European Treaty Series - No. 5

Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
as amended by Protocol No. 15 *as from its entry into force on 1 August 2021
Rome, 4.XI.1950

The governments signatory hereto, being members of the Council of Europe,
Considering the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaimed by the General Assemblyof the United Nations on 10th December 1948;
Considering that this Declaration aims at securing the universal and effective recognition andobservance 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 themaintenance and further realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms;
Reaffirming their profound belief in those fundamental freedoms which are the foundation ofjustice and peace in the world and are best maintained on the one hand by an effective politicaldemocracy 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 havea common heritage of political traditions, ideals, freedom and the rule of law, to take the firststeps for the collective enforcement of certain of the rights stated in the Universal Declaration,
Affirming that the High Contracting Parties, in accordance with the principle of subsidiarity,
have the primary responsibility to secure the rights and freedoms defined in this Convention
and the Protocols thereto, and that in doing so they enjoy a margin of appreciation, subject tothe supervisory jurisdiction of the European Court of Human Rights established by thisConvention, 1
Have agreed as follows:
Article 1 – Obligation to respect human rights
The High Contracting Parties shall secure to everyone within their jurisdiction the rights andfreedoms defined in Section I of this Convention.

1

Text amended in accordance with the provisions of Protocol No. 15 (CETS No. 213) as from its entry into force
on 1 August 2021.

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Section I – Rights and freedoms
Article 2 – Right to life
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 crimefor 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:ain 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;cin action lawfully taken for the purpose of quelling a riot or insurrection.

Article 3 – Prohibition of torture
No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.
Article 4 – Prohibition of slavery and forced labour1

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:aany 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 suchdetention;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 wellbeing of the community;d

any work or service which forms part of normal civic obligations.

Article 5 – Right to liberty and security
1Everyone 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:athe lawful detention of a person after conviction by a competent court;bthe lawful arrest or detention of a person for non-compliance with the lawful order of acourt or in order to secure the fulfilment of any obligation prescribed by law;cthe 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;

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ETS 5 – Human Rights (Convention), 4.XI.1950__________________________________________________________________________________ethe lawful detention of persons for the prevention of the spreading of infectious diseases,of persons of unsound mind, alcoholics or drug addicts or vagrants;fthe 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 todeportation or extradition.

2

Everyone who is arrested shall be informed promptly, in a language which he understands, ofthe 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 thisarticle 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 takeproceedings by which the lawfulness of his detention shall be decided speedily by a court andhis 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

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 independentand 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 orderor national security in a democratic society, where the interests of juveniles or the protectionof 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:ato be informed promptly, in a language which he understands and in detail, of the natureand cause of the accusation against him;bto 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 ofjustice so require;dto examine or have examined witnesses against him and to obtain the attendance andexamination of witnesses on his behalf under the same conditions as witnesses againsthim;eto have the free assistance of an interpreter if he cannot understand or speak thelanguage used in court.

Article 7 – No punishment without law
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 wascommitted. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at thetime the criminal offence was committed.

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2This 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 oflaw recognised by civilised nations.
Article 8 – Right to respect for private and family life

1

Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and hiscorrespondence.

2

There shall be no interference by a public authority with the exercise of this right except suchas is in accordance with the law and is necessary in a democratic society in the interests ofnational security, public safety or the economic well-being of the country, for the preventionof 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

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 andobservance.

2

Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as areprescribed 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 andfreedoms of others.
Article 10 – Freedom of expression

1

Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to holdopinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by publicauthority and regardless of frontiers. This article shall not prevent States from requiring thelicensing of broadcasting, television or cinema enterprises.

2

The exercise of these freedoms, since it carries with it duties and responsibilities, may besubject to such formalities, conditions, restrictions or penalties as are prescribed by law andare necessary in a democratic society, in the interests of national security, territorial integrityor 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

1

Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and to freedom of association withothers, 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 areprescribed 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 preventthe 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.

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Article 13 – Right to an effective remedy
Everyone whose rights and freedoms as set forth in this Convention are violated shall havean effective remedy before a national authority notwithstanding that the violation has beencommitted by persons acting in an official capacity.
Article 14 – Prohibition of discrimination
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 otherstatus.
Article 15 – Derogation in time of emergency
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 notinconsistent with its other obligations under international law.

