The Council of Europe’s work in the field of human rights are now of significance across the globe. This course explores particular aspects of these innovative judicial and non-judicial standards and mechanisms of protection.

The Council of Europe has been able to achieve innovative systems of effective protection of human rights at a regional level. Its success in promoting respect for civil and political rights, first through the establishment and progressive development of an enforcement machinery under the European Convention on Human Rights and then through the entry into force of the European Convention for the Prevention of Torture or Inhuman and Degrading Treatment or Punishment, is without parallel.

There are three key approaches to the work of the Council of Europe: first, standard-setting (in particular, by means of securing agreement to international treaties, but also through the making of recommendations and resolutions and the gradual emergence of standards in the course of the work of monitoring bodies); secondly, monitoring of implementation of state obligations (in particular, through the work of bodies established by treaty); and thirdly, co-operation with member states and non-governmental organisations (eg in promoting institutional capacity-building and legislative reform through training and compatibility studies). While this course will focus upon the jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights, these other aspects of human rights protection will also be introduced and discussed. The Council of Europe has also been mindful of the need to promote social cohesion through the promotion of social standards under the European Social Charter, and to encourage equality of treatment of members of national minorities through its Framework Convention for the Protection of National Minorities and the work of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance.