ECH
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Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, as amended by Protocol No. 14[note]
Rome, 4.XI.1950
The text of the Convention had been amended according to the provisions of Protocol No. 3 (ETS No. 45), which entered into force on 21 September 1970, of Protocol No. 5 (ETS No. 55), which entered into force on 20 December 1971 and of Protocol No. 8 (ETS No. 118), which entered into force on 1 January 1990, and comprised also the text of Protocol No. 2 (ETS No. 44) which, in accordance with Article 5, paragraph 3 thereof, had been an integral part of the Convention since its entry into force on 21 September 1970. All provisions which had been amended or added by these Protocols are replaced by Protocol No. 11 (ETS No. 155), as from the date of its entry into force on 1 November 1998. As from that date, Protocol No. 9 (ETS No. 140), which entered into force on 1 October 1994, is repealed and Protocol No. 10 (ETS no. 146) has lost its purpose.
    
   The governments signatory hereto, being members of the Council of Europe,
   Considering the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaimed by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 10th December 1948;
   Considering that this Declaration aims at securing the universal and effective recognition and observance of the Rights therein declared;
   Considering that the aim of the Council of Europe is the achievement of greater unity between its members and that one of the methods by which that aim is to be pursued is the maintenance and further realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms;
   Reaffirming their profound belief in those fundamental freedoms which are the foundation of justice and peace in the world and are best maintained on the one hand by an effective political democracy and on the other by a common understanding and observance of the human rights upon which they depend;
   Being resolved, as the governments of European countries which are like-minded and have a common heritage of political traditions, ideals, freedom and the rule of law, to take the first steps for the collective enforcement of certain of the rights stated in the Universal Declaration,
   Have agreed as follows:
 
Article 1 - Obligation to respect human rights[note] 
   The High Contracting Parties shall secure to everyone within their jurisdiction the rights and freedoms defined in Section I of this Convention.
 
Section I - Rights and freedoms[note]
 
Article 2 - Right to life[note] 
 
   1   Everyone's right to life shall be protected by law. No one shall be deprived of his life intentionally save in the execution of a sentence of a court following his conviction of a crime for which this penalty is provided by law.
   2   Deprivation of life shall not be regarded as inflicted in contravention of this article when it results from the use of force which is no more than absolutely necessary:
   a   in defence of any person from unlawful violence;
   b   in order to effect a lawful arrest or to prevent the escape of a person lawfully detained;
   c   in action lawfully taken for the purpose of quelling a riot or insurrection.
 
Article 3 - Prohibition of torture[note] 
   No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
 
Article 4 - Prohibition of slavery and forced labour[note] 
    
   1   No one shall be held in slavery or servitude.
   2   No one shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour.
   3   For the purpose of this article the term "forced or compulsory labour" shall not include:
   a   any work required to be done in the ordinary course of detention imposed according to the provisions of Article 5 of this Convention or during conditional release from such detention;
   b   any service of a military character or, in case of conscientious objectors in countries where they are recognised, service exacted instead of compulsory military service;
   c   any service exacted in case of an emergency or calamity threatening the life or well-being of the community;
   d   any work or service which forms part of normal civic obligations.
 
Article 5 - Right to liberty and security[note] 
             
   1   Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person. No one shall be deprived of his liberty save in the following cases and in accordance with a procedure prescribed by law:
   a   the lawful detention of a person after conviction by a competent court;
   b   the lawful arrest or detention of a person for non- compliance with the lawful order of a court or in order to secure the fulfilment of any obligation prescribed by law;
   c   the lawful arrest or detention of a person effected for the purpose of bringing him before the competent legal authority on reasonable suspicion of having committed an offence or when it is reasonably considered necessary to prevent his committing an offence or fleeing after having done so;
   d   the detention of a minor by lawful order for the purpose of educational supervision or his lawful detention for the purpose of bringing him before the competent legal authority;
   e   the lawful detention of persons for the prevention of the spreading of infectious diseases, of persons of unsound mind, alcoholics or drug addicts or vagrants;
   f   the lawful arrest or detention of a person to prevent his effecting an unauthorised entry into the country or of a person against whom action is being taken with a view to deportation or extradition.
   2   Everyone who is arrested shall be informed promptly, in a language which he understands, of the reasons for his arrest and of any charge against him.
   3   Everyone arrested or detained in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1.c of this article shall be brought promptly before a judge or other officer authorised by law to exercise judicial power and shall be entitled to trial within a reasonable time or to release pending trial. Release may be conditioned by guarantees to appear for trial.
   4   Everyone who is deprived of his liberty by arrest or detention shall be entitled to take proceedings by which the lawfulness of his detention shall be decided speedily by a court and his release ordered if the detention is not lawful.
   5   Everyone who has been the victim of arrest or detention in contravention of the provisions of this article shall have an enforceable right to compensation.
 
Article 6 - Right to a fair trial[note] 
             
   1   In the determination of his civil rights and obligations or of any criminal charge against him, everyone is entitled to a fair and public hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial tribunal established by law. Judgment shall be pronounced publicly but the press and public may be excluded from all or part of the trial in the interests of morals, public order or national security in a democratic society, where the interests of juveniles or the protection of the private life of the parties so require, or to the extent strictly necessary in the opinion of the court in special circumstances where publicity would prejudice the interests of justice.
   2   Everyone charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law.
   3   Everyone charged with a criminal offence has the following minimum rights:
   a   to be informed promptly, in a language which he understands and in detail, of the nature and cause of the accusation against him;
   b   to have adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defence;
   c   to defend himself in person or through legal assistance of his own choosing or, if he has not sufficient means to pay for legal assistance, to be given it free when the interests of justice so require;
   d   to examine or have examined witnesses against him and to obtain the attendance and examination of witnesses on his behalf under the same conditions as witnesses against him;
   e   to have the free assistance of an interpreter if he cannot understand or speak the language used in court.
 
Article 7 - No punishment without law[note] 
  
   1   No one shall be held guilty of any criminal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a criminal offence under national or international law at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the criminal offence was committed.
   2   This article shall not prejudice the trial and punishment of any person for any act or omission which, at the time when it was committed, was criminal according to the general principles of law recognised by civilised nations.
 
Article 8 - Right to respect for private and family life[note] 
     
   1   Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence.
   2   There shall be no interference by a public authority with the exercise of this right except such as is in accordance with the law and is necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security, public safety or the economic well-being of the country, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.
 
Article 9 - Freedom of thought, conscience and religion [note] 
      
   1   Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance.
   2   Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for the protection of public order, health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.
 
Article 10 - Freedom of expression[note] 
       
   1   Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers. This article shall not prevent States from requiring the licensing of broadcasting, television or cinema enterprises.
   2   The exercise of these freedoms, since it carries with it duties and responsibilities, may be subject to such formalities, conditions, restrictions or penalties as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society, in the interests of national security, territorial integrity or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, for the protection of the reputation or rights of others, for preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence, or for maintaining the authority and impartiality of the judiciary.
 
Article 11 - Freedom of assembly and association[note] 
       
   1   Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and to freedom of association with others, including the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.
   2   No restrictions shall be placed on the exercise of these rights other than such as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others. This article shall not prevent the imposition of lawful restrictions on the exercise of these rights by members of the armed forces, of the police or of the administration of the State.
 
Article 12 - Right to marry
   Men and women of marriageable age have the right to marry and to found a family, according to the national laws governing the exercise of this right.
 
Article 13 - Right to an effective remedy
 
   Everyone whose rights and freedoms as set forth in this Convention are violated shall have an effective remedy before a national authority notwithstanding that the violation has been committed by persons acting in an official capacity.
 
Article 14 - Prohibition of discrimination[note] 
          
   The enjoyment of the rights and freedoms set forth in this Convention shall be secured without discrimination on any ground such as sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth or other status.
 
Article 15 - Derogation in time of emergency[note] 
 
   1   In time of war or other public emergency threatening the life of the nation any High Contracting Party may take measures derogating from its obligations under this Convention to the extent strictly required by the exigencies of the situation, provided that such measures are not inconsistent with its other obligations under international law.
   2   No derogation from Article 2, except in respect of deaths resulting from lawful acts of war, or from Articles 3, 4 (paragraph 1) and 7 shall be made under this provision.
   3   Any High Contracting Party availing itself of this right of derogation shall keep the Secretary General of the Council of Europe fully informed of the measures which it has taken and the reasons therefor. It shall also inform the Secretary General of the Council of Europe when such measures have ceased to operate and the provisions of the Convention are again being fully executed.
 
Article 16 - Restrictions on political activity of aliens[note] 
 
   Nothing in Articles 10, 11 and 14 shall be regarded as preventing the High Contracting Parties from imposing restrictions on the political activity of aliens.
 
Article 17 - Prohibition of abuse of rights[note] 
  
   Nothing in this Convention may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein or at their limitation to a greater extent than is provided for in the Convention.
 
Article 18 - Limitation on use of restrictions on rights[note] 
   The restrictions permitted under this Convention to the said rights and freedoms shall not be applied for any purpose other than those for which they have been prescribed.
 
Section II - European Court of Human Rights[note]
 
Article 19 - Establishment of the Court
   To ensure the observance of the engagements undertaken by the High Contracting Parties in the Convention and the Protocols thereto, there shall be set up a European Court of Human Rights, hereinafter referred to as "the Court". It shall function on a permanent basis.
 
Article 20 - Number of judges
   The Court shall consist of a number of judges equal to that of the High Contracting Parties.
 
Article 21 - Criteria for office
  
   1   The judges shall be of high moral character and must either possess the qualifications required for appointment to high judicial office or be jurisconsults of recognised competence.
   2   The judges shall sit on the Court in their individual capacity.
   3   During their term of office the judges shall not engage in any activity which is incompatible with their independence, impartiality or with the demands of a full-time office; all questions arising from the application of this paragraph shall be decided by the Court.
 
Article 22 - Election of judges
 
   1   The judges shall be elected by the Parliamentary Assembly with respect to each High Contracting Party by a majority of votes cast from a list of three candidates nominated by the High Contracting Party.    2   The same procedure shall be followed to complete the Court in the event of the accession of new High Contracting Parties and in filling casual vacancies.
 
Article 23 - Terms of office
   1   The judges shall be elected for a period of six years. They may be re-elected. However, the terms of office of one-half of the judges elected at the first election shall expire at the end of three years.
   2   The judges whose terms of office are to expire at the end of the initial period of three years shall be chosen by lot by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe immediately after their election.
   3   In order to ensure that, as far as possible, the terms of office of one-half of the judges are renewed every three years, the Parliamentary Assembly may decide, before proceeding to any subsequent election, that the term or terms of office of one or more judges to be elected shall be for a period other than six years but not more than nine and not less than three years.
   4   In cases where more than one term of office is involved and where the Parliamentary Assembly applies the preceding paragraph, the allocation of the terms of office shall be effected by a drawing of lots by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe immediately after the election.
   5   A judge elected to replace a judge whose term of office has not expired shall hold office for the remainder of his predecessor's term.
   6   The terms of office of judges shall expire when they reach the age of 70.
   7   The judges shall hold office until replaced. They shall, however, continue to deal with such cases as they already have under consideration.
 
Article 24 - Dismissal
   No judge may be dismissed from his office unless the other judges decide by a majority of two-thirds that he has ceased to fulfil the required conditions.
 
Article 25 - Registry and legal secretaries
 
   The Court shall have a registry, the functions and organisation of which shall be laid down in the rules of the Court. The Court shall be assisted by legal secretaries.
 
