Decision Maker

European Court of Human Rights

The European Court of Human Rights is an international court established by the European Convention on Human Rights. Based in Strasbourg, France, its primary function is to evaluate and rule on alleged violations of civil and political rights protected by the Convention. The court consists of judges from each of the 47 Council of Europe member states, and it is the highest court in Europe for matters relating to human rights. Its rulings are binding on the countries which have ratified the Convention and are a significant source of influence on the development of human rights law throughout the region.