Developments in mediation, current challenges and the role of ROMED (2013)
ISBN 978-92-871-7374-4

The training programme for Roma mediators, launched in 2011, is unique in terms of the fundamental effects it produces, both in Europe at large and in the 47 member states of the Council of Europe.

This work sets out to contextualise the initiatives taken, highlight their utility and evaluate them. It is intended to provide guidance for the programme leaders, enable active participants - trainers, mediators, employers and others - to see their efforts as part of an overall scheme, help policy makers to take the right decisions and describe and explain the operation to a broader audience.

The programme's activities concerning Roma are a model for positive action. They make an effective contribution to European co-operation, action to combat discrimination and marginalisation and the search for ways to improve difficult situations. ROMED therefore helps to fuel the development of intercultural policies capable of managing present-day societies, of which diversity and pluralism are the hallmarks.

Freedom of Expression - Essays in honour of Nicolas Bratza, President of the European Court of Human Rights (2012)
ISBN 978-92-871-7424-6

Freedom of expression is one of the cornerstones of all democratic systems. Without it ideas about how to protect the common good in our societies would be impoverished. A marketplace of ideas is essential for democracy to thrive. It is for this reason that the European Court of Human Rights attaches such importance to political discourse as well as to speech and other forms of expression that may shock and offend. Yet such freedom may clash with other rights such as the right to privacy, the right to a good reputation. It may even conflict with the need to protect public order or morals. Societies require pluralism if they are to grow yet democracy also seeks to limit extreme forms of speech that preach hate and advocate violence. But are such restrictions on free speech legitimate and by what criteria are we to judge their necessity?

We rely on journalists to report accurately the controversies of the day and protect their right not to reveal sources. They also enjoy a broad right of fair comment. But we expect them to be responsible in their factual reporting, to check their sources and to have regard to the need to observe some degree of restraint when reporting or commenting on matters that affect the rights of others. But is it legitimate to interfere with reporting that is in the public interest and how can the law promote responsible journalism?

This collection of essays on freedom of expression contains contributions by distinguished judges and lawyers from many varied backgrounds that explore these themes with a critical eye. The book seeks to honour Sir Nicolas Bratza, President of the European Court of Human Rights, for his outstanding contribution, as a jurist and leading judicial figure, to the protection of human rights in Europe.

Bringing a case to the European Court of Human Rights - A practical guide on admissibility criteria (2012)
ISBN 978-92-871-7376-8

The European Court of Human Rights is currently overloaded with cases (there were almost 150,000 pending applications at the end of March 2012). Some 90% of all applications are eventually declared inadmissible. Such cases clog up the Court’s docket and obstruct its examination of more deserving cases where the admissibility requirements have been satisfied and which may concern serious allegations of human rights violations.

The 2010 Interlaken Conference on the reform of the Court called upon the “States Parties and the Court to ensure that comprehensive and objective information is provided to potential applicants on the Convention and the Court’s case-law, in particular on the application procedures and admissibility criteria”.

The Court’s first response to this call was to prepare this practical guide on admissibility criteria. The guide seeks to reduce the number of obviously inadmissible cases by enabling legal practitioners to properly advise their clients on their chances of bringing an admissible application.

This second edition covers case-law up to the end of March 2011. In addition to this guide the Court has launched a short video as well as an interactive admissibility checklist. These tools are aimed at providing lay applicants with more succinct information on the admissibility criteria.

ECHR VIDEO ON ADMISSIBILITY CONDITIONS