Article 26 - Plenary Court
    
   The plenary Court shall
   a   elect its President and one or two Vice-Presidents for a period of three years; they may be re-elected;
   b   set up Chambers, constituted for a fixed period of time;
   c   elect the Presidents of the Chambers of the Court; they may be re-elected;
   d   adopt the rules of the Court, and
   e   elect the Registrar and one or more Deputy Registrars.
 
Article 27 - Committees, Chambers and Grand Chamber
    
   1   To consider cases brought before it, the Court shall sit in committees of three judges, in Chambers of seven judges and in a Grand Chamber of seventeen judges. The Court's Chambers shall set up committees for a fixed period of time.
   2   There shall sit as an ex officio member of the Chamber and the Grand Chamber the judge elected in respect of the State Party concerned or, if there is none or if he is unable to sit, a person of its choice who shall sit in the capacity of judge.
   3   The Grand Chamber shall also include the President of the Court, the Vice-Presidents, the Presidents of the Chambers and other judges chosen in accordance with the rules of the Court. When a case is referred to the Grand Chamber under Article 43, no judge from the Chamber which rendered the judgment shall sit in the Grand Chamber, with the exception of the President of the Chamber and the judge who sat in respect of the State Party concerned.
 
Article 28 - Declarations of inadmissibility by committees
   A committee may, by a unanimous vote, declare inadmissible or strike out of its list of cases an application submitted under Article 34 where such a decision can be taken without further examination. The decision shall be final.
 
Article 29 - Decisions by Chambers on admissibility and merits
  
   1   If no decision is taken under Article 28, a Chamber shall decide on the admissibility and merits of individual applications submitted under Article 34.
   2   A Chamber shall decide on the admissibility and merits of inter-State applications submitted under Article 33.
   3   The decision on admissibility shall be taken separately unless the Court, in exceptional cases, decides otherwise.
 
Article 30 - Relinquishment of jurisdiction to the Grand Chamber
 
   Where a case pending before a Chamber raises a serious question affecting the interpretation of the Convention or the protocols thereto, or where the resolution of a question before the Chamber might have a result inconsistent with a judgment previously delivered by the Court, the Chamber may, at any time before it has rendered its judgment, relinquish jurisdiction in favour of the Grand Chamber, unless one of the parties to the case objects.
 
Article 31 - Powers of the Grand Chamber
  
   The Grand Chamber shall
   1   a   determine applications submitted either under Article 33 or Article 34 when a Chamber has relinquished jurisdiction under Article 30 or when the case has been referred to it under Article 43; and
   b   consider requests for advisory opinions submitted under Article 47.
 
Article 32 - Jurisdiction of the Court
 
   1   The jurisdiction of the Court shall extend to all matters concerning the interpretation and application of the Convention and the protocols thereto which are referred to it as provided in Articles 33, 34 and 47.
   2   In the event of dispute as to whether the Court has jurisdiction, the Court shall decide.
 
Article 33 - Inter-State cases
   Any High Contracting Party may refer to the Court any alleged breach of the provisions of the Convention and the protocols thereto by another High Contracting Party.
 
Article 34 - Individual applications
     
   The Court may receive applications from any person, non-governmental organisation or group of individuals claiming to be the victim of a violation by one of the High Contracting Parties of the rights set forth in the Convention or the protocols thereto. The High Contracting Parties undertake not to hinder in any way the effective exercise of this right.
 
Article 35 - Admissibility criteria
    
   1   The Court may only deal with the matter after all domestic remedies have been exhausted, according to the generally recognised rules of international law, and within a period of six months from the date on which the final decision was taken.
   2   The Court shall not deal with any application submitted under Article 34 that
   a   is anonymous; or
   b   is substantially the same as a matter that has already been examined by the Court or has already been submitted to another procedure of international investigation or settlement and contains no relevant new information.
   3   The Court shall declare inadmissible any individual application submitted under Article 34 which it considers incompatible with the provisions of the Convention or the protocols thereto, manifestly ill-founded, or an abuse of the right of application.
   4   The Court shall reject any application which it considers inadmissible under this Article. It may do so at any stage of the proceedings.
 
Article 36 - Third party intervention
 
   1   In all cases before a Chamber or the Grand Chamber, a High Contracting Party one of whose nationals is an applicant shall have the right to submit written comments and to take part in hearings.
   
   2   The President of the Court may, in the interest of the proper administration of justice, invite any High Contracting Party which is not a party to the proceedings or any person concerned who is not the applicant to submit written comments or take part in hearings.
 
Article 37 - Striking out applications
  
   1   The Court may at any stage of the proceedings decide to strike an application out of its list of cases where the circumstances lead to the conclusion that
   a   the applicant does not intend to pursue his application; or
   b   the matter has been resolved; or
   c   for any other reason established by the Court, it is no longer justified to continue the examination of the application.
   However, the Court shall continue the examination of the application if respect for human rights as defined in the Convention and the protocols thereto so requires.
   2   The Court may decide to restore an application to its list of cases if it considers that the circumstances justify such a course.
 
Article 38 - Examination of the case and friendly settlement proceedings
   1   If the Court declares the application admissible, it shall
   a   pursue the examination of the case, together with the representatives of the parties, and if need be, undertake an investigation, for the effective conduct of which the States concerned shall furnish all necessary facilities;
   b   place itself at the disposal of the parties concerned with a view to securing a friendly settlement of the matter on the basis of respect for human rights as defined in the Convention and the protocols thereto.
   2   Proceedings conducted under paragraph 1.b shall be confidential.
 
Article 39 - Finding of a friendly settlement
   If a friendly settlement is effected, the Court shall strike the case out of its list by means of a decision which shall be confined to a brief statement of the facts and of the solution reached.
 
Article 40 - Public hearings and access to documents
 
   1   Hearings shall be in public unless the Court in exceptional circumstances decides otherwise.
   2   Documents deposited with the Registrar shall be accessible to the public unless the President of the Court decides otherwise.
 
Article 41 - Just satisfaction
   If the Court finds that there has been a violation of the Convention or the protocols thereto, and if the internal law of the High Contracting Party concerned allows only partial reparation to be made, the Court shall, if necessary, afford just satisfaction to the injured party.
 
Article 42 - Judgments of Chambers
   Judgments of Chambers shall become final in accordance with the provisions of Article 44, paragraph 2.
 
Article 43 - Referral to the Grand Chamber
   
   1   Within a period of three months from the date of the judgment of the Chamber, any party to the case may, in exceptional cases, request that the case be referred to the Grand Chamber.
   2   A panel of five judges of the Grand Chamber shall accept the request if the case raises a serious question affecting the interpretation or application of the Convention or the protocols thereto, or a serious issue of general importance.
   3   If the panel accepts the request, the Grand Chamber shall decide the case by means of a judgment.
 
Article 44 - Final judgments
 
   1   The judgment of the Grand Chamber shall be final.
   2   The judgment of a Chamber shall become final
   a   when the parties declare that they will not request that the case be referred to the Grand Chamber; or
   b   three months after the date of the judgment, if reference of the case to the Grand Chamber has not been requested; or
   c   when the panel of the Grand Chamber rejects the request to refer under Article 43.
   3   The final judgment shall be published.
 
Article 45 - Reasons for judgments and decisions
 
   1   Reasons shall be given for judgments as well as for decisions declaring applications admissible or inadmissible.
   2   If a judgment does not represent, in whole or in part, the unanimous opinion of the judges, any judge shall be entitled to deliver a separate opinion.
 
Article 46 - Binding force and execution of judgments
   1   The High Contracting Parties undertake to abide by the final judgment of the Court in any case to which they are parties.
   2   The final judgment of the Court shall be transmitted to the Committee of Ministers, which shall supervise its execution.
 
Article 47 - Advisory opinions
    
   1   The Court may, at the request of the Committee of Ministers, give advisory opinions on legal questions concerning the interpretation of the Convention and the protocols thereto.
   2   Such opinions shall not deal with any question relating to the content or scope of the rights or freedoms defined in Section I of the Convention and the protocols thereto, or with any other question which the Court or the Committee of Ministers might have to consider in consequence of any such proceedings as could be instituted in accordance with the Convention.
   3   Decisions of the Committee of Ministers to request an advisory opinion of the Court shall require a majority vote of the representatives entitled to sit on the Committee.
 
Article 48 - Advisory jurisdiction of the Court
 
   The Court shall decide whether a request for an advisory opinion submitted by the Committee of Ministers is within its competence as defined in Article 47.
 
Article 49 - Reasons for advisory opinions
   
   1   Reasons shall be given for advisory opinions of the Court.
   2   If the advisory opinion does not represent, in whole or in part, the unanimous opinion of the judges, any judge shall be entitled to deliver a separate opinion.
   3   Advisory opinions of the Court shall be communicated to the Committee of Ministers.
 
Article 50 - Expenditure on the Court
   The expenditure on the Court shall be borne by the Council of Europe.
 
Article 51 - Privileges and immunities of judges
   The judges shall be entitled, during the exercise of their functions, to the privileges and immunities provided for in Article 40 of the Statute of the Council of Europe and in the agreements made thereunder.
 
Section III - Miscellaneous provisions[note]
 
Article 52 - Inquiries by the Secretary General[note] 
 
   On receipt of a request from the Secretary General of the Council of Europe any High Contracting Party shall furnish an explanation of the manner in which its internal law ensures the effective implementation of any of the provisions of the Convention.
 
Article 53 - Safeguard for existing human rights[note] 
  
   Nothing in this Convention shall be construed as limiting or derogating from any of the human rights and fundamental freedoms which may be ensured under the laws of any High Contracting Party or under any other agreement to which it is a Party.
 
Article 54 - Powers of the Committee of Ministers[note] 
 
   Nothing in this Convention shall prejudice the powers conferred on the Committee of Ministers by the Statute of the Council of Europe.
 
Article 55 - Exclusion of other means of dispute settlement[note] 
   The High Contracting Parties agree that, except by special agreement, they will not avail themselves of treaties, conventions or declarations in force between them for the purpose of submitting, by way of petition, a dispute arising out of the interpretation or application of this Convention to a means of settlement other than those provided for in this Convention.
 
Article 56 - Territorial application [note] 
 
   1   Any State may at the time of its ratification or at any time thereafter declare by notification addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe that the present Convention shall, subject to paragraph 4 of this Article, extend to all or any of the territories for whose international relations it is responsible.[note]
   2   The Convention shall extend to the territory or territories named in the notification as from the thirtieth day after the receipt of this notification by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
   3   The provisions of this Convention shall be applied in such territories with due regard, however, to local requirements.
   4   Any State which has made a declaration in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article may at any time thereafter declare on behalf of one or more of the territories to which the declaration relates that it accepts the competence of the Court to receive applications from individuals, non-governmental organisations or groups of individuals as provided by Article 34 of the Convention.[note]
 
Article 57 - Reservations[note] 
   1   Any State may, when signing this Convention or when depositing its instrument of ratification, make a reservation in respect of any particular provision of the Convention to the extent that any law then in force in its territory is not in conformity with the provision. Reservations of a general character shall not be permitted under this article.
   2   Any reservation made under this article shall contain a brief statement of the law concerned.
 
Article 58 - Denunciation [note]
 
   1   A High Contracting Party may denounce the present Convention only after the expiry of five years from the date on which it became a party to it and after six months' notice contained in a notification addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, who shall inform the other High Contracting Parties.
   2   Such a denunciation shall not have the effect of releasing the High Contracting Party concerned from its obligations under this Convention in respect of any act which, being capable of constituting a violation of such obligations, may have been performed by it before the date at which the denunciation became effective.
   3   Any High Contracting Party which shall cease to be a member of the Council of Europe shall cease to be a Party to this Convention under the same conditions.
   4   The Convention may be denounced in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraphs in respect of any territory to which it has been declared to extend under the terms of Article 56.
 
