291051 Semrinar: Human Rights in Europe - Judgements of the European Court of Human Rights relating to Germany and the United Kingdom (BS) (WiSe 2002/2003)

U. Davy / Susan Marks Ph.D., Emmanuel College, Cambridge, United Kingdom

The European Human Rights System is unique and renowned world-wide. As early as 1950, the Council of Europe moved to adopt the European Convention of Human Rights, a catalogue of individual rights that was amended by several protocols. The European Convention of Human Rights was the first human rights mechanism to become law in force; it preceded the United Nations Covenants and other regional arrangements, e.g. the Inter-American Human Rights System. Yet, what counts most is the institutional architecture created by the European Convention on Human Rights. The Convention establishes the first international Court for the determination of human rights matters: Individuals may apply to the European Court of Human Rights (located in Strasbourg) asserting that their rights (as they are laid down in the Convention) have been violated by State action. It is within the Court's jurisdiction to reach the finding that human rights have - in fact - been violated. The Seminar focuses on leading cases involving Germany and the United Kingdom. Students are supposed to present the facts of the cases and the (national) legal background, to summarise the position of the Court, to relate the position to other judgements of the European Court, and to discuss the cases against the background of the national (German or British) jurisprudence.

The Seminar will take place at the end of January 2003 or at the beginning of February 2003. Working language will be English. Participants may obtain a "Wahlfachschein Völker- und Europarecht". For further information please check the noticeboards.