Public event

Time for Action: Human Rights, Democracy, and the Implementation of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights

This event on the non-implementation of particularly important judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) is co-organised by the Netherlands Helsinki Committee and the European Implementation Network in association with the Centre for Fundamental Rights.

There is a critical problem with the non-implementation of ECtHR judgments. As of 1 January 2022, there are 1300 leading judgments pending implementation. Each of these represents a distinct structural and/or systemic human rights problem in a European state. This number is rising, meaning that the problem is getting worse. The non-implementation problem has very serious negative effects for the protection of democracy, human rights and the rule of law – threatening the existence of the ECHR system itself.

The event will offer briefing on the non-implementation of ECtHR judgments across Europe. It will include a summary of cases involving victims of political persecution, including Alexei Navalny and Osman Kavala, as well as account of what it is like to be a political prisoner, despite having a judgment from the European Court in your favour. 

The event will be an opportunity to gain more information on these important issues, and to discuss the best ways to promote the implementation of judgments of the European Court of Human Rights.

Chair: Dr. Hans-Jörg Behrens, Agent of the German Federal Ministry of Justice before the European Court of Human Rights

Roundtable Interventions by:

  • Ramute Remezaite, EIN Board member, Implementation Lead at the European Human Rights Advocacy Centre (EHRAC): The overall implementation of ECtHR judgments
  • Başak Çalı, Professor of International Law, Co-Director of the Centre for Fundamental Rights, Hertie School and EIN Chair: The implementation of ECtHR cases concerning victims of political persecution
  • Khadija Ismayilova, Azerbaijani investigative journalist, former political prisoner: The implementation of ECtHR cases concerning victims of political persecution

Prior registration is required for the event.

Please register via the Netherlands Helsinki Committee's registration form. The registration for this event will close on 15 October 2022.