Article 59 - Signature and ratification[note]
 
   1   This Convention shall be open to the signature of the members of the Council of Europe. It shall be ratified. Ratifications shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
   2   The present Convention shall come into force after the deposit of ten instruments of ratification.
   3   As regards any signatory ratifying subsequently, the Convention shall come into force at the date of the deposit of its instrument of ratification.
   4   The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall notify all the members of the Council of Europe of the entry into force of the Convention, the names of the High Contracting Parties who have ratified it, and the deposit of all instruments of ratification which may be effected subsequently.
   Done at Rome this 4th day of November 1950, in English and French, both texts being equally authentic, in a single copy which shall remain deposited in the archives of the Council of Europe. The Secretary General shall transmit certified copies to each of the signatories.
 
Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ETS No. 9)

The governments signatory hereto, being members of the Council of Europe,
Being resolved to take steps to ensure the collective enforcement of certain rights and freedoms other than those already included in Section I of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms signed at Rome on 4 November 1950 (hereinafter referred to as "the Convention"),
Have agreed as follows:
Article 1 
  
Every natural or legal person is entitled to the peaceful enjoyment of his possessions. No one shall be deprived of his possessions except in the public interest and subject to the conditions provided for by law and by the general principles of international law.
The preceding provisions shall not, however, in any way impair the right of a State to enforce such laws as it deems necessary to control the use of property in accordance with the general interest or to secure the payment of taxes or other contributions or penalties.
Article 2 
 
No person shall be denied the right to education. In the exercise of any functions which it assumes in relation to education and to teaching, the State shall respect the right of parents to ensure such education and teaching in conformity with their own religious and philosophical convictions.
Article 3 
 
The High Contracting Parties undertake to hold free elections at reasonable intervals by secret ballot, under conditions which will ensure the free expression of the opinion of the people in the choice of the legislature.
Article 4 
Any High Contracting Party may at the time of signature or ratification or at any time thereafter communicate to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe a declaration stating the extent to which it undertakes that the provisions of the present Protocol shall apply to such of the territories for the international relations of which it is responsible as are named therein.
Any High Contracting Party which has communicated a declaration in virtue of the preceding paragraph may from time to time communicate a further declaration modifying the terms of any former declaration or terminating the application of the provisions of this Protocol in respect of any territory.
A declaration made in accordance with this article shall be deemed to have been made in accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 63 of the Convention.
Article 5 
As between the High Contracting Parties the provisions of Articles 1, 2, 3 and 4 of this Protocol shall be regarded as additional articles to the Convention and all the provisions of the Convention shall apply accordingly.
Article 6
 
This Protocol shall be open for signature by the members of the Council of Europe, who are the signatories of the Convention; it shall be ratified at the same time as or after the ratification of the Convention. It shall enter into force after the deposit of ten instruments of ratification. As regards any signatory ratifying subsequently, the Protocol shall enter into force at the date of the deposit of its instrument of ratification.
The instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, who will notify all members of the names of those who have ratified.

Done at Paris on the 20th day of March 1952, in English and French, both texts being equally authentic, in a single copy which shall remain deposited in the archives of the Council of Europe. The Secretary General shall transmit certified copies to each of the signatory governments.



Protocol No. 2 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, conferring upon the European Court of Human Rights competence to give advisory opinions (ETS No. 44)
 
Preamble
The member States of the Council of Europe signatory hereto,
Having regard to the provisions of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms signed at Rome on 4th November 1950 (hereinafter referred to as "the Convention") and, in particular, Article 19 instituting, among other bodies, a European Court of Human Rights (hereinafter referred to as "the Court");
 
Considering that it is expedient to confer upon the Court competence to give advisory opinions subject to certain conditions,
 
Have agreed as follows:
 
Article 1 
1   The Court may, at the request of the Committee of Ministers, give advisory opinions on legal questions concerning the interpretation of the Convention and the Protocols thereto.
2   Such opinions shall not deal with any question relating to the content or scope of the rights or freedoms defined in Section 1 of the Convention and in the Protocols thereto, or with any other question which the Commission, the Court or the Committee of Ministers might have to consider in consequence of any such proceedings as could be instituted in accordance with the Convention.
 
3   Decisions of the Committee of Ministers to request an advisory opinion of the Court shall require a two-thirds majority vote of the representatives entitled to sit on the Committee.
 
Article 2 
The Court shall decide whether a request for an advisory opinion submitted by the Committee of Ministers is within its consultative competence as defined in Article 1 of this Protocol.
 
Article 3 
 
1   For the consideration of requests for an advisory opinion, the Court shall sit in plenary session.
 
2   Reasons shall be given for advisory opinions of the Court.
3   If the advisory opinion does not represent in whole or in part the unanimous opinion of the judges, any judge shall be entitled to deliver a separate opinion.
4   Advisory opinions of the Court shall be communicated to the Committee of Ministers.
 
Article 4 
 
The powers of the Court under Article 55 of the Convention shall extend to the drawing up of such rules and the determination of such procedure as the Court may think necessary for the purposes of this Protocol.
 
Article 5
 
1   This Protocol shall be open to signature by member States of the Council of Europe, signatories to the Convention, who may become Parties to it by:
a   signature without reservation in respect of ratification or acceptance;
b   signature with reservation in respect of ratification or acceptance, followed by ratification or acceptance.
Instruments of ratification or acceptance shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
2   This Protocol shall enter into force as soon as all States Parties to the Convention shall have become Parties to the Protocol, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article.
3   From the date of the entry into force of this Protocol, Articles 1 to 4 shall be considered an integral part of the Convention.
4   The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall notify the member States of the Council of:
a   any signature without reservation in respect of ratification or acceptance;
b   any signature with reservation in respect of ratification or acceptance;
c   the deposit of any instrument of ratification or acceptance;
d   the date of entry into force of this Protocol in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Article.

In witness whereof, the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Protocol.
Done at Strasbourg, this 6th day of May 1963, in English and in French, both texts being equally authoritative, in a single copy which shall remain deposited in the archives of the Council of Europe. The Secretary General shall transmit certified copies to each of the signatory States.
 
 
 
Protocol No. 3 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, amending Articles 29, 30 and 34 of the Convention (ETS No. 45)
 
 
The member States of the Council of Europe, signatories to this Protocol,
 
Considering that it is advisable to amend certain provisions of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms signed at Rome on 4th November 1950 (hereinafter referred to as "the Convention") concerning the procedure of the European Commission of Human Rights,
 
Have agreed as follows:
 
Article 1  
1   Article 29 of the Convention is deleted.
2   The following provision shall be inserted in the Convention:
 
   "Article 29
 
   After it has accepted a petition submitted under Article 25, the Commission may nevertheless decide unanimously to reject the petition if, in the course of its examination, it finds that the existence of one of the grounds for non-acceptance provided for in Article 27 has been established.
 
   In such a case, the decision shall be communicated to the parties."
 
Article 2 
In Article 30 of the Convention, the word "Sub-Commission" shall be replaced by the word "Commission".
 
Article 3
 
1   At the beginning of Article 34 of the Convention, the following shall be inserted:
 
   "Subject to the provisions of Article 29..."
2   At the end of the same Article, the sentence "the Sub-Commission shall take its decisions by a majority of its members" shall be deleted.
 
Article 4
 
1   This Protocol shall be open to signature by the member States of the Council of Europe signatories to the Convention, who may become Parties to it either by:
 
a   signature without reservation in respect of ratification or acceptance, or
b   signature with reservation in respect of ratification or acceptance, followed by ratification or acceptance.
 
Instruments of ratification or acceptance shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
 
2   This Protocol shall enter into force as soon as all States Parties to the Convention shall have become Parties to the Protocol, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1 of this Article.
3   The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall notify the member States of the Council of:
 
a   any signature without reservation in respect of ratification or acceptance;
b   any signature with reservation in respect of ratification or acceptance;
c   the deposit of any instrument of ratification or acceptance;
d   the date of entry into force of this Protocol in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Article.
 
In witness whereof, the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Protocol.
 
Done at Strasbourg, this 6th day of May 1963, in English and in French, both texts being equally authoritative, in a single copy which shall remain deposited in the archives of the Council of Europe. The Secretary General shall transmit certified copies to each of the signatory States.
 
 
 
Protocol No. 4 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, securing certain rights and freedoms other than those already included in the Convention and in the first Protocol thereto (ETS No. 46)
 
 
The governments signatory hereto, being members of the Council of Europe,
Being resolved to take steps to ensure the collective enforcement of certain rights and freedoms other than those already included in Section 1 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms signed at Rome on 4th November 1950 (hereinafter referred to as the "Convention") and in Articles 1 to 3 of the First Protocol to the Convention, signed at Paris on 20th March 1952,
Have agreed as follows:
Article 1 
No one shall be deprived of his liberty merely on the ground of inability to fulfil a contractual obligation.
Article 2 
     
1   Everyone lawfully within the territory of a State shall, within that territory, have the right to liberty of movement and freedom to choose his residence.
2   Everyone shall be free to leave any country, including his own.
3   No restrictions shall be placed on the exercise of these rights other than such as are in accordance with law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, for the maintenance of ordre public, for the prevention of crime, for the protection of health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.
4   The rights set forth in paragraph 1 may also be subject, in particular areas, to restrictions imposed in accordance with law and justified by the public interest in a democratic society.
 
Article 3
  
1   No one shall be expelled, by means either of an individual or of a collective measure, from the territory of the State of which he is a national.
2   No one shall be deprived of the right to enter the territory of the state of which he is a national.
Article 4 
 
Collective expulsion of aliens is prohibited.
Article 5
 
1   Any High Contracting Party may, at the time of signature or ratification of this Protocol, or at any time thereafter, communicate to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe a declaration stating the extent to which it undertakes that the provisions of this Protocol shall apply to such of the territories for the international relations of which it is responsible as are named therein.
 
2   Any High Contracting Party which has communicated a declaration in virtue of the preceding paragraph may, from time to time, communicate a further declaration modifying the terms of any former declaration or terminating the application of the provisions of this Protocol in respect of any territory.
 
3   A declaration made in accordance with this article shall be deemed to have been made in accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 63 of the Convention.
4   The territory of any State to which this Protocol applies by virtue of ratification or acceptance by that State, and each territory to which this Protocol is applied by virtue of a declaration by that State under this article, shall be treated as separate territories for the purpose of the references in Articles 2 and 3 to the territory of a State.
Article 6 
1   As between the High Contracting Parties the provisions of Articles 1 to 5 of this Protocol shall be regarded as additional Articles to the Convention, and all the provisions of the Convention shall apply accordingly.
2   Nevertheless the right of individual recourse recognised by a declaration made under Article 25 of the Convention, or the acceptance of the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court by a declaration made under Article 46 of the Convention, shall not be effective in relation to this Protocol unless the High Contracting Party concerned has made a statement recognising such right, or accepting such jurisdiction, in respect of all or any of Articles 1 to 4 of the Protocol.
 
Article 7 
 
1   This Protocol shall be open for signature by the members of the Council of Europe who are the signatories of the Convention; it shall be ratified at the same time as or after the ratification of the Convention. It shall enter into force after the deposit of five instruments of ratification. As regards any signatory ratifying subsequently, the Protocol shall enter into force at the date of the deposit of its instrument of ratification.
2   The instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, who will notify all members of the names of those who have ratified.

In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Protocol.
 
Done at Strasbourg, this 16th day of September 1963, in English and in French, both texts being equally authoritative, in a single copy which shall remain deposited in the archives of the Council of Europe. The Secretary General shall transmit certified copies to each of the signatory states.
 
 
Protocol No. 5 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, amending Articles 22 and 40 of the Convention (ETS No. 55)

The governments signatory hereto, being members of the Council of Europe,
Considering that certain inconveniences have arisen in the application of the provisions of Articles 22 and 40 of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms signed at Rome on 4th November 1950 (hereinafter referred to as "the Convention") relating to the length of the terms of office of the members of the European Commission of Human Rights (hereinafter referred to as "the Commission") and of the European Court of Human Rights (hereinafter referred to as "the Court");
Considering that it is desirable to ensure as far as possible an election every three years of one half of the members of the Commission and of one third of the members of the Court;
Considering therefore that it is desirable to amend certain provisions of the Convention,
Have agreed as follows:
Article 1 
In Article 22 of the Convention, the following two paragraphs shall be inserted after paragraph 2:
   "3   In order to ensure that, as far as possible, one half of the membership of the Commission shall be renewed every three years, the Committee of Ministers may decide, before proceeding to any subsequent election, that the term or terms of office of one or more members to be elected shall be for a period other than six years but not more than nine and not less than three years.
   4   In cases where more than one term of office is involved and the Committee of Ministers applies the preceding paragraph, the allocation of the terms of office shall be effected by the drawing of lots by the Secretary General, immediately after the election."
Article 2
 
In Article 22 of the Convention, the former paragraphs 3 and 4 shall become respectively paragraphs 5 and 6.
Article 3 
In Article 40 of the Convention, the following two paragraphs shall be inserted after paragraph 2:
   "3   In order to ensure that, as far as possible, one third of the membership of the Court shall be renewed every three years, the Consultative Assembly may decide, before proceeding to any subsequent election, that the term or terms of office of one or more members to be elected shall be for a period other than nine years but not more than twelve and not less than six years.
   4   In cases where more than one term of office is involved and the Consultative Assembly applies the preceding paragraph, the allocation of the terms of office shall be effected by the drawing of lots by the Secretary General immediately after the election."
 
Article 4
 
In Article 40 of the Convention, the former paragraphs 3 and 4 shall become respectively paragraphs 5 and 6.
Article 5
 
1   This Protocol shall be open to signature by members of the Council of Europe, signatories to the Convention, who may become Parties to it by:
a   signature without reservation in respect of ratification or acceptance;
b   signature with reservation in respect of ratification or acceptance, followed by ratification or acceptance.
Instruments of ratification or acceptance shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
2   This Protocol shall enter into force as soon as all Contracting Parties to the Convention shall have become Parties to the Protocol, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1 of this article.
3   The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall notify the members of the Council of:
a   any signature without reservation in respect of ratification or acceptance;
b   any signature with reservation in respect of ratification or acceptance;
c   the deposit of any instrument of ratification or acceptance;
d   the date of entry into force of this Protocol in accordance with paragraph 2 of this article.
In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Protocol.
Done at Strasbourg, this 20th day of January 1966, in English and in French, both texts being equally authoritative, in a single copy which shall remain deposited in the archives of the Council of Europe. The Secretary General shall transmit certified copies to each of the signatory governments.
 
 
 
Protocol No. 6 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms concerning the Abolition of the Death Penalty (ETS No. 114) 

The member States of the Council of Europe, signatory to this Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, signed at Rome on 4 November 1950 (hereinafter referred to as "the Convention"),
 
Considering that the evolution that has occurred in several member States of the Council of Europe expresses a general tendency in favour of abolition of the death penalty,
 
Have agreed as follows:
 
Article 1 
The death penalty shall be abolished. No one shall be condemned to such penalty or executed.
 
Article 2 
  
A State may make provision in its law for the death penalty in respect of acts committed in time of war or of imminent threat of war; such penalty shall be applied only in the instances laid down in the law and in accordance with its provisions. The State shall communicate to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe the relevant provisions of that law.
 
Article 3
 
No derogation from the provisions of this Protocol shall be made under Article 15 of the Convention.
 
Article 4
 
No reservation may be made under Article 64 of the Convention in respect of the provisions of this Protocol.
 
Article 5
 
1   Any State may, at the time of signature or when depositing its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval, specify the territory or territories to which this Protocol shall apply.
2   Any State may at any later date, by a declaration addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, extend the application of this Protocol to any other territory specified in the declaration. In respect of such territory the Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the date of receipt of such declaration by the Secretary General.
3   Any declaration made under the two preceding paragraphs may, in respect of any territory specified in such declaration, be withdrawn by a notification addressed to the Secretary General. The withdrawal shall become effective on the first day of the month following the date of receipt of such notification by the Secretary General.
 
Article 6
 
As between the States Parties the provisions of Articles 1 to 5 of this Protocol shall be regarded as additional articles to the Convention and all the provisions of the Convention shall apply accordingly.
 
Article 7
 
This Protocol shall be open for signature by the member States of the Council of Europe, signatories to the Convention. It shall be subject to ratification, acceptance or approval. A member State of the Council of Europe may not ratify, accept or approve this Protocol unless it has, simultaneously or previously, ratified the Convention. Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
 
Article 8
 
1   This Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the date on which five member States of the Council of Europe have expressed their consent to be bound by the Protocol in accordance with the provisions of Article 7.
2   In respect of any member State which subsequently expresses its consent to be bound by it, the Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the date of the deposit of the instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval.
 
Article 9
 
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall notify the member States of the Council of:
 
a   any signature;
 
b   the deposit of any instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval;
 
c   any date of entry into force of this Protocol in accordance with Articles 5 and 8;
 
d   any other act, notification or communication relating to this Protocol.
 
In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Protocol.
 
Done at Strasbourg, this 28th day of April 1983, in English and French, both texts being equally authentic, in a single copy which shall be deposited in the archives of the Council of Europe. The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall transmit certified copies to each member State of the Council of Europe.



Protocol No. 7 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ETS No. 117)
 
 
The member States of the Council of Europe signatory hereto,
 
Being resolved to take further steps to ensure the collective enforcement of certain rights and freedoms by means of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms signed at Rome on 4 November 1950 (hereinafter referred to as "the Convention"),
 
Have agreed as follows:
 
Article 1 
1   An alien lawfully resident in the territory of a State shall not be expelled therefrom except in pursuance of a decision reached in accordance with law and shall be allowed;
 
a   to submit reasons against his expulsion;
b   to have his case reviewed; and
c   to be represented for these purposes before the competent authority or a person or persons designated by that authority.
2   An alien may be expelled before the exercise of his rights under paragraph 1.a,b and c of this Article, when such expulsion is necessary in the interests of public order or is grounded on reasons of national security.
 
Article 2 
1   Everyone convicted of a criminal offence by a tribunal shall have the right to have his conviction or sentence reviewed by a higher tribunal. The exercise of this right, including the grounds on which it may be exercised, shall be governed by law.
2   This right may be subject to exceptions in regard to offences of a minor character, as prescribed by law, or in cases in which the person concerned was tried in the first instance by the highest tribunal or was convicted following an appeal against acquittal.
 
Article 3
 
When a person has by a final decision been convicted of a criminal offence and when subsequently his conviction has been reversed, or he has been pardoned, on the ground that a new or newly discovered fact shows conclusively that there has been a miscarriage of justice, the person who has suffered punishment as a result of such conviction shall be compensated according to the law or the practice of the State concerned, unless it is proved that the non-disclosure of the unknown fact in time is wholly or partly attributable to him.
 
Article 4 
1   No one shall be liable to be tried or punished again in criminal proceedings under the jurisdiction of the same State for an offence for which he has already been finally acquitted or convicted in accordance with the law and penal procedure of that State.
 
2   The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall not prevent the reopening of the case in accordance with the law and penal procedure of the State concerned, if there is evidence of new or newly discovered facts, or if there has been a fundamental defect in the previous proceedings, which could affect the outcome of the case.
 
3   No derogation from this Article shall be made under Article 15 of the Convention.
 
Article 5 
 
Spouses shall enjoy equality of rights and responsibilities of a private law character between them, and in their relations with their children, as to marriage, during marriage and in the event of its dissolution. This Article shall not prevent States from taking such measures as are necessary in the interests of the children.
 
Article 6 
1   Any State may, at the time of signature or when depositing its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval, specify the territory or territories to which this Protocol shall apply and state the extent to which it undertakes that the provisions of this Protocol shall apply to such territory or territories.
2   Any State may at any later date, by a declaration addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, extend the application of this Protocol to any other territory specified in the declaration. In respect of such territory the Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of two months after the date of receipt by the Secretary General of such declaration.
3   Any declaration made under the two preceding paragraphs may, in respect of any territory specified in such declaration, be withdrawn or modified by a notification addressed to the Secretary General. The withdrawal or modification shall become effective on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of two months after the date of receipt of such notification by the Secretary General.
4   A declaration made in accordance with this Article shall be deemed to have been made in accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 63 of the Convention.
5   The territory of any State to which this Protocol applies by virtue of ratification, acceptance or approval by that State, and each territory to which this Protocol is applied by virtue of a declaration by that State under this Article, may be treated as separate territories for the purpose of the reference in Article 1 to the territory of a State.
 
Article 7
 
1   As between the States Parties, the provisions of Articles 1 to 6 of this Protocol shall be regarded as additional Articles to the Convention, and all the provisions of the Convention shall apply accordingly.
 
2   Nevertheless, the right of individual recourse recognised by a declaration made under Article 25 of the Convention, or the acceptance of the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court by a declaration made under Article 46 of the Convention, shall not be effective in relation to this Protocol unless the State concerned has made a statement recognising such right, or accepting such jurisdiction in respect of Articles 1 to 5 of this Protocol.
 
Article 8
 
This Protocol shall be open for signature by member States of the Council of Europe which have signed the Convention. It is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval. A member State of the Council of Europe may not ratify, accept or approve this Protocol without previously or simultaneously ratifying the Convention. Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
 
Article 9
 
1   This Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of two month, after the date on which seven member States of the Council of Europe have expressed their consent to be bound by the Protocol in accordance with the provisions of Article 8.
2   In respect of any member State which subsequently expresses its consent to be bound by it, the Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of two months after the date of the deposit of the instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval.
 
Article 10
 
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall notify all the member States of the Council of Europe of:
 
a   any signature;
 
b   the deposit of any instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval;
 
c   any date of entry into force of this Protocol in accordance with Articles 6 and 9;
 
d   any other act, notification or declaration relating to this Protocol.
 
In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Protocol.
 
Done at Strasbourg, this 22nd day of November 1984, in English and French, both texts being equally authentic, in a single copy which shall be deposited in the archives of the Council of Europe. The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall transmit certified copies to each member State of the Council of Europe.


