Human Rights

Neighbors Invoke ECHR Right in Treehouse Dispute

March 30, 2016

The Independent reports that neighbors of British film director Jasmine Dellal are complaining that a treehouse she built on her property violates their right to "private and family life" under the UK Human Rights Act, which gives domestic legal effect to the European Convention on Human Rights ("ECHR").
CoE Body Expresses Constitutional Court Concerns

March 30, 2016

The Council of Europe ("CoE") body of constitutional experts, the Venice Commission, has expressed concern at what it perceives to be "undue interference" in the work of constitutional courts in Europe, including Polish legislation amending the composition and procedures of the country's Constitutional Tribunal.
New FRA Director Seeks Expanded Impact

March 28, 2016

The new Director of the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights ("FRA"), Michael O'Flaherty, has announced his plans to expand the impact of the FRA by increasing work on police and criminal justice matters, issuing periodic guidance on migration and fundamental rights, and working with national human rights institutions on human rights standards in EU member states.
FRA Points to Legal Obstacles to Use of Passenger Data

March 23, 2016

In a presentation to a recent Operational Heads of Airports Conference in Málaga, the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights ("FRA") pointed out "legal and operational challenges" and fundamental rights implications involved in government use of a Passenger Name Record to attempt to disrupt terror plots in the EU.
CoE Body Seeks Limits to French Constitutional Reforms

March 21, 2016

The Council of Europe's ("CoE") body of constitutional experts, the Venice Commission, has called on French authorities to place limits on proposed constitutional reforms relating to stripping terror suspects of their nationality and declaring a state of emergency in the country.
CoE Body: Russia Must Amend Law on International Decisions

March 17, 2016

The Council of Europe's ("CoE") body of constitutional experts, the Venice Commission, has called on Russia to amend recent legislation granting the country's Constitutional Court the authority to set aside decisions of international tribunals, including the European Court of Human Rights.
FRA, Border Agency Ramp up Cooperation

March 17, 2016

The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights ("FRA") and the EU border agency Frontex have announced closer cooperation between the bodies in light of the recent wave of migration into the EU, including by deploying an FRA expert to "provide assistance and support" to EU agencies in migrant registration areas.
EU Agencies Develop Asylum Rights Training Module

March 17, 2016

The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights ("FRA") has announced that, with EU member states and the EU border agency Frontex, it is supporting the European Asylum Support Office's development of a "module" that will seek to train border officials on how to respect the fundamental rights of asylum seekers.
UK Serial Killer Claims Isolated Imprisonment Violates ECHR

March 16, 2016

The Daily Mail reports that convicted serial killer Joanna Dennehy is seeking compensation from the British government because the impact of her segregated confinement in prison, due to a planned breakout attempt, violated the European Convention on Human Rights ("ECHR").
Norway Mass Killer: Solitary Confinement Violates ECHR

March 16, 2016

A convicted mass killer is suing the Norwegian government over the conditions of his imprisonment, arguing that his solitary confinement and other treatment violates the European Convention on Human Rights ("ECHR").