Human Rights

CoE Official Pushes Expansive Sexual Rights Protection

July 27, 2016

The Council of Europe's Commissioner Commissioner for Human Rights, Nils Muižnieks, has called for CoE countries to bolster women's "full and equal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights," including by reducing restrictions on abortion and expanding children's access to sexuality education.
Turkey Plans Suspension of ECHR

July 25, 2016

Politico reports that Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Numan Kurtulmus has announced the country's plans to suspend the European Convention on Human Rights in accordance with its crackdown leading to the arrest of over 60,000 civil service employees following an attempted coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Court: Greek Investor "Haircut" Did Not Violate ECHR

July 22, 2016

The European Court of Human Rights has found that Greek legislation forcing holders of the country's bonds to exchange these bonds for instruments of lesser value in order to stave off government bankruptcy during a serious economic crisis did not violate the European Convention on Human Rights' protection of private property.
ECtHR: Bulgarian Prisoner Voting Ban Violates Rights

July 22, 2016

The European Court of Human Rights has held that a blanket ban on voting by incarcerated prisoners in Bulgaria, without regard for "their individual circumstances, their conduct and the gravity of the offences committed," violates prisoners' right to vote under European human rights law.
AI Calls for EU Pressure on Hungary over Refugees

July 19, 2016

Amnesty International has called on the European Commission to "use all necessary means" to force Hungary to comply with EU and international law on the treatment of migrants and refugees, including by advancing infringement proceedings under EU treaties and by using the EU "rule of law framework" to place pressure on Hungary.
EU Parliament Seeks "Social Rights" Proposals

July 19, 2016

The European Parliament has adopted a resolution calling on the European Commission to advance proposals on a "European 'pillar' of social rights" that guarantees good working conditions and provides for a "work-life balance."
ECtHR: Latvian Declaration Failed to Satisfy Right to Investigation

July 14, 2016

The European Court of Human Rights has held that, despite its acceptance by the Court, a unilateral declaration of human rights violations and compensation from Latvia to a complainant who accused the country's authorities of ill treatment failed to satisfy the complainant's right to investigation of the harms inflicted against him.
ECtHR: Hungary's Refugee Detention Violated Rights

July 14, 2016

In the case of an Iranian national fleeing to avoid a criminal conviction based on his sexual orientation, the European Court of Human Rights has held that Hungary's detention of the asylum seeker for approximately two months during proceedings to determine his refugee status violated the rights of the asylum seeker to "liberty and security of person."
ECtHR: Residence Permit Rule Discriminated Against Gay Couple

July 12, 2016

The European Court of Human Rights has held that the Italian government unlawfully discriminated against a gay couple by refusing to grant a foreign member of the couple a residence permit, finding that it was impossible to satisfy the conditions of the permit because Italy did not at the time recognize the validity of same-sex marriages.
EU Committee Seeks Robust "Social Rights"

July 11, 2016

The EU Committee of the Regions recently hosted a discussion praising the development by the European Commission of a "European pillar of social rights" and calling for involvement of regional and local authorities to address social inequalities and ensure access to benefits.