Overview

EIN carries out a wide range of activities on all varieties of judgment from the European Court of Human Rights. We provide assistance through training, support for drafting submissions, advice on domestic campaigns, and assistance with advocacy in Strasbourg. This support is available for every type of human rights issue. The cases identified on this site are examples of pending cases, rather than a representation of the cases that EIN works on - the organiastion and network is involved with a great many more.

Human Rights Defenders

Human Rights Defenders are people who work to promote or protect human rights. They collect information about violations, support victims, pursue the accountability of perpetrators, work to end impunity, and support the protection of human rights for all. Human rights defenders play a vital role in the functioning of democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

Journalism and Media Cases

Journalism plays a vital role in the functioning of a good society, by holding power to account, conveying important information, and facilitating public debate. However, journalists and the media are under serious pressure in many European countries. Threats include violence and intimidation of journalists, government control of state media, and the use of defamation law to allow powerful groups to silence critical voices.

Freedom of Assembly Cases

Mass public protests have been crucially important to securing human rights and democracy across Europe. As well as playing a key role in pivotal historical moments, protests are important for allowing people to make their voices heard and contribute to the ongoing running of any democracy.

Shrinking Civic Spaces

Civil society and the media are under attack in many European countries. This takes many forms: the persecution of human rights defenders, the use of lawsuits (and worse) to silence independent journalism, crackdowns on freedom of assembly, and a range of measures designed to undermine the funding or legal existence of NGOs.

This crisis is reflected in many judgments of the European Court of Human Rights, but also in the failure of states to implement these rulings.

The freedom of civil society and journalists underpin all of the freedoms in European society. To concentrate on this serious issue, in 2019-2020 EIN is prioritising shrinking space cases in our advocacy, training and events. Details of some cases pending implementation are highlighted on our website.