European Court of Human Rights

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), also known as the Strasbourg Court, is an international court of the Council of Europe which interprets the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The court hears applications alleging that a contracting state has breached one or more of the human rights enumerated in the convention or its optional protocols to which a member state is a party. The court is based in Strasbourg, France.

This article is about the international court of the Council of Europe (not of the European Union). For the EU's judicial branch, see Court of Justice of the European Union. For the supreme court of the EU in matters of Union law, see European Court of Justice.

European Court of Human Rights
48°35′48″N 07°46′27″E
Established
  • 1959 (initially)
  • 1998 (permanent)
Jurisdiction46 member states of the Council of Europe
LocationStrasbourg, France
Coordinates48°35′48″N 07°46′27″E
Composition methodAppointed by member states and elected by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Authorized byEuropean Convention on Human Rights
Appeals toGrand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights
Number of positions46 judges, one from each of the 46 member states
Websiteechr.coe.int
President
CurrentlySíofra O'Leary
Since2013 (judge), 2020 (President)

The court was established in 1959 and decided its first case in 1960 in Lawless v. Ireland. An application can be lodged by an individual, a group of individuals, or one or more of the other contracting states. Aside from judgments, the court can also issue advisory opinions. The convention was adopted within the context of the Council of Europe, and all of its 46 member states are contracting parties to the convention. The court's primary means of judicial interpretation is the living instrument doctrine, meaning that the Convention is interpreted in light of present-day conditions.

International law scholars consider the ECtHR to be the most effective international human rights court in the world. Nevertheless, the court has faced challenges with verdicts not implemented by the contracting parties.

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