJ) blocked the EU’s efforts to sign up to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), the European Parliament hosted a meeting with representatives of the institutions yesterday (20 April) to discuss the way forward.

EU leaders should avoid reactionary solutions to refugee crisis

As the refugee crisis continues, EU governments should respond with leadership and avoid knee-jerk reactions, writes Thorbjørn Jagland.

Plans to strip terror suspects of their nationality rock French politics

Should terrorists be deprived of their nationality? France’s Socialist government has made waves in the political establishment with a plan to write this idea, once the territory of the National Front, into the constitution. EURACTIV France reports. 

Russia overrules the European Court of Human Rights

Russia's Constitutional Court today (14 July) ruled its national laws should take precedence over decisions of the European Court of Human Rights.

Strasbourg court decision deals blow to Armenia over Azerbaijan

A decision by the European Court of Human Rights concerning the complaints of seven Azerbaijani nationals who were unable to return or receive compensation for their property in Lachin, in Nagorno-Karabakh, confirmed that Armenia controls the territory.

Bahrain: Putting the EU’s human rights policies into practice

The EU can help improve the human rights situation in the Persian Gulf, writes Sayed Ahmed Alwadaei.

Hungary could lose EU voting rights, MEPs warn Orbán

Reinstating the death penalty in Hungary would breach the EU Treaties and Charter of Fundamental Rights, and could trigger EU article 7 sanctions, which would strip Hungary of voting rights in the Union, says a European Parliament resolution passed today (10 June).

Cameron won’t rule out UK leaving European Convention on Human Rights

Britain could withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights if it does not get the changes it wants to the way the rules are applied, Prime Minister David Cameron said on Wednesday (3 June).

Opposition mounting to UK Human Rights Act suspension

The new Conservative government is planning to repeal the Human Rights Act during its first 100 days in office in an attempt to “break the formal link” between UK courts and the European Court of Human Rights.

EU in deep trouble with top court

The European Court of Justice has blocked the EU’s efforts to sign up to the European Convention on Human Rights. In doing so, judges defied the will of EU Commission, European Parliament and the advice of their advocate, writes Andrew Duff.

Court of Justice rejects draft agreement of EU accession to ECHR

The Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled that the draft agreement on the accession of the European Union to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is not compatible with EU law. The ruling deals a blow to efforts to make the Union accede to the ECHR as the Lisbon Treaty requires.

CIA torture exposes UK’s failure to protect its citizens

The CIA rendition scandal laid bare the British government’s failure to live up to its international obligations and protect the basic rights of its citizens, writes Sajjad Karim.

European court upholds French ban on full-face veil

The European Court of Human Rights upheld France's 2010 ban on full-face veils in public on Tuesday (1 July) but acknowledged the law could appear excessive and feed stereotypes.

Saving the Strasbourg Court

Conservative British politicians have threatened to pull back from the European Convention of Human Rights. Such a UK exit, or even a mere mention of such a possibility, is a huge blow to human rights' defenders from Eastern Europe and a nice gift for authoritarian rulers, write Adam Bodnar and Dominika Bychawska-Siniarska.