2

No derogation from Article 2, except in respect of deaths resulting from lawful acts of war, orfrom 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 thereasons therefor. It shall also inform the Secretary General of the Council of Europe whensuch measures have ceased to operate and the provisions of the Convention are again being
fully executed.
Article 16 – Restrictions on political activity of aliens
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
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
The restrictions permitted under this Convention to the said rights and freedoms shall not beapplied for any purpose other than those for which they have been prescribed.

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.

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Article 21 – Criteria for office 1
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

Candidates shall be less than 65 years of age at the date by which the list of three candidates
has been requested by the Parliamentary Assembly, further to Article 22.

3

The judges shall sit on the Court in their individual capacity.

4

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
The judges shall be elected by the Parliamentary Assembly with respect to each HighContracting Party by a majority of votes cast from a list of three candidates nominated by theHigh Contracting Party.
Article 23 – Terms of office and dismissal 1

1

The judges shall be elected for a period of nine years. They may not be re-elected.

2

The judges shall hold office until replaced. They shall, however, continue to deal with suchcases as they already have under consideration.

3

No judge may be dismissed from office unless the other judges decide by a majority of twothirds that that judge has ceased to fulfil the required conditions.
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 shallfunction under the authority of the President of the Court. They shall form part of the Court’s
registry.
Article 25 – Plenary Court

1

1

The plenary Court shallaelect 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;celect the Presidents of the Chambers of the Court; they may be re-elected;dadopt the rules of the Court;eelect the Registrar and one or more Deputy Registrars;fmake any request under Article 26, paragraph 2.

Text amended in accordance with the provisions of Protocol No. 15 (CETS No. 213) as from its entry into force
on 1 August 2021.

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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 ofseventeen 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 decisionand 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 HighContracting 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 isunable to sit, a person chosen by the President of the Court from a list submitted in advanceby that Party shall sit in the capacity of judge.

5

The Grand Chamber shall also include the President of the Court, the Vice-Presidents, thePresidents 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 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 shallforward it to a committee or to a Chamber for further examination.
Article 28 – Competence of committees

1

In respect of an application submitted under Article 34, a committee may, by a unanimousvote,adeclare it inadmissible or strike it out of its list of cases, where such decision can be taken
without further examination; orbdeclare it admissible and render at the same time a judgment on the merits, if theunderlying question in the case, concerning the interpretation or the application of theConvention or the Protocols thereto, is already the subject of well-established case-lawof 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 thecommittee, the committee may at any stage of the proceedings invite that judge to take theplace 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 29 – Decisions by Chambers on admissibility and merits

1

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.

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2

A Chamber shall decide on the admissibility and merits of inter-State applications submitted
under Article 33. 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 1
Where a case pending before a Chamber raises a serious question affecting the interpretationof the Convention or the protocols thereto, or where the resolution of a question before theChamber 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 infavour of the Grand Chamber.
Article 31 – Powers of the Grand Chamber
The Grand Chamber shall:adetermine 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;b

decide on issues referred to the Court by the Committee of Ministers in accordance with
Article 46, paragraph 4; andcconsider 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 andapplication of the Convention and the protocols thereto which are referred to it as provided in
Articles 33, 34, 46 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 theConvention 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 groupof 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 fourmonths from the date on which the final decision was taken. 1

2

The Court shall not deal with any application submitted under Article 34 thata1

is anonymous; orText amended in accordance with the provisions of Protocol No. 15 (CETS No. 213) as from its entry into force
on 1 August 2021.

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is substantially the same as a matter that has already been examined by the Court orhas already been submitted to another procedure of international investigation orsettlement and contains no relevant new information.

The Court shall declare inadmissible any individual application submitted under Article 34 if itconsiders that:athe 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; orbthe 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 theapplication on the merits. 1

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 inhearings.

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.

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 37 – Striking out applications

1

The Court may at any stage of the proceedings decide to strike an application out of its list ofcases where the circumstances lead to the conclusion that:athe applicant does not intend to pursue his application; orbthe matter has been resolved; orcfor any other reason established by the Court, it is no longer justified to continue theexamination of the application.