Protocol No. 8 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ETS No. 118)

The member States of the Council of Europe, signatories to this Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, signed at Rome on 4 November 1950 (hereinafter referred to as "the Convention"),
Considering that it is desirable to amend certain provisions of the Convention with a view to improving and in particular to expediting the procedure of the European Commission of Human Rights,
Considering that it is also advisable to amend certain provisions of the Convention concerning the procedure of the European Court of Human Rights,
Have agreed as follows:
Article 1 
   
The existing text of Article 20 of the Convention shall become paragraph 1 of that Article and shall be supplemented by the following four paragraphs:
   "2   The Commission shall sit in plenary session. It may, however, set up Chambers, each composed of at least seven members. The Chambers may examine petitions submitted under Article 25 of this Convention which can be dealt with on the basis of established case law or which raise no serious question affecting the interpretation or application of the Convention. Subject to this restriction and to the provisions of paragraph 5 of this Article, the Chambers shall exercise all the powers conferred on the Commission by the Convention.
      The member of the Commission elected in respect of a High Contracting Party against which a petition has been lodged shall have the right to sit on a Chamber to which that petition has been referred.
   3   The Commission may set up committees, each composed of at least three members, with the power, exercisable by a unanimous vote, to declare inadmissible or strike from its list of cases a petition submitted under Article 25, when such a decision can be taken without further examination.
   4   A Chamber or committee may at any time relinquish jurisdiction in favour of the plenary Commission, which may also order the transfer to it of any petition referred to a Chamber or committee.
   5   Only the plenary Commission can exercise the following powers:
      a   the examination of applications submitted under Article 24;
      b   the bringing of a case before the Court in accordance with Article 48.a;
      c   the drawing up of rules of procedure in accordance with Article 36."
Article 2 
Article 21 of the Convention shall be supplemented by the following third paragraph:
   "3   The candidates shall be of high moral character and must either possess the qualifications required for appointment to high judicial office or be persons of recognised competence in national or international law."
Article 3 
Article 23 of the Convention shall be supplemented by the following sentence:
   "During their term of office they shall not hold any position which is incompatible with their independence and impartiality as members of the Commission or the demands of this office."
Article 4 
The text, with modifications, of Article 28 of the Convention shall become paragraph 1 of that Article and the text, with modifications, of Article 30 shall become paragraph 2. The new text of Article 28 shall read as follows:
   "Article 28
   1   In the event of the Commission accepting a petition referred to it:
      a   it shall, with a view to ascertaining the facts, undertake together with the representatives of the parties an examination of the petition and, if need be, an investigation, for the effective conduct of which the States concerned shall furnish all necessary facilities, after an exchange of views with the Commission;
      b   it shall at the same time place itself at the disposal of the parties concerned with a view to securing a friendly settlement of the matter on the basis of respect for Human Rights as defined in this Convention;
   2   If the Commission succeeds in effecting a friendly settlement, it shall draw up a Report which shall be sent to the States concerned, to the Committee of Ministers and to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe for publication. This Report shall be confined to a brief statement of the facts and of the solution reached."
Article 5 
In the first paragraph of Article 29 of the Convention, the word "unanimously" shall be replaced by the words "by a majority of two-thirds of its members".
Article 6 
  
The following provision shall be inserted in the Convention:
   "Article 30
   1   The Commission may at any stage of the proceedings decide to strike a petition out of its list of cases where the circumstances lead to the conclusion that:
      a   the applicant does not intend to pursue his petition, or
      b   the matter has been resolved, or
 
      c   for any other reason established by the Commission, it is no longer justified to continue the examination of the petition.
   However, the Commission shall continue the examination of a petition if respect for Human Rights as defined in this Convention so requires.
   2   If the Commission decides to strike a petition out of its list after having accepted it, it shall draw up a Report which shall contain a statement of the facts and the decision striking out the petition together with the reasons therefor. The Report shall be transmitted to the parties, as well as to the Committee of Ministers for information. The Commission may publish it.
   3   The Commission may decide to restore a petition to its list of cases if it considers that the circumstances justify such a course."
Article 7 
In Article 31 of the Convention, paragraph 1 shall read as follows:
   "1   If the examination of a petition has not been completed in accordance with Article 28 (paragraph 2), 29 or 30, the Commission shall draw up a Report on the facts and state its opinion as to whether the facts found disclose a breach by the State concerned of its obligations under the Convention. The individual opinions of members of the Commission on this point may be stated in the Report."
Article 8 
Article 34 of the Convention shall read as follows:
   "Subject to the provisions of articles 20 (paragraph 3) and 29, the Commission shall take its decision by a majority of the members present and voting."
Article 9 
 
Article 40 of the Convention shall be supplemented by the following seventh paragraph:
   "7   The members of the Court shall sit on the Court in their individual capacity. During their term of office they shall not hold any position which is incompatible with their independence and impartiality as members of the Court or the demands of this office."
Article 10 
Article 41 of the Convention shall read as follows:
   "The Court shall elect its President and one or two Vice-Presidents for a period of three years. They may be re-elected."
Article 11 
In the first sentence of Article 43 of the Convention, the word "seven" shall be replaced by the word "nine".
Article 12
 
1   This Protocol shall be open for signature by member States of the Council of Europe signatories to the Convention, which may express their consent to be bound by:
a   signature without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval, or
b   signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, followed by ratification, acceptance or approval.
2   Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
Article 13
 
This Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three months after the date on which all the Parties to the Convention have expressed their consent to be bound by the Protocol in accordance with the provisions of Article 12.
Article 14
 
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall notify the member States of the Council of:
a   any signature;
b   the deposit of any instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval;
c   the date of entry into force of this Protocol in accordance with Article 13;
 
d   any other act, notification or communication relating to this Protocol.

In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Protocol.
Done at Vienna, this 19th day of March 1985, in English and French, both texts being equally authentic, in a single copy which shall be deposited in the archives of the Council of Europe. The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall transmit certified copies to each member State of the Council of Europe.


Protocol No. 9 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ETS No. 140)
 
 
The member States of the Council of Europe, signatories to this Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, signed at Rome on 4 November 1950 (hereinafter referred to as "the Convention"),
Being resolved to make further improvements to the procedure under the Convention,
Have agreed as follows:
Article 1
 
For Parties to the Convention which are bound by this Protocol, the Convention shall be amended as provided in Articles 2 to 5.
Article 2 
Article 31, paragraph 2, of the Convention shall read as follows:
   "2 The Report shall be transmitted to the Committee of Ministers. The Report shall also be transmitted to the States concerned and, if it deals with a petition submitted under Article 25, the applicant. The States concerned and the applicant shall not be at liberty to publish it."
Article 3 
     
Article 44 of the Convention shall read as follows:
   "Only the High Contracting Parties, the Commission, and persons, non-governmental organisations or groups of individuals having submitted a petition under Article 25 shall have the right to bring a case before the Court."
Article 4 
Article 45 of the Convention shall read as follows:
   "The jurisdiction of the Court shall extend to all cases concerning the interpretation and application of the present Convention which are referred to it in accordance with Article 48."
Article 5 
Article 48 of the Convention shall read as follows:
   "1   The following may refer a case to the Court, provided that the High Contracting Party concerned, if there is only one, or the High Contracting Parties concerned, if there is more than one, are subject to the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court or, failing that, with the consent of the High Contracting Party concerned, if there is only one, or of the High Contracting Parties concerned if there is more than one:
      a   the Commission;
      b   a High Contracting Party whose national is alleged to be a victim;
      c   a High Contracting Party which referred the case to the Commission;
      d   a High Contracting Party against which the complaint has been lodged;
      e   the person, non-governmental organisation or group of individuals having lodged the complaint with the Commission.
   2   If a case is referred to the Court only in accordance with paragraph 1.e, it shall first be submitted to a panel composed of three members of the Court. There shall sit as an ex officio member of the panel the judge elected in respect of the High Contracting Party against which the complaint has been lodged, or, if there is none, a person of its choice who shall sit in the capacity of judge. If the complaint has been lodged against more than one High Contracting Party, the size of the panel shall be increased accordingly.
      If the case does not raise a serious question affecting the interpretation or application of the Convention and does not for any other reason warrant consideration by the Court, the panel may, by a unanimous vote, decide that it shall not be considered by the Court. In that event, the Committee of Ministers shall decide, in accordance with the provisions of Article 32, whether there has been a violation of the Convention."
Article 6
 
1   This Protocol shall be open for signature by member States of the Council of Europe signatories to the Convention, which may express their consent to be bound by:
   a   signature without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval, or
   b   signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, followed by ratification, acceptance or approval.
2   The instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
Article 7
 
1   This Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three months after the date on which ten member States of the Council of Europe have expressed their consent to be bound by the Protocol in accordance with the provisions of Article 6.
2   In respect of any member State which subsequently expresses its consent to be bound by it, the Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three months after the date of signature or of the deposit of the instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval.
Article 8
 
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall notify all the member States of the Council of Europe of:
a   any signature;
b   the deposit of any instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval;

c   any date of entry into force of this Protocol in accordance with Article 7;
d   any other act, notification or declaration relating to this Protocol.
 
In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Protocol.
Done at Rome, this 6th day of November 1990, in English and French, both texts being equally authentic, in a single copy which shall be deposited in the archives of the Council of Europe. The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall transmit certified copies to each member State of the Council of Europe.


Protocol No. 10 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ETS No. 146)


The member States of the Council of Europe, signatories to this Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, signed at Rome on 4 November 1950 (hereinafter referred to as "the Convention"),
Considering that it is advisable to amend Article 32 of the Convention with a view to the reduction of the two-thirds majority provided therein,
Have agreed as follows:
Article 1
The words "of two-thirds" shall be deleted from paragraph 1 of Article 32 of the Convention.
Article 2
1   This Protocol shall be open for signature by member States of the Council of Europe, signatories to the Convention, which may express their consent to be bound by:
a   signature without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval; or
b   signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, followed by ratification, acceptance or approval.
2   Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
Article 3
This Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three months after the date on which all Parties to the Convention have expressed their consent to be bound by the Protocol in accordance with the provisions of Article 2.
Article 4
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall notify the member States of the Council of:
a   any signature;
b   the deposit of any instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval;
c   the date of entry into force of this Protocol in accordance with Article 3;
d   any other act, notification or communication relating to this Protocol.
In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Protocol.
Done at Strasbourg, this 25th day of March 1992, in English and French, both texts being equally authentic, in a single copy which shall be deposited in the archives of the Council of Europe. The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall transmit certified copies to each member State of the Council of Europe.


Protocol No. 11 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, restructuring the control machinery established thereby (ETS No. 155)

The member States of the Council of Europe, signatories to this Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, signed at Rome on 4 November 1950 (hereinafter referred to as "the Convention"),
Considering the urgent need to restructure the control machinery established by the Convention in order to maintain and improve the efficiency of its protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms, mainly in view of the increase in the number of applications and the growing membership of the Council of Europe;
Considering that it is therefore desirable to amend certain provisions of the Convention with a view, in particular, to replacing the existing European Commission and Court of Human Rights with a new permanent Court;
Having regard to Resolution No. 1 adopted at the European Ministerial Conference on Human Rights, held in Vienna on 19 and 20 March 1985;
Having regard to Recommendation 1194 (1992), adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on 6 October 1992;
Having regard to the decision taken on reform of the Convention control machinery by the Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe member States in the Vienna Declaration on 9 October 1993,
Have agreed as follows:
Article 1
th15_05.02.02.09;  
The existing text of Sections II to IV of the Convention (Articles 19 to 56) and Protocol No. 2 conferring upon the European Court of Human Rights competence to give advisory opinions shall be replaced by the following Section II of the Convention (Articles 19 to 51):
   "Section II - European Court of Human Rights
   Article 19 - Establishment of the Court
   To ensure the observance of the engagements undertaken by the High Contracting Parties in the Convention and the protocols thereto, there shall be set up a European Court of Human Rights, hereinafter referred to as "the Court". It shall function on a permanent basis.
   Article 20 - Number of judges
   The Court shall consist of a number of judges equal to that of the High Contracting Parties.
   Article 21 - Criteria for office
   1   The judges shall be of high moral character and must either possess the qualifications required for appointment to high judicial office or be jurisconsults of recognised competence.
   2   The judges shall sit on the Court in their individual capacity.
 
