Implementation Matters.
Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights have great potential to protect human rights.
Governments not only have an obligation to provide justice for victims, but also to make sure that the same problem does not happen to others.
However, in order to have effect, judgments must be properly implemented.
Of the ‘leading’ cases handed down by the ECtHR in the last ten years – cases which reveal structural or repetitive human rights problems – 47 percent remain pending full implementation as of 1 January 2022.
What a failure to implement means
Intigam Aliyev is an Azerbaijani lawyer and human rights activist, who was arrested and imprisoned for his work.
Intigam was eventually released from jail and proved his case at the European Court of Human Rights. However, he has still not been pardoned, lives under a travel ban, and is still barred from conducting his important human rights work.
His case reflects widespread persecution in Azerbaijan. Despite numerous European Court judgments identifying the problem, lawyers, journalists and activists are continually targeted.
Our Mission
The European Implementation Network exists in order to promote proper implementation of European Court judgments.
Our network is made up of members and partners from across Europe.
We support effective advocacy around non-implemented judgments and help enhance the supervision of implementation by the Council of Europe.
As of January 2022, there are over 1,300 leading cases pending implementation. See more examples here: