UK criticised for ECHR proposals

None of the 46 member states in the Council of Europe has supported the British government’s proposals as Austrian diplomats have maintained the UK’s proposed changes for the ECHR would restrict access to justice.

Britain, which currently holds the rotating chairmanship of the council, has put forth a draft declaration document proposing to restrict the flow of cases to the ECHR so that national courts would be able to interpret human rights in different ways when cases reach them.

“ [We should not] change the criteria and restrict the cases to a few outstanding countries where we already know that human rights protection is not where we would like it to be,” said the Austrian diplomats.

“It’s not the role of human rights and justice to pick and choose,” they added.

In 2013, Austria will hold the six-month rotating presidency of the court and the Austrian diplomats’ opposition to Britain’s proposals is considered a real setback.

The diplomats have asserted that Britain’s planned reforms would “lead to a situation where national courts can do whatever they like.”

Despite British Prime Minister David Cameron’s claim that the UK is “committed” to securing the right of individuals to petition the ECHR, president of the ECHR and Britain’s nominee to the court, Sir Nicholas Bratza, raised concerns over the need for the UK’s proposals.

ISH/HN/HE

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