How is the European Convention on Human Rights enforced?

The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is a set of international laws designed to protect human rights across Europe. The ECHR is enforced through the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in Strasbourg, France. The ECtHR hears cases from individuals, groups, and organizations who believe their rights have been violated. In Colorado, the United States is not a party to the ECHR, so it does not have a direct role in the enforcement of the convention. However, the U.S. Supreme Court has used the ECHR as a source of guidance in interpreting the U.S. Constitution’s protections of human rights. Additionally, U.S. courts have looked to the ECHR to inform their decisions in cases concerning human rights. When the ECHR is violated, an individual, group, or organization can file a complaint with the ECtHR. In order to be successful, the complaint must demonstrate that the government of the country in question failed to uphold its obligations under the ECHR. If the ECtHR finds that a government has violated the Convention, the ECtHR can issue a binding judgment requiring the government to take steps to correct the violation. These judgments are usually carried out by the government in question in order to comply with the ECHR.

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How is the European Convention on Human Rights enforced?

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