   3   During their term of office the judges shall not engage in any activity which is incompatible with their independence, impartiality or with the demands of a full-time office; all questions arising from the application of this paragraph shall be decided by the Court.
   Article 22 - Election of judges
   1   The judges shall be elected by the Parliamentary Assembly with respect to each High Contracting Party by a majority of votes cast from a list of three candidates nominated by the High Contracting Party.
   2   The same procedure shall be followed to complete the Court in the event of the accession of new High Contracting Parties and in filling casual vacancies.
   Article 23 - Terms of office
   1   The judges shall be elected for a period of six years. They may be re-elected. However, the terms of office of one-half of the judges elected at the first election shall expire at the end of three years.
   2   The judges whose terms of office are to expire at the end of the initial period of three years shall be chosen by lot by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe immediately after their election.
   3   In order to ensure that, as far as possible, the terms of office of one-half of the judges are renewed every three years, the Parliamentary Assembly may decide, before proceeding to any subsequent election, that the term or terms of office of one or more judges to be elected shall be for a period other than six years but not more than nine and not less than three years.
   4   In cases where more than one term of office is involved and where the Parliamentary Assembly applies the preceding paragraph, the allocation of the terms of office shall be effected by a drawing of lots by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe immediately after the election.
   5   A judge elected to replace a judge whose term of office has not expired shall hold office for the remainder of his predecessor's term.
   6   The terms of office of judges shall expire when they reach the age of 70.
   7   The judges shall hold office until replaced. They shall, however, continue to deal with such cases as they already have under consideration.
   Article 24 - Dismissal
   No judge may be dismissed from his office unless the other judges decide by a majority of two-thirds that he has ceased to fulfil the required conditions.
   Article 25 - Registry and legal secretaries
   The Court shall have a registry, the functions and organisation of which shall be laid down in the rules of the Court. The Court shall be assisted by legal secretaries.
   Article 26 - Plenary Court
 
   The plenary Court shall
   a   elect its President and one or two Vice-Presidents for a period of three years; they may be re-elected;
   b   set up Chambers, constituted for a fixed period of time;
   c   elect the Presidents of the Chambers of the Court; they may be re-elected;
   d   adopt the rules of the Court; and
   e   elect the Registrar and one or more Deputy Registrars.
   Article 27 - Committees, Chambers and Grand Chamber
   1   To consider cases brought before it, the Court shall sit in committees of three judges, in Chambers of seven judges and in a Grand Chamber of seventeen judges. The Court's Chambers shall set up committees for a fixed period of time.
   2   There shall sit as an ex officio member of the Chamber and the Grand Chamber the judge elected in respect of the State Party concerned or, if there is none or if he is unable to sit, a person of its choice who shall sit in the capacity of judge.
   3   The Grand Chamber shall also include the President of the Court, the Vice-Presidents, the Presidents of the Chambers and other judges chosen in accordance with the rules of the Court. When a case is referred to the Grand Chamber under Article 43, no judge from the Chamber which rendered the judgment shall sit in the Grand Chamber, with the exception of the President of the Chamber and the judge who sat in respect of the State Party concerned.
   Article 28 - Declarations of inadmissibility by committees
   A committee may, by a unanimous vote, declare inadmissible or strike out of its list of cases an individual application submitted under Article 34 where such a decision can be taken without further examination. The decision shall be final.
   Article 29 - Decisions by Chambers on admissibility and merits
   1   If no decision is taken under Article 28, a Chamber shall decide on the admissibility and merits of individual applications submitted under Article 34.
   2   A Chamber shall decide on the admissibility and merits of inter-State applications submitted under Article 33.
   3   The decision on admissibility shall be taken separately unless the Court, in exceptional cases, decides otherwise.
   Article 30 - Relinquishment of jurisdiction to the Grand Chamber
   Where a case pending before a Chamber raises a serious question affecting the interpretation of the Convention or the protocols thereto, or where the resolution of a question before the Chamber might have a result inconsistent with a judgment previously delivered by the Court, the Chamber may, at any time before it has rendered its judgment, relinquish jurisdiction in favour of the Grand Chamber, unless one of the parties to the case objects.
   Article 31 - Powers of the Grand Chamber
   The Grand Chamber shall
   a   determine applications submitted either under Article 33 or Article 34 when a Chamber has relinquished jurisdiction under Article 30 or when the case has been referred to it under Article 43; and
   b   consider requests for advisory opinions submitted under Article 47.
   Article 32 - Jurisdiction of the Court
   1   The jurisdiction of the Court shall extend to all matters concerning the interpretation and application of the Convention and the protocols thereto which are referred to it as provided in Articles 33, 34 and 47.
   2   In the event of dispute as to whether the Court has jurisdiction, the Court shall decide.
   Article 33 - Inter-State cases
   Any High Contracting Party may refer to the Court any alleged breach of the provisions of the Convention and the protocols thereto by another High Contracting Party.
   Article 34 - Individual applications
   The Court may receive applications from any person, non-governmental organisation or group of individuals claiming to be the victim of a violation by one of the High Contracting Parties of the rights set forth in the Convention or the protocols thereto. The High Contracting Parties undertake not to hinder in any way the effective exercise of this right.
   Article 35 - Admissibility criteria
   1   The Court may only deal with the matter after all domestic remedies have been exhausted, according to the generally recognised rules of international law, and within a period of six months from the date on which the final decision was taken.
   2   The Court shall not deal with any individual application submitted under Article 34 that
   a   is anonymous; or
   b   is substantially the same as a matter that has already been examined by the Court or has already been submitted to another procedure of international investigation or settlement and contains no relevant new information.
   3   The Court shall declare inadmissible any individual application submitted under Article 34 which it considers incompatible with the provisions of the Convention or the protocols thereto, manifestly ill-founded, or an abuse of the right of application.
   4   The Court shall reject any application which it considers inadmissible under this Article. It may do so at any stage of the proceedings.
      Article 36 - Third-party intervention
   1   In all cases before a Chamber or the Grand Chamber, a High Contracting Party one of whose nationals is an applicant shall have the right to submit written comments and to take part in hearings.
   2   The President of the Court may, in the interest of the proper administration of justice, invite any High Contracting Party which is not a party to the proceedings or any person concerned who is not the applicant to submit written comments or take part in hearings.
   Article 37 - Striking out applications
   1   The Court may at any stage of the proceedings decide to strike an application out of its list of cases where the circumstances lead to the conclusion that
   a   the applicant does not intend to pursue his application; or
   b   the matter has been resolved; or
   c   for any other reason established by the Court, it is no longer justified to continue the examination of the application.
   However, the Court shall continue the examination of the application if respect for human rights as defined in the Convention and the protocols thereto so requires.
   2   The Court may decide to restore an application to its list of cases if it considers that the circumstances justify such a course.
   Article 38 - Examination of the case and friendly settlement proceedings
   1   If the Court declares the application admissible, it shall
   a   pursue the examination of the case, together with the representatives of the parties, and if need be, undertake an investigation, for the effective conduct of which the States concerned shall furnish all necessary facilities;
   b   place itself at the disposal of the parties concerned with a view to securing a friendly settlement of the matter on the basis of respect for human rights as defined in the Convention and the protocols thereto.
   2   Proceedings conducted under paragraph 1.b shall be confidential.
   Article 39 - Finding of a friendly settlement
   If a friendly settlement is effected, the Court shall strike the case out of its list by means of a decision which shall be confined to a brief statement of the facts and of the solution reached.
   Article 40 - Public hearings and access to documents
   1   Hearings shall be public unless the Court in exceptional circumstances decides otherwise.
   2   Documents deposited with the Registrar shall be accessible to the public unless the President of the Court decides otherwise.
   Article 41 - Just satisfaction
   If the Court finds that there has been a violation of the Convention or the protocols thereto, and if the internal law of the High Contracting Party concerned allows only partial reparation to be made, the Court shall, if necessary, afford just satisfaction to the injured party.
   Article 42 - Judgments of Chambers
   Judgments of Chambers shall become final in accordance with the provisions of Article 44, paragraph 2.
   Article 43 - Referral to the Grand Chamber
   1   Within a period of three months from the date of the judgment of the Chamber, any party to the case may, in exceptional cases, request that the case be referred to the Grand Chamber.
   2   A panel of five judges of the Grand Chamber shall accept the request if the case raises a serious question affecting the interpretation or application of the Convention or the protocols thereto, or a serious issue of general importance.
   3   If the panel accepts the request, the Grand Chamber shall decide the case by means of a judgment.
   Article 44 - Final judgments
   1   The judgment of the Grand Chamber shall be final.
   2   The judgment of a Chamber shall become final
   a   when the parties declare that they will not request that the case be referred to the Grand Chamber; or
   b   three months after the date of the judgment, if reference of the case to the Grand Chamber has not been requested; or
   c   when the panel of the Grand Chamber rejects the request to refer under Article 43.
   3   The final judgment shall be published.
   Article 45 - Reasons for judgments and decisions
   1   Reasons shall be given for judgments as well as for decisions declaring applications admissible or inadmissible.
   2   If a judgment does not represent, in whole or in part, the unanimous opinion of the judges, any judge shall be entitled to deliver a separate opinion.
   Article 46 - Binding force and execution of judgments
   1   The High Contracting Parties undertake to abide by the final judgment of the Court in any case to which they are parties.
   2   The final judgment of the Court shall be transmitted to the Committee of Ministers, which shall supervise its execution.
   Article 47 - Advisory opinions
 
   1   The Court may, at the request of the Committee of Ministers, give advisory opinions on legal questions concerning the interpretation of the Convention and the protocols thereto.
   2   Such opinions shall not deal with any question relating to the content or scope of the rights or freedoms defined in Section I of the Convention and the protocols thereto, or with any other question which the Court or the Committee of Ministers might have to consider in consequence of any such proceedings as could be instituted in accordance with the Convention.
   3   Decisions of the Committee of Ministers to request an advisory opinion of the Court shall require a majority vote of the representatives entitled to sit on the Committee.
   Article 48 - Advisory jurisdiction of the Court
   The Court shall decide whether a request for an advisory opinion submitted by the Committee of Ministers is within its competence as defined in Article 47.
   Article 49 - Reasons for advisory opinions
   1   Reasons shall be given for advisory opinions of the Court.
   2   If the advisory opinion does not represent, in whole or in part, the unanimous opinion of the judges, any judge shall be entitled to deliver a separate opinion.
   3   Advisory opinions of the Court shall be communicated to the Committee of Ministers.
   Article 50 - Expenditure on the Court
   The expenditure on the Court shall be borne by the Council of Europe.
   Article 51 - Privileges and immunities of judges
   The judges shall be entitled, during the exercise of their functions, to the privileges and immunities provided for in Article 40 of the Statute of the Council of Europe and in the agreements made thereunder."
Article 2
1   Section V of the Convention shall become Section III of the Convention; Article 57 of the Convention shall become Article 52 of the Convention; Articles 58 and 59 of the Convention shall be deleted, and Articles 60 to 66 of the Convention shall become Articles 53 to 59 of the Convention respectively.
2   Section I of the Convention shall be entitled "Rights and freedoms" and new Section III of the Convention shall be entitled "Miscellaneous provisions". Articles 1 to 18 and new Articles 52 to 59 of the Convention shall be provided with headings, as listed in the appendix to this Protocol.
3   In new Article 56, in paragraph 1, the words ", subject to paragraph 4 of this Article," shall be inserted after the word "shall"; in paragraph 4, the words "Commission to receive petitions" and "in accordance with Article 25 of the present Convention" shall be replaced by the words "Court to receive applications" and "as provided in Article 34 of the Convention" respectively. In new Article 58, paragraph 4, the words "Article 63" shall be replaced by the words "Article 56".
4   The Protocol to the Convention shall be amended as follows
a   the Articles shall be provided with the headings listed in the appendix to the present Protocol; and
b   in Article 4, last sentence, the words "of Article 63" shall be replaced by the words "of Article 56".
5   Protocol No. 4 shall be amended as follows
a   the Articles shall be provided with the headings listed in the appendix to the present Protocol;
b   in Article 5, paragraph 3, the words "of Article 63" shall be replaced by the words "of Article 56"; a new paragraph 5 shall be added, which shall read
   "Any State which has made a declaration in accordance with paragraph 1 or 2 of this Article may at any time thereafter declare on behalf of one or more of the territories to which the declaration relates that it accepts the competence of the Court to receive applications from individuals, non-governmental organisations or groups of individuals as provided in Article 34 of the Convention in respect of all or any of Articles 1 to 4 of this Protocol."; and
c   paragraph 2 of Article 6 shall be deleted.
6   Protocol No. 6 shall be amended as follows
a   the Articles shall be provided with the headings listed in the appendix to the present Protocol; and
b   in Article 4 the words "under Article 64" shall be replaced by the words "under Article 57".
7   Protocol No. 7 shall be amended as follows
a   the Articles shall be provided with the headings listed in the appendix to the present Protocol;
b   in Article 6, paragraph 4, the words "of Article 63" shall be replaced by the words "of Article 56"; a new paragraph 6 shall be added, which shall read
   "Any State which has made a declaration in accordance with paragraph 1 or 2 of this Article may at any time thereafter declare on behalf of one or more of the territories to which the declaration relates that it accepts the competence of the Court to receive applications from individuals, non-governmental organisations or groups of individuals as provided in Article 34 of the Convention in respect of Articles 1 to 5 of this Protocol."; and
c   paragraph 2 of Article 7 shall be deleted.
8   Protocol No. 9 shall be repealed.
Article 3
1   This Protocol shall be open for signature by member States of the Council of Europe signatories to the Convention, which may express their consent to be bound by
a   signature without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval; or
b   signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, followed by ratification, acceptance or approval.
 
