European Human Rights Law (060531-SS 2026)

The course European Human Rights Law examines both the historical development and the contemporary functioning of the European human rights system. It focuses on the emergence of the European human rights framework, including the establishment of the European Convention on Human Rights, the former European Commission on Human Rights, and the institutional developments that led to the restructuring of the European Court of Human Rights. The course addresses the normative structure of the Court and its interpretative methodologies, including the living instrument doctrine, European consensus, and the margin of appreciation. Through these conceptual tools, students are introduced to how the Court interprets and applies Convention rights. The course engages closely with selected landmark and contemporary judgments, inviting students to critically analyze both the Court's reasoning and its approach to specific human rights.