Human Rights

Opinion: States Should Always Follow ECtHR Judgments

July 19, 2017

Emphasizing the binding nature of all decisions of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on countries within its jurisdiction, former German Justice Minister Herta Däubler-Gmelin criticizes Russia and other "increasingly authoritarian" countries for "selectively ignoring" ECtHR judgments.
EU Introduces Broad-reaching "Pillar of Social Rights"

July 17, 2017

The European Commission recently launched its EU Pillar of Social Rights on labor rights and social protection, along with a mechanism to monitor the progress of EU member states on the Pillar, as a "compass for a renewed process of upward convergence towards better working and living conditions in Europe."
CoE Official Demands Independence for Public Broadcasting

July 14, 2017

A report from the Council of Europe's (CoE) Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muižnieks warns of threats to public broadcasting across Europe and calls on countries to ensure that public broadcasters maintain independence from governments, avoid "politicization," and receive a "sustainable funding" stream.
Body Investigates PACE Corruption Claims

July 14, 2017

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) recently established an "independent external investigation body" to determine the veracity of corruption allegations against members and former members of the organization.
NGOs Urge EU Action Against Poland in Asylum Rejections

July 14, 2017

Three prominent human rights groups have argued that the EU should "hold Poland accountable" for the decision of Polish border guards to turn away asylum seekers in apparent violation of a ruling by the European Court of Human Rights.
CoE Official Pushes Economic, Social Rights in Slovenia

July 12, 2017

In a "country visit report" calling on Slovenia to reject legislation that would reduce the acceptance of asylum applications, avoid "austerity measures," and increase the minimum wage, the Council of Europe's (CoE) Commissioner for Human Rights Nils Muižnieks illustrates the expanding focus of the CoE on fulfilling the global agenda for "economic, social, and cultural human rights."
ECtHR: Russian "Gay Propaganda" Laws Violate Rights

June 21, 2017

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has held that Russian laws banning the public promotion of "nontraditional sexual relations" violate European human rights provisions guaranteeing the freedom of expression and rights against discrimination.
CoE Monitoring Deals Blow to Turkish EU Bid

June 15, 2017

EurActiv reports that a recent vote by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (CoE) to reinstate the monitoring of democracy and fundamental rights in Turkey following the country's crackdown on a wide range of actors in response to a failed coup attempt last year has jeopardized Turkey's bid to become a member of the EU.
Academic: Founders Intended ECHR as "Living Instrument"

May 26, 2017

In a recent review of a book on the founding of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), Associate Professor Ed Bates of the University of Leicester indicates that countries that have signed up to the ECHR have agreed to be bound by a "living instrument" in which supranational human rights judges might discover new meanings over time.
ECtHR: Russia Violated Rights in 2004 School Siege

May 26, 2017

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) has held that the government of Russia violated the human rights of the hundreds of hostages killed in its siege of a school in Beslan in 2004 and ordered Russia to pay three million euros to the families of the victims.