2   The instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
Article 4
This Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of one year after the date on which all Parties to the Convention have expressed their consent to be bound by the Protocol in accordance with the provisions of Article 3. The election of new judges may take place, and any further necessary steps may be taken to establish the new Court, in accordance with the provisions of this Protocol from the date on which all Parties to the Convention have expressed their consent to be bound by the Protocol.
Article 5 
1   Without prejudice to the provisions in paragraphs 3 and 4 below, the terms of office of the judges, members of the Commission, Registrar and Deputy Registrar shall expire at the date of entry into force of this Protocol.
2   Applications pending before the Commission which have not been declared admissible at the date of the entry into force of this Protocol shall be examined by the Court in accordance with the provisions of this Protocol.
 
3   Applications which have been declared admissible at the date of entry into force of this Protocol shall continue to be dealt with by members of the Commission within a period of one year thereafter. Any applications the examination of which has not been completed within the aforesaid period shall be transmitted to the Court which shall examine them as admissible cases in accordance with the provisions of this Protocol.
4   With respect to applications in which the Commission, after the entry into force of this Protocol, has adopted a report in accordance with former Article 31 of the Convention, the report shall be transmitted to the parties, who shall not be at liberty to publish it. In accordance with the provisions applicable prior to the entry into force of this Protocol, a case may be referred to the Court. The panel of the Grand Chamber shall determine whether one of the Chambers or the Grand Chamber shall decide the case. If the case is decided by a Chamber, the decision of the Chamber shall be final. Cases not referred to the Court shall be dealt with by the Committee of Ministers acting in accordance with the provisions of former Article 32 of the Convention.
5   Cases pending before the Court which have not been decided at the date of entry into force of this Protocol shall be transmitted to the Grand Chamber of the Court, which shall examine them in accordance with the provisions of this Protocol.
6   Cases pending before the Committee of Ministers which have not been decided under former Article 32 of the Convention at the date of entry into force of this Protocol shall be completed by the Committee of Ministers acting in accordance with that Article.
Article 6
Where a High Contracting Party had made a declaration recognising the competence of the Commission or the jurisdiction of the Court under former Article 25 or 46 of the Convention with respect to matters arising after or based on facts occurring subsequent to any such declaration, this limitation shall remain valid for the jurisdiction of the Court under this Protocol.
Article 7
 
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall notify the member States of the Council of
a   any signature;
b   the deposit of any instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval;
c   the date of entry into force of this Protocol or of any of its provisions in accordance with Article 4; and
d   any other act, notification or communication relating to this Protocol.

In witness whereof, the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Protocol.
Done at Strasbourg, this 11th day of May 1994, in English and French, both texts being equally authentic, in a single copy which shall be deposited in the archives of the Council of Europe. The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall transmit certified copies to each member State of the Council of Europe.
 
 
Appendix

Headings of articles to be inserted into the text of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and its protocols
1
Article 1      -   Obligation to respect human rights
Article 2      -   Right to life
Article 3      -   Prohibition of torture
Article 4      -   Prohibition of slavery and forced labour
Article 5      -   Right to liberty and security
Article 6      -   Right to a fair trial
Article 7      -   No punishment without law
Article 8      -   Right to respect for private and family life
Article 9      -   Freedom of thought, conscience and religion
Article 10   -   Freedom of expression
Article 11   -   Freedom of assembly and association
Article 12   -   Right to marry
Article 13   -   Right to an effective remedy
Article 14   -   Prohibition of discrimination
Article 15   -   Derogation in time of emergency
Article 16   -   Restrictions on political activity of aliens
Article 17   -   Prohibition of abuse of rights
Article 18   -   Limitation on use of restrictions on rights
[...]
Article 52   -   Enquiries by the Secretary General
Article 53   -   Safeguard for existing human rights
Article 54   -   Powers of the Committee of Ministers
Article 55   -   Exclusion of other means of dispute settlement
Article 56   -   Territorial application
Article 57   -   Reservations
Article 58   -   Denunciation
Article 59   -   Signature and ratification
Protocol
Article 1      -   Protection of property
Article 2      -   Right to education
Article 3      -   Right to free elections
Article 4      -   Territorial application
Article 5      -   Relationship to the Convention
Article 6      -   Signature and ratification
Protocol No. 4
Article 1      -   Prohibition of imprisonment for debt
Article 2      -   Freedom of movement
Article 3      -   Prohibition of expulsion of nationals
Article 4      -   Prohibition of collective expulsion of aliens
Article 5      -   Territorial application
Article 6      -   Relationship to the Convention
Article 7      -   Signature and ratification
Protocol No. 6
Article 1      -   Abolition of the death penalty
Article 2      -   Death penalty in time of war
Article 3      -   Prohibition of derogations
Article 4      -   Prohibition of reservations
Article 5      -   Territorial application
Article 6      -   Relationship to the Convention
Article 7      -   Signature and ratification
Article 8      -   Entry into force
Article 9      -   Depositary functions
Protocol No. 7
Article 1      -   Procedural safeguards relating to expulsion of aliens
Article 2      -   Right of appeal in criminal matters
Article 3      -   Compensation for wrongful conviction
Article 4      -   Right not to be tried or punished twice
Article 5      -   Equality between spouses
Article 6      -   Territorial application
Article 7      -   Relationship to the Convention
Article 8      -   Signature and ratification
Article 9      -   Entry into force
Article 10   -   Depositary functions
 
 
 
Protocol No. 12 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
 
Rome,4.XI.2000
 
The member States of the Council of Europe signatory hereto,
Having regard to the fundamental principle according to which all persons are equal before the law and are entitled to the equal protection of the law;
Being resolved to take further steps to promote the equality of all persons through the collective enforcement of a general prohibition of discrimination by means of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms signed at Rome on 4 November 1950 (hereinafter referred to as "the Convention");
Reaffirming that the principle of non-discrimination does not prevent States Parties from taking measures in order to promote full and effective equality, provided that there is an objective and reasonable justification for those measures,
Have agreed as follows:
Article 1 – General prohibition of discrimination
1 The enjoyment of any right set forth by law shall be secured without discrimination on any ground such as sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth or other status.
2 No one shall be discriminated against by any public authority on any ground such as those mentioned in paragraph 1.
Article 2 – Territorial application
1 Any State may, at the time of signature or when depositing its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval, specify the territory or territories to which this Protocol shall apply.
2 Any State may at any later date, by a declaration addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, extend the application of this Protocol to any other territory specified in the declaration. In respect of such territory the Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three months after the date of receipt by the Secretary General of such declaration.
3 Any declaration made under the two preceding paragraphs may, in respect of any territory specified in such declaration, be withdrawn or modified by a notification addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe. The withdrawal or modification shall become effective on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three months after the date of receipt of such notification by the Secretary General.
4 A declaration made in accordance with this article shall be deemed to have been made in accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 56 of the Convention.
5 Any State which has made a declaration in accordance with paragraph 1 or 2 of this article may at any time thereafter declare on behalf of one or more of the territories to which the declaration relates that it accepts the competence of the Court to receive applications from individuals, non-governmental organisations or groups of individuals as provided by Article 34 of the Convention in respect of Article 1 of this Protocol.
Article 3 – Relationship to the Convention
As between the States Parties, the provisions of Articles 1 and 2 of this Protocol shall be regarded as additional articles to the Convention, and all the provisions of the Convention shall apply accordingly.
Article 4 – Signature and ratification
This Protocol shall be open for signature by member States of the Council of Europe which have signed the Convention. It is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval. A member State of the Council of Europe may not ratify, accept or approve this Protocol without previously or simultaneously ratifying the Convention. Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
Article 5 – Entry into force
1 This Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three months after the date on which ten member States of the Council of Europe have expressed their consent to be bound by the Protocol in accordance with the provisions of Article 4.
2 In respect of any member State which subsequently expresses its consent to be bound by it, the Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three months after the date of the deposit of the instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval.
Article 6 – Depositary functions
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall notify all the member States of the Council of Europe of:
a any signature;
b the deposit of any instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval;
c any date of entry into force of this Protocol in accordance with Articles 2 and 5;
d any other act, notification or communication relating to this Protocol.
In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Protocol.
Done at Rome, this 4th day of November 2000, in English and in French, both texts being equally authentic, in a single copy which shall be deposited in the archives of the Council of Europe. The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall transmit certified copies to each member State of the Council of Europe.
 
