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What is the European Convention on Human Rights? The European Convention on Human Rights is an international treaty which came into force in 1953. Today, 45 countries across Europe have ratified the Convention, and thereby obliged themselves to guarantee the rights set out in the Convention to everyone within their jurisdiction. Over the years, a number of protocols have been added to the Convention, guaranteeing further rights for individuals. Most of the countries that are parties to the Convention have incorporated it into their domestic legislation, so that individuals can rely on the Convention rights directly before the national authorities. The United Kingdom incorporated the Convention with the Human Rights Act 1998, which came into force on 2 October 2000. However, even in countries that have not incorporated the Convention, the State is under an obligation to ensure the rights therein to individuals within its jurisdiction. If an individual feels that his/her rights have been violated, and would like to complain to the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, one has to bear in mind that the jurisdiction of the Court is limited. Complaints can only be considered if they meet the admissibility criteria set out in Article 35 of the Convention.
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