Council of Europe Human Rights Instruments

The Council of Europe (CoE) is an international organisation of 46 member states in the European region. It embraces the first  regional human rights protection system created.

Membership is open to all European states which accept the principle of rule of law and guarantee fundamental human rights and freedoms to their citizens. One of CoE's main successes was the adoption of the European Convention on Human Rights in 1950, which serves as the basis for the European Court of Human Rights.

 European Court of Human Rights


Focusing on civil and political rights, the European Convention on Human Rights led to the establishment of the first regional human rights enforcement mechanism – the European Court of Human Rights - often referred to informally as the "Strasbourg Court", 

The Court's mission is to enforce the Convention. Any person who feels their rights have been violated under the Convention by a state party can take a case to the Court; the decisions of the Court are legally binding, and the Court has the power to award damages. State Parties can also take cases against other State Parties to the Court, although this power is rarely used.

The court consists of a number of judges equal to the number of Council of Europe member states, which is currently 46.Com created.

Read more about the Court on Wikipedia...

CoE Human Rights Instruments

The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) was signed in 1950, and was the first human rights document to deal specifically with one region. Subsequently, 14 protocols dealing with specific issues have followed the ECHR.

ECHR

Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms  
P. 1 Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms  
P. 2 Protocol No. 2 conferring upon the European Court of Human Rights competence to give advisory opinions  
P. 3 Protocol No. 3 amending Articles 29, 30 and 34 of the Convention  
P. 4 Protocol No. 4 securing certain rights and freedoms other than those already included in the Convention and in the first Protocol thereto  

P. 5

Protocol No. 5 amending Articles 22 and 40 of the Convention  
P. 6
P. 7 Protocol No. 7 to the Convention
P. 8 Protocol No. 8 to the Convention
P. 9 Protocol No. 9 to the Convention
P. 10 Protocol No. 10 to the Convention
P. 11 Protocol No. 11 restructuring the control machinery established thereby  
P. 12 Protocol No. 12 to the Convention
P. 13 Protocol No. 13 concerning the abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances  
P. 14 Protocol No. 14 amending the control system of the Convention  


The Council of Europe is not to be confused with the Council of the European Union or the European Council, as CoE is a separate organisation and not part of the European Union.


Updated 18-08-2006
Sources: CoE, Wikipedia