Human Rights

OSCE Expresses Concern at ECtHR Internet Ruling

June 24, 2015

OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatovic has warned countries not to use a recent European Court of Human Rights ("ECtHR") ruling, permitting a news website to be held liable for the posting of third-party comments, as a license "to introduce imprecise and vague liability regulations which may limit the right of freedom of expression."
ECtHR: News Websites Liable for Third-Party Content

June 17, 2015

In response to a complaint against Estonia for prosecuting a news website for "hate speech" posted by third parties on the site, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights ("ECtHR") has found that such websites can be held criminally liable for unlawful speech posted by third parties.
Ukraine Derogates from ECHR in Conflict Areas

June 17, 2015

The Council of Europe has responded to a notification from the Government of Ukraine that the country will not recognize the application of the European Convention on Human Rights ("ECHR") in current conflict zones by announcing that the Council's standards continue to apply in the country.
Cameron: Rights Based on Magna Carta Have Become "Distorted"

June 15, 2015

In a speech marking the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta that has been interpreted as targeting the European Court of Human Rights, U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron said it fell to the current generation to restore the "good name" of human rights, which have been "distorted and devalued" over time.
CoE Warns ICANN to Respect Human Rights Agenda

June 10, 2015

The Council of Europe's ("CoE") Committee of Ministers has called on the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers ("ICANN"), a nonprofit that manages the infrastructure of the internet, to respect international human rights law in assigning domain names and retaining data of domain name holders.
ECtHR Rules French Doctors May Remove Man's Life Support

June 08, 2015

The European Court of Human Rights ("ECtHR") has ruled that French courts did not violate the right to life and right against torture of a man who has been in a coma for seven years by permitting doctors to remove the man's intravenous feeding and hydration tube.
Hannan: Withdrawing from ECHR Would Not "Scrap" Rights

June 05, 2015

UK Member of the European Parliament Daniel Hannan writes that Britain's departure from the European Convention on Human Rights ("ECHR") would not "scrap" human rights but rather ensure that these rights are interpreted and implemented in the "law-based liberal democracy" of the UK.
Timothy: U.K. Should Withdraw from ECHR

June 03, 2015

Nick Timothy, former Chief of Staff to the British Home Secretary, writes that in order to reclaim the authority of the U.K. Parliament to decide the proper balance among human rights, Britain should produce a new Bill of Rights and withdraw from the European Convention on Human Rights ("ECHR").
Guardian: U.K. Prepared to Break with ECHR

June 03, 2015

The Guardian reports that U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron is keeping open the option of withdrawing from the European Convention on Human Rights ("ECHR") if his calls for the recognition of British parliamentary authority over Strasbourg judgments are not answered.
U.K. May Consider "English Bill of Rights"

June 03, 2015

The Independent reports that the U.K. Justice Secretary Michael Gove may be considering sidestepping opposition of Scottish officials to the Government's plan to replace the U.K. Human Rights Act with a British Bill of Rights by preparing an "English Bill of Rights" that does not apply to Scotland.