May 08, 2026
By Sotiris Paphitis In its recent judgment in X v. Georgia, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR or the Court) was once again confronted with a question that has become increasingly prominent in its recent case-law on sexual violence: can a State be said to have complied with its positive obligations under Articles 3 and […]
April 28, 2026
by Ananya Kumar-Banerjee Introduction On 3 February 2026, the European Court of Human Rights (“Strasbourg”) handed down OH and Others v Serbia (No. 57185/17) (“OH and Others”). Strasbourg considered whether the Serbian Government’s pushback of seventeen migrants into Bulgaria was in breach of the European Convention. Ultimately, the Court held that Serbia had breached Articles […]
April 07, 2026
By dr. Natasa Mavronicola I am grateful to Strasbourg Observers for hosting this symposium on Article 3’s past, present and future, and to Mary Rogan, Rishika Sahgal, Eva Sevrin and Elaine Webster for this rich set of insights offered in the shadow of Chișinău. It is an honour to be among these authors and I […]
April 06, 2026
By Professor Mary Rogan Prisons provide a special setting for the protections contained in Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights. It is well established that when liberty is deprived, the right to protection from torture and inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment is at particular risk (see further here, here, here and […]
April 03, 2026
By Dr Rishika Sahgal Introduction In the run-up to Chișinău, there has been increasing reference to the need to ‘constrain’ Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to the ‘most serious issues’. The implication of such perspectives is that the interpretation of Article 3 has involved something of an overreach, and that […]
April 02, 2026
By Dr. Elaine Webster *** Strasbourg Observers is currently hosting a blog symposium on Article 3 of the ECHR and the forthcoming Chișinău Declaration, examining the ECtHR’s approach in migration cases. The symposium was convened by Natasa Mavronicola. It also features contributions from Mary Rogan, Rishika Sahgal, Eva Sevrin, and Elaine Webster. *** Questioning the […]
April 01, 2026
By Eva Sevrin *** Over the next 10 days, Strasbourg Observers will be hosting a blog symposium on Article 3 ECHR and the forthcoming Chișinău Declaration on the ECtHR’s approach in migration cases. The symposium was convened by Natasa Mavronicola. It also features contributions from Mary Rogan, Rishika Sahgal, Eva Sevrin, and Elaine Webster. *** […]
March 31, 2026
By Professor Natasa Mavronicola *** Strasbourg Observers is currently hosting a blog symposium on Article 3 ECHR and the forthcoming Chișinău Declaration on the ECtHR’s approach in migration cases. The symposium was convened by Natasa Mavronicola. It also features contributions from Mary Rogan, Rishika Sahgal, Eva Sevrin, and Elaine Webster. *** Introduction In 2013, Francesco […]
March 30, 2026
By Dr. Natasa Mavronicola *** Over the next 10 days, Strasbourg Observers will be hosting a blog symposium on Article 3 ECHR and the forthcoming Chișinău Declaration on the ECtHR’s approach in migration cases. The symposium was convened by Natasa Mavronicola. It also features contributions from Mary Rogan, Rishika Sahgal, Eva Sevrin, and Elaine Webster. […]
February 03, 2026
By Alexander Hughes The scope of the positive obligation on State authorities to conduct an effective investigation into allegations of sexual violence has once again come before the European Court of Human Rights in A.J. and L.E. v. Spain. The case concerns a regrettably familiar fate for many young women. The applicants alleged that they […]
October 17, 2025
by Philipp Schönberger1 The European Court of Human Rights’ (ECtHR) inadmissibility decision in E.A. and H.A.A. v. Greece published on 4 September 2025 marks a potential turning point in its assessment of asylum seekers’ reception conditions in the Greek ‘hotspots.’ The case signals a regressive shift in the Court’s jurisprudence, one that lacks sound justification, but fits […]
October 14, 2025
by Sam Chollet In T.H. v. Czech Republic, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) reiterated that the requirement for trans* people to undergo genital surgery to have their gender legally recognised violates the right to private life. But this apparent victory for trans* rights represents a drawback for non-binary trans* people. Summary of the […]
August 27, 2025
By Sibel Yilmaz Coşkun In its judgment of Derrek and Others v. Russia (29 April 2025; hereinafter Derrek), the European Court of Human Rights (the Court/ECtHR) addressed a police raid on an LGBT workshop, during which participants faced humiliating treatment and forced drug testing. The Court unanimously found violations of Articles 5 §1 and […]
August 22, 2025
by dr. Stefanos Xenofontos On 3 July 2025, the European Court of Human Rights (‘ECtHR’ or ‘the Court’) delivered its judgment in the case of N.T. v. Cyprus, unanimously finding violations of Articles 3, 8, and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights (‘ECHR’) arising from the Cypriot authorities’ failure to effectively investigate and […]
July 02, 2025
By Lorena Sosa The case of I.C. v. The Republic of Moldova intersects with two strands of ECtHR jurisprudence: (1) the Court’s developing understanding of sexual violence, rape and sexual exploitation, and (2) its evolving anti-stereotyping framework, particularly regarding persons with disabilities. Against the backdrop of landmark rulings, this judgment further enriches the Court’s often […]
May 16, 2025
By Lorenza Grossi The ECtHR examines the compatibility between special prison regimes and Article 3 ECHR. More precisely, under scrutiny is Article 41-bis of Law No. 354 of 26 July 1975 (the Italian Prison Law), also known as ‘hard prison.’ This provision allows the suspension of ordinary prison conditions – such as outdoor time and […]
March 28, 2025
Stephanie Motz and Annina Mullis On 7 January 2025, the European Court of Human Rights (Court/ECtHR) published its findings in A.R.E. v. Greece and G.R.J. v. Greece. In these two cases, the Court adjudicated for the first time specifically on pushback allegations at the hands of Greek authorities. Both applications were part of a series of […]
March 04, 2025
By Grazyna Baranowska On 12 February 2025, the Grand Chamber of the ECtHR held three hearings relating to pushback cases conducted by Poland, Latvia and Lithuania. The cases were relinquished to the Grand Chamber and heard in a single – very long – day, since all the alleged violations occurred within the same broader context […]
February 28, 2025
By Louis Triaille In its Clipea and Grosu v. the Republic of Moldova judgment, handed down on November 19, 2024, the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) clarifies States’ positive obligations to protect in-patients with mental disabilities from ill-treatment in psychiatric institutions. The judgment illustrates an increasingly strict scrutiny by the ECtHR on institutional psychiatry, […]
November 12, 2024
By Alina Tryfonidou The rise of homophobic and transphobic crime is a deeply troubling and pervasive issue in modern day Europe (see the FRA LGBTIQ Survey (2024), pp. 54-76). A key factor behind this is the growing wave of right-wing populism, which has contributed to an increasingly hostile social and political climate, where divisive rhetoric often targets […]