The European Convention on Human Rights
Created | Updated Oct 20, 2010
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The European Convention on Human rights, otherwise known as the <i>Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms</i>, is a convention that was passed by the <a href=#2>Council of Europe</a> in 1950 in response to the <i>Universal Declaration of Human Rights</i> which was drawn up by the <a href=#1>United Nations</a> in 1948. The aim of the convention is to give people who live in European states a list of civil and political rights which the member states of the Council of Europe believed every person in Europe should expect to have.
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<B>Basic Rights and Freedoms under the Convention</B></font>
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The following basic rights and freedoms are described in the Convention:
<UL>
<LI TYPE=disc>The Right to Life
<LI>Prohibition of Torture
<LI>Prohibition of slavery and forced labour
<LI>Right to liberty and security
<LI>Right to fair trial
<LI>No punishment without law
<LI>Right to respect private and family life
<LI>Freedom of thought, conscience and religion
<LI>Freedom of expression
<LI>Freedom of assembly and association
<LI>Right to marry
<LI>Right to a remedy of human rights abuses
<LI>Prohibition of discrimination
<LI>Prohibition of the abuse of rights
</UL>
The convention allows for exception in some circumstances which are laid out clearly in the articles for each right. For example, a person has a right to life unless they are killed: in self defence, while resisting arrest or trying to escape while lawfully detained, in lawful police riot control action, or as a punishment laid down by a court for a suitable crime.
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Read the full convention <a href="http://conventions.coe.int/treaty/en/WhatYouWant.asp?NT=005
">here</a>.
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The European Commission of Human rights</font></B>
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The Commission of Human Rights was founded under the Convention. The role of the Commission is to investigate claims of Human Rights abuses, made either by states or individuals. Once investigations have been carried out the findings are passed onto The European Court of Human Rights, who have the compulsory jurisdiction, recognised by many states, to try individuals or governments for Human Rights abuses. For example, the court has forced the republic of Ireland to withdraw its law banning homosexual activity.
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Other Human Rights Organisations</font></B>
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Other agencies which try to stop Human Rights Abuses include Amnesty International and the United Nations.
<p>
<i><a href="http://www.amnesty.org">Amnesty International</a></i> was founded in 1961 in the UK and its main goal is to campaign for the release of political prisoners the world over. The agency has helped hundreds of political prisoners to become free and it was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977.
<p>
<i><a name=1 href="http://www.un.org/">The United Nations (UN)</a></i> is the International organisation which passed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It comprised of many sub-organisations which act as watchdogs and providers of aid (medical, financial and military) to all of the world where they are needed. The UN has representatives from every country in the world as members. On specific Human Rights issues, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights investigates claims made by individuals or states, much in the same way that the European Commission on Human Rights does.
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Links</font></B>
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<a href="http://www.amnesty.org">Amnesty International</a><BR/>
<a href="http://www.un.org">The United Nations</a><BR/>
<a href="http://www.coe.fr">The Council of Europe</a>
<p>
<i><a name=2>Note: The <a href="http://www.coe.fr">Council of Europe</a> should not be confused with the European Union, they are separate organisations. However all countries who are members of the Union are members of the Council but not vice versa. Thanks to <a href="http://www.h2g2.com/U147044">jdc</a> for clarification on that one :), also both organisations share the same flag although they are separate... ta jdc again I forgot to write that in the first draft :)</i><BR/>
<a href=#3>Back to top</a>
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Books used in writing of this article-<BR/>
<i>European Convention on Human Rights as amended by protocol 11 - The Council of Europe, European Treaty series.</i>
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<a name=3><img src="http://tatkinson.future.easyspace.com/eu.jpg">
<p>
The European Convention on Human rights, otherwise known as the <i>Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms</i>, is a convention that was passed by the <a href=#2>Council of Europe</a> in 1950 in response to the <i>Universal Declaration of Human Rights</i> which was drawn up by the <a href=#1>United Nations</a> in 1948. The aim of the convention is to give people who live in European states a list of civil and political rights which the member states of the Council of Europe believed every person in Europe should expect to have.
<P><Font color=green>
<B>Basic Rights and Freedoms under the Convention</B></font>
</p>
The following basic rights and freedoms are described in the Convention:
<UL>
<LI TYPE=disc>The Right to Life
<LI>Prohibition of Torture
<LI>Prohibition of slavery and forced labour
<LI>Right to liberty and security
<LI>Right to fair trial
<LI>No punishment without law
<LI>Right to respect private and family life
<LI>Freedom of thought, conscience and religion
<LI>Freedom of expression
<LI>Freedom of assembly and association
<LI>Right to marry
<LI>Right to a remedy of human rights abuses
<LI>Prohibition of discrimination
<LI>Prohibition of the abuse of rights
</UL>
The convention allows for exception in some circumstances which are laid out clearly in the articles for each right. For example, a person has a right to life unless they are killed: in self defence, while resisting arrest or trying to escape while lawfully detained, in lawful police riot control action, or as a punishment laid down by a court for a suitable crime.
<P>
Read the full convention <a href="http://conventions.coe.int/treaty/en/WhatYouWant.asp?NT=005
">here</a>.
<P>
<B><Font color=green>
The European Commission of Human rights</font></B>
</P>
The Commission of Human Rights was founded under the Convention. The role of the Commission is to investigate claims of Human Rights abuses, made either by states or individuals. Once investigations have been carried out the findings are passed onto The European Court of Human Rights, who have the compulsory jurisdiction, recognised by many states, to try individuals or governments for Human Rights abuses. For example, the court has forced the republic of Ireland to withdraw its law banning homosexual activity.
<P>
<B><Font color=green>
Other Human Rights Organisations</font></B>
</P>
Other agencies which try to stop Human Rights Abuses include Amnesty International and the United Nations.
<p>
<i><a href="http://www.amnesty.org">Amnesty International</a></i> was founded in 1961 in the UK and its main goal is to campaign for the release of political prisoners the world over. The agency has helped hundreds of political prisoners to become free and it was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1977.
<p>
<i><a name=1 href="http://www.un.org/">The United Nations (UN)</a></i> is the International organisation which passed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It comprised of many sub-organisations which act as watchdogs and providers of aid (medical, financial and military) to all of the world where they are needed. The UN has representatives from every country in the world as members. On specific Human Rights issues, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights investigates claims made by individuals or states, much in the same way that the European Commission on Human Rights does.
<p> <p>
<P>
<B><Font color=green>
Links</font></B>
</P>
<a href="http://www.amnesty.org">Amnesty International</a><BR/>
<a href="http://www.un.org">The United Nations</a><BR/>
<a href="http://www.coe.fr">The Council of Europe</a>
<p>
<i><a name=2>Note: The <a href="http://www.coe.fr">Council of Europe</a> should not be confused with the European Union, they are separate organisations. However all countries who are members of the Union are members of the Council but not vice versa. Thanks to <a href="http://www.h2g2.com/U147044">jdc</a> for clarification on that one :), also both organisations share the same flag although they are separate... ta jdc again I forgot to write that in the first draft :)</i><BR/>
<a href=#3>Back to top</a>
<p>
<Font size=1 color=silver>
Books used in writing of this article-<BR/>
<i>European Convention on Human Rights as amended by protocol 11 - The Council of Europe, European Treaty series.</i>
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