Protocol No. 13 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, concerning the abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances
 
Vilnius, 3.V.2002
 
The member States of the Council of Europe signatory hereto,
Convinced that everyone’s right to life is a basic value in a democratic society and that the abolition of the death penalty is essential for the protection of this right and for the full recognition of the inherent dignity of all human beings;
Wishing to strengthen the protection of the right to life guaranteed by the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms signed at Rome on 4 November 1950 (hereinafter referred to as "the Convention");
Noting that Protocol No. 6 to the Convention, concerning the Abolition of the Death Penalty, signed at Strasbourg on 28 April 1983, does not exclude the death penalty in respect of acts committed in time of war or of imminent threat of war;
Being resolved to take the final step in order to abolish the death penalty in all circumstances,
Have agreed as follows:
Article 1 – Abolition of the death penalty
The death penalty shall be abolished. No one shall be condemned to such penalty or executed.
Article 2 – Prohibition of derogations
No derogation from the provisions of this Protocol shall be made under Article 15 of the Convention.
Article 3 – Prohibition of reservations
No reservation may be made under Article 57 of the Convention in respect of the provisions of this Protocol.
Article 4 – Territorial application
1     Any State may, at the time of signature or when depositing its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval, specify the territory or territories to which this Protocol shall apply.
2     Any State may at any later date, by a declaration addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, extend the application of this Protocol to any other territory specified in the declaration. In respect of such territory the Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three months after the date of receipt of such declaration by the Secretary General.
3     Any declaration made under the two preceding paragraphs may, in respect of any territory specified in such declaration, be withdrawn or modified by a notification addressed to the Secretary General. The withdrawal or modification shall become effective on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three months after the date of receipt of such notification by the Secretary General.
Article 5 – Relationship to the Convention
As between the States Parties the provisions of Articles 1 to 4 of this Protocol shall be regarded as additional articles to the Convention, and all the provisions of the Convention shall apply accordingly.
Article 6 – Signature and ratification
This Protocol shall be open for signature by member States of the Council of Europe which have signed the Convention. It is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval. A member State of the Council of Europe may not ratify, accept or approve this Protocol without previously or simultaneously ratifying the Convention. Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
Article 7 – Entry into force
1     This Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three months after the date on which ten member States of the Council of Europe have expressed their consent to be bound by the Protocol in accordance with the provisions of Article 6.
2     In respect of any member State which subsequently expresses its consent to be bound by it, the Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three months after the date of the deposit of the instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval.
Article 8 – Depositary functions
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall notify all the member States of the Council of Europe of:
a     any signature;
b     the deposit of any instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval;
c     any date of entry into force of this Protocol in accordance with Articles 4 and 7;
d     any other act, notification or communication relating to this Protocol.
In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Protocol.
Done at Vilnius, this 3rd day of May 2002, in English and in French, both texts being equally authentic, in a single copy which shall be deposited in the archives of the Council of Europe. The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall transmit certified copies to each member State of the Council of Europe.
Protocol No. 14 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, amending the control system of the Convention
 
Strasbourg, 13.V.2004
 
Preamble
The member States of the Council of Europe, signatories to this Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, signed at Rome on 4 November 1950 (hereinafter referred to as “the Convention”),
Having regard to Resolution No. 1 and the Declaration adopted at the European Ministerial Conference on Human Rights, held in Rome on 3 and 4 November 2000;
Having regard to the Declarations adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 8 November 2001, 7 November 2002 and 15 May 2003, at their 109th, 111th and 112th Sessions, respectively;
Having regard to Opinion No. 251 (2004) adopted by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on 28 April 2004;
Considering the urgent need to amend certain provisions of the Convention in order to maintain and improve the efficiency of the control system for the long term, mainly in the light of the continuing increase in the workload of the European Court of Human Rights and the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe;
Considering, in particular, the need to ensure that the Court can continue to play its pre-eminent role in protecting human rights in Europe,
Have agreed as follows:
Article 1
Paragraph 2 of Article 22 of the Convention shall be deleted.
Article 2
Article 23 of the Convention shall be amended to read as follows:
“Article 23 – Terms of office and dismissal
1. The judges shall be elected for a period of nine years. They may not be re-elected.
2. The terms of office of judges shall expire when they reach the age of 70.
3. The judges shall hold office until replaced. They shall, however, continue to deal with such cases as they already have under consideration.
4. No judge may be dismissed from office unless the other judges decide by a majority of two-thirds that that judge has ceased to fulfil the required conditions.”
Article 3
Article 24 of the Convention shall be deleted.
Article 4
Article 25 of the Convention shall become Article 24 and its text shall be amended to read as follows:
“Article 24 – Registry and rapporteurs
1. The Court shall have a registry, the functions and organisation of which shall be laid down in the rules of the Court.
2. When sitting in a single-judge formation, the Court shall be assisted by rapporteurs who shall function under the authority of the President of the Court. They shall form part of the Court’s registry.”
Article 5
Article 26 of the Convention shall become Article 25 (“Plenary Court”) and its text shall be amended as follows:
1. At the end of paragraph d, the comma shall be replaced by a semi-colon and the word “and” shall be deleted.
2. At the end of paragraph e, the full stop shall be replaced by a semi-colon.
3. A new paragraph f shall be added which shall read as follows:
“f. make any request under Article 26, paragraph 2.”
Article 6
Article 27 of the Convention shall become Article 26 and its text shall be amended to read as follows:
“Article 26 – Single-judge formation, committees, Chambers and Grand Chamber
1. To consider cases brought before it, the Court shall sit in a single-judge formation, in committees of three judges, in Chambers of seven judges and in a Grand Chamber of seventeen judges. The Court’s Chambers shall set up committees for a fixed period of time.
2. At the request of the plenary Court, the Committee of Ministers may, by a unanimous decision and for a fixed period, reduce to five the number of judges of the Chambers.
3. When sitting as a single judge, a judge shall not examine any application against the High Contracting Party in respect of which that judge has been elected.
4. There shall sit as an ex officio member of the Chamber and the Grand Chamber the judge elected in respect of the High Contracting Party concerned. If there is none or if that judge is unable to sit, a person chosen by the President of the Court from a list submitted in advance by that Party shall sit in the capacity of judge.
5. The Grand Chamber shall also include the President of the Court, the Vice-Presidents, the Presidents of the Chambers and other judges chosen in accordance with the rules of the Court. When a case is referred to the Grand Chamber under Article 43, no judge from the Chamber which rendered the judgment shall sit in the Grand Chamber, with the exception of the President of the Chamber and the judge who sat in respect of the High Contracting Party concerned.”
Article 7
After the new Article 26, a new Article 27 shall be inserted into the Convention, which shall read as follows:
“Article 27 – Competence of single judges
1. A single judge may declare inadmissible or strike out of the Court’s list of cases an application submitted under Article 34, where such a decision can be taken without further examination.
2. The decision shall be final.
3. If the single judge does not declare an application inadmissible or strike it out, that judge shall forward it to a committee or to a Chamber for further examination.”
Article 8
Article 28 of the Convention shall be amended to read as follows:
“Article 28 – Competence of committees
1. In respect of an application submitted under Article 34, a committee may, by a unanimous vote,
a. declare it inadmissible or strike it out of its list of cases, where such decision can be taken without further examination; or
b. declare it admissible and render at the same time a judgment on the merits, if the underlying question in the case, concerning the interpretation or the application of the Convention or the Protocols thereto, is already the subject of well-established case-law of the Court.
2. Decisions and judgments under paragraph 1 shall be final.
3. If the judge elected in respect of the High Contracting Party concerned is not a member of the committee, the committee may at any stage of the proceedings invite that judge to take the place of one of the members of the committee, having regard to all relevant factors, including whether that Party has contested the application of the procedure under paragraph 1.b.”
Article 9
Article 29 of the Convention shall be amended as follows:
1. Paragraph 1 shall be amended to read as follows: “If no decision is taken under Article 27 or 28, or no judgment rendered under Article 28, a Chamber shall decide on the admissibility and merits of individual applications submitted under Article 34. The decision on admissibility may be taken separately.”
2. At the end of paragraph 2 a new sentence shall be added which shall read as follows: “The decision on admissibility shall be taken separately unless the Court, in exceptional cases, decides otherwise.”
3. Paragraph 3 shall be deleted. 
Article 10
Article 31 of the Convention shall be amended as follows:
1. At the end of paragraph a, the word “and” shall be deleted.
2. Paragraph b shall become paragraph c and a new paragraph b shall be inserted and shall read as follows:
“b. decide on issues referred to the Court by the Committee of Ministers in accordance with Article 46, paragraph 4; and”.
Article 11
Article 32 of the Convention shall be amended as follows:
At the end of paragraph 1, a comma and the number 46 shall be inserted after the number 34.
Article 12
Paragraph 3 of Article 35 of the Convention shall be amended to read as follows:
“3. The Court shall declare inadmissible any individual application submitted under Article 34 if it considers that :
a. the application is incompatible with the provisions of the Convention or the Protocols thereto, manifestly ill-founded, or an abuse of the right of individual application; or
b. the applicant has not suffered a significant disadvantage, unless respect for human rights as defined in the Convention and the Protocols thereto requires an examination of the application on the merits and provided that no case may be rejected on this ground which has not been duly considered by a domestic tribunal.”
Article 13
A new paragraph 3 shall be added at the end of Article 36 of the Convention, which shall read as follows:
“3. In all cases before a Chamber or the Grand Chamber, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights may submit written comments and take part in hearings.”
Article 14
Article 38 of the Convention shall be amended to read as follows:
“Article 38 – Examination of the case
The Court shall examine the case together with the representatives of the parties and, if need be, undertake an investigation, for the effective conduct of which the High Contracting Parties concerned shall furnish all necessary facilities.”
Article 15
Article 39 of the Convention shall be amended to read as follows:
“Article 39 – Friendly settlements
1. At any stage of the proceedings, the Court may place itself at the disposal of the parties concerned with a view to securing a friendly settlement of the matter on the basis of respect for human rights as defined in the Convention and the Protocols thereto.
2. Proceedings conducted under paragraph 1 shall be confidential.
3. If a friendly settlement is effected, the Court shall strike the case out of its list by means of a decision which shall be confined to a brief statement of the facts and of the solution reached.
4. This decision shall be transmitted to the Committee of Ministers, which shall supervise the execution of the terms of the friendly settlement as set out in the decision.”
Article 16
Article 46 of the Convention shall be amended to read as follows:
“Article 46 – Binding force and execution of judgments
1. The High Contracting Parties undertake to abide by the final judgment of the Court in any case to which they are parties.
2. The final judgment of the Court shall be transmitted to the Committee of Ministers, which shall supervise its execution.
3. If the Committee of Ministers considers that the supervision of the execution of a final judgment is hindered by a problem of interpretation of the judgment, it may refer the matter to the Court for a ruling on the question of interpretation. A referral decision shall require a majority vote of two thirds of the representatives entitled to sit on the Committee.
4. If the Committee of Ministers considers that a High Contracting Party refuses to abide by a final judgment in a case to which it is a party, it may, after serving formal notice on that Party and by decision adopted by a majority vote of two thirds of the representatives entitled to sit on the Committee, refer to the Court the question whether that Party has failed to fulfil its obligation under paragraph 1.
5. If the Court finds a violation of paragraph 1, it shall refer the case to the Committee of Ministers for consideration of the measures to be taken. If the Court finds no violation of paragraph 1, it shall refer the case to the Committee of Ministers, which shall close its examination of the case.”
Article 17
Article 59 of the Convention shall be amended as follows:
1. A new paragraph 2 shall be inserted which shall read as follows:
“2. The European Union may accede to this Convention.”
2. Paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 shall become paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 respectively.
Final and transitional provisions
Article 18
1. This Protocol shall be open for signature by member States of the Council of Europe signatories to the Convention, which may express their consent to be bound by
a. signature without reservation as to ratification, acceptance or approval; or
b. signature subject to ratification, acceptance or approval, followed by ratification, acceptance or approval.
2. The instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
Article 19
This Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three months after the date on which all Parties to the Convention have expressed their consent to be bound by the Protocol, in accordance with the provisions of Article 18.
Article 20
1. From the date of the entry into force of this Protocol, its provisions shall apply to all applications pending before the Court as well as to all judgments whose execution is under supervision by the Committee of Ministers.
2. The new admissibility criterion inserted by Article 12 of this Protocol in Article 35, paragraph 3.b of the Convention, shall not apply to applications declared admissible before the entry into force of the Protocol. In the two years following the entry into force of this Protocol, the new admissibility criterion may only be applied by Chambers and the Grand Chamber of the Court.
Article 21
The term of office of judges serving their first term of office on the date of entry into force of this Protocol shall be extended ipso jure so as to amount to a total period of nine years. The other judges shall complete their term of office, which shall be extended ipso jure by two years.
Article 22
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall notify the member States of the Council of Europe of:
a. any signature;
b. the deposit of any instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval;
c. the date of entry into force of this Protocol in accordance with Article 19; and
d. any other act, notification or communication relating to this Protocol.
In witness whereof, the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Protocol.
Done at Strasbourg, this 13 day of May 2004, in English and in French, both texts being equally authentic, in a single copy which shall be deposited in the archives of the Council of Europe. The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall transmit certified copies to each member State of the Council of Europe.