It has become the forum for voicing the concerns, hopes and aspirations of almost 800 Million people, stretching from the Atlantic to the far east of Russia. This is probably the best known body of the Council of Europe. Anyone who believes that his or her rights have been breached under the 1950 European Convention on Human Rights may lodge a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights, provided no other legal remedies are available in national courts. The Court is based in Strasbourg, France and comprises 41 Judges - one for each member state. The Court sits permanently and deals with all stages of procedure, from admissibility to final judgment.
Applicants now have direct access to the court.