European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR)

The European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) is an international court based in Strasbourg, France, which was established in 1959 as part of the Council of Europe. The Court is responsible for interpreting and enforcing the European Convention on Human Rights, which is a treaty that sets out a range of civil and political rights that are protected by law in the member states of the Council of Europe.

The ECtHR is composed of judges who are elected by the member states of the Council of Europe. Individuals, non-governmental organisations, and states can bring cases before the Court if they believe that their rights under the European Convention on Human Rights have been violated by a member state. The Court has jurisdiction over all member states of the Council of Europe, and its decisions are binding on the states involved in the case.

The ECtHR has the power to issue binding judgments and to award compensation to individuals whose rights have been violated. Its decisions have played an important role in shaping human rights law in Europe, and have been influential in other parts of the world as well. The Court has addressed a wide range of human rights issues, including freedom of expression, the right to a fair trial, and the prohibition of torture and inhumane treatment.

The ECtHR also has a number of other functions, such as providing advisory opinions on legal questions related to the European Convention on Human Rights, and monitoring compliance by member states with the Court's judgments. The Court is an important institution for protecting and promoting human rights in Europe, and its decisions have had a significant impact on human rights law and practice around the world.