Europe

About Our Work_

The 47 member States of the Council of Europe enjoy the protection of the European Court of Human Rights. Although this is one of the most effective regional mechanisms for the protection of human rights, in many areas the jurisprudence of the Court is relatively undeveloped, notably as regards equality issues. At the same time, new state practices, particularly in the area of counter-terrorism, are posing serious challenges to existing human rights standards. INTERIGHTS has sought to strengthen the jurisprudence of the Court through litigation either in partnership with local lawyers or independently through third party interventions.

The absence of specialist skills and experience on the European Convention on Human Rights in some of the Council of Europe’s new member States can significantly limit the effectiveness of the protection provided by the European Court of Human Rights. For this reason, INTERIGHTS has for many years provided specialist and highly practical training for lawyers focusing on Convention rights, enabling them to approach the Court more effectively.

Since 2000 INTERIGHTS has worked in the  South Caucasus region (Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia) on joint projects aiming to improve national legal practice and strengthen the rule of law through strategic human rights litigation.

Latest INTERIGHTS News_

Vejdeland and Others v Sweden

On 9 February 2012, the European Court of Human Rights found unanimously that Sweden did not violate the right to freedom of expression in imposing criminal sanctions on individuals who had distributed leaflets containing offensive and insulting statements about members of the LGBT community. In doing so the Court, for the first time, applied principles developed in relation to hate speech in the context of sexual orientation and gender identity.

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Catan & Ors v Moldova & Russia

On 25 January 2012, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights conducted a hearing in the case of Catan & Ors v Moldova & Russia, concerning violations of the rights to education, private life and freedom from discrimination of children, parents and teachers in the territory of Transdniestria.

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Stanev v Bulgaria

On 17 January 2012, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights published its judgment in the case of Stanev v Bulgaria. The Court found that Mr Stanev, who has schizophrenia, suffered a violation of his right to liberty as a result of his long-term placement in a social care home and that he must be granted direct access to courts to have the measure of his legal incapacitation reviewed.

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Litigation_

Vejdeland and Others v Sweden

On 9 February 2012, the European Court of Human Rights found unanimously that Sweden did not violate the right to freedom of expression in imposing criminal sanctions on individuals who had distributed leaflets containing offensive and insulting statements about members of the LGBT community. In doing so the Court, for the first time, applied principles developed in relation to hate speech in the context of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Read more

Catan & Ors v Moldova & Russia

On 25 January 2012, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights conducted a hearing in the case of Catan & Ors v Moldova & Russia, concerning violations of the rights to education, private life and freedom from discrimination of children, parents and teachers in the territory of Transdniestria.

Read more

Stanev v Bulgaria

On 17 January 2012, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights published its judgment in the case of Stanev v Bulgaria. The Court found that Mr Stanev, who has schizophrenia, suffered a violation of his right to liberty as a result of his long-term placement in a social care home and that he must be granted direct access to courts to have the measure of his legal incapacitation reviewed.

Read more

Finogenov & Ors v Russia

Strasbourg 20 December 2011: The European Court of Human Rights today found that Russia failed to adequately plan and conduct the rescue of the victims of the ‘Nord Ost’ hostage crisis in October 2002. Russia was also found at fault for subsequently failing to conduct an effective investigation into the rescue operation, and the Court awarded compensations ranging between 8,000 and 66,000 Euros to 64 claimants. INTERIGHTS, together with the International Commission of Jurists, submitted written comments to the Court in the case.

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Capacity Building and Standard Setting_

Reform of the European Court of Human Rights

As well as litigating before the European Court of Human Rights, INTERIGHTS undertakes work on proposals to reforming the Court’s processes and practices.

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Promoting Women's Human Rights in Central and Eastern Europe

INTERIGHTS undertook a project to provide expert support to lawyers and NGOs in the region working on women’s human rights cases before the European Court of Human Rights.

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