However, the Court shall continue the examination of the application if respect for humanrights 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 thecircumstances justify such a course.
Article 38 – Examination of the case
The Court shall examine the case together with the representatives of the parties and, if needbe, undertake an investigation, for the effective conduct of which the High Contracting Parties
concerned shall furnish all necessary facilities.

1

Text amended in accordance with the provisions of Protocol No. 15 (CETS No. 213) as from its entry into force
on 1 August 2021.

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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 respectfor 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 adecision which shall be confined to a brief statement of the facts and of the solution reached.

4This decision shall be transmitted to the Committee of Ministers, which shall supervise theexecution of the terms of the friendly settlement as set out in the decision.
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 Presidentof 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 ajudgment.
Article 44 – Final judgments

1

The judgment of the Grand Chamber shall be final.

2

The judgment of a Chamber shall become final:

3awhen the parties declare that they will not request that the case be referred to the Grand
Chamber; orbthree months after the date of the judgment, if reference of the case to the Grand
Chamber has not been requested; orcwhen the panel of the Grand Chamber rejects the request to refer under Article 43.

The final judgment shall be published.

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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 shallsupervise 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 tothe Court for a ruling on the question of interpretation. A referral decision shall require amajority 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 afinal 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 siton 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 thecase.
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 otherquestion which the Court or the Committee of Ministers might have to consider inconsequence of any such proceedings as could be instituted in accordance with theConvention.

3

Decisions of the Committee of Ministers to request an advisory opinion of the Court shallrequire 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 Committeeof 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 thejudges, any judge shall be entitled to deliver a separate opinion.

3

Advisory opinions of the Court shall be communicated to the Committee of Ministers.

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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 andimmunities provided for in Article 40 of the Statute of the Council of Europe and in theagreements made thereunder.
Section III – Miscellaneous provisions
Article 52 – Inquiries by the Secretary General
On receipt of a request from the Secretary General of the Council of Europe any HighContracting Party shall furnish an explanation of the manner in which its internal law ensuresthe effective implementation of any of the provisions of the Convention.
Article 53 – Safeguard for existing human rights
Nothing in this Convention shall be construed as limiting or derogating from any of the humanrights and fundamental freedoms which may be ensured under the laws of any HighContracting Party or under any other agreement to which it is a Party.
Article 54 – Powers of the Committee of Ministers
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
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 ofsubmitting, by way of petition, a dispute arising out of the interpretation or application of thisConvention to a means of settlement other than those provided for in this Convention.
Article 56 – Territorial application
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.

2

The Convention shall extend to the territory or territories named in the notification as from thethirtieth day after the receipt of this notification by the Secretary General of the Council ofEurope.

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 theConvention.

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Article 57 – Reservations
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 thatany law then in force in its territory is not in conformity with the provision. Reservations of ageneral 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

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 ina notification addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, who shall informthe 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 shallcease 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 termsof Article 56.
Article 59 – Signature and ratification

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 ofEurope.

2

The European Union may accede to this Convention.

3

The present Convention shall come into force after the deposit of ten instruments ofratification.

4

As regards any signatory ratifying subsequently, the Convention shall come into force at thedate of the deposit of its instrument of ratification.

5

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall notify all the members of the Council ofEurope 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 equallyauthentic, in a single copy which shall remain deposited in the archives of the Council ofEurope. The Secretary General shall transmit certified copies to each of the signatories.

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(*)

This page contains the text of the Convention as amended by its Protocol No. 15 (CETS No. 213) as from thedate of its entry into force on 1 August 2021.
The text of the Convention had been previously amended according to the provisions of Protocol No. 3 (ETSNo. 45), which entered into force on 21 September 1970, of Protocol No. 5 (ETS No. 55), which entered into
force on 20 December 1971, of Protocol No. 8 (ETS No. 118), which entered into force on 1 January 1990,
of Protocol No. 11 (ETS No. 155) which entered into force on 1 November 1998 and of Protocol No. 14 (CETS
No. 194), which entered into force on 1 June 2010, 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.
As of the entry into force of Protocol No. 11 (ETS No. 155), on 1 November 1998, Protocol No. 9 (ETS
No. 140), which entered into force on 1 October 1994, was repealed and Protocol No. 10 (ETS no. 146) had
lost its purpose.

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