KDEC 9755 - Leading cases of the European Court of Human Rights

The European Court of Human Rights is the leading judicial authority on human rights in Europe and beyond. The course explores key judgments of this Court through a selection designed to cover the main provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights while addressing some of the main challenges facing contemporary democratic societies today. Topics include democracy and judicial independence, freedom of expression and hate speech, personal data protection in the information society, rights of vulnerable persons (children, women, migrants), police abuses, environmental pollution and climate change. These and other issues will be examined in light of the Court’s guiding principle that “the very essence of the Convention is respect for human dignity and human freedom.”

The course is based on an interactive examination of selected judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, which will be compiled in a casebook made available to students. Each topic will begin with a discussion of the facts of a case, followed by an analysis of the Court’s judgment and the lecturer’s explanations of the legal reasoning and principles involved. Students are then encouraged to reflect critically on the implications and broader significance of the Court’s conclusions. Throughout the course, active participation and discussion are used to foster engagement and deepen understanding of the case-law.

Final written exam of three hours analysing a fictitious story in light of the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights discussed in class. Bonus points will be awarded based on active participation in class.