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What are the European Conventions on Human Rights?

Liana Thomas
Liana Thomas

The European Conventions on Human Rights are included in an international treaty that was started in order to protect the rights and freedoms of people in Europe. The Council of Europe wanted to bring better unity between its members. One of the ways in which it chose to reach this goal was with greater preservation and a greater comprehension of human rights and the fundamental freedoms of human beings.

The first three articles of the European Conventions on Human Rights deals with the protection of a person’s right to his or her life, the protection of a person from being tortured and the protection of people’s rights in general. With the exception of lawful executions, a person will not be intentionally deprived of his or her life. The conventions state that people are not to be subjected to inhumane treatment.

The Geneva Convention passed regulations against torture.
The Geneva Convention passed regulations against torture.

The next articles of the European Conventions on Human Rights state that people are not to be held as slaves, and people have a right to a fair trial as well as rights to liberty and security. Human beings are not to be forced into labor and if they have been accused of a crime, then they have the right to receive an honest and justly trial. A person's liberty can be subject only to lawful arrest or detention.

According to the European Conventions on Human Rights, a person cannot be punished for something that he or she has done if the act was not a criminal offense during the time that it was committed. People have the right to their own privacy and the freedom of choosing their own religion. They cannot be punished for having certain thoughts or beliefs, and they cannot be forced into a religion or a belief.

Under the European Conventions on Human Rights, people are allowed to express themselves as they please, as long as it is in a lawful manner. They have the freedom of assembly and association. Men and women have the right to marry and begin a family, as long as they have reached the appropriate age.

Articles 13-15 of the European Conventions on Human Rights deal with the effective remedy of rights violations, discrimination and derogation. The conventions protect the rights of both men and women of all statuses. People cannot be discriminated against because of any status, including their race, religion or gender.

The 16th article of the European Conventions on Human Rights limits the political activity of people who are from other countries. The next articles forbid people from interpreting the rights within the European Conventions on Human Rights to aid them in destroying any of the rights with which the people have been presented. The conventions also forbid people from using these rights for any purpose other than what the rights provide.

According to the European Conventions on Human Rights, people have the right to the protection of their properties, the right to have an education and the right to have fair elections. They cannot be imprisoned for breaching a contract. They have the right to move freely within their country, and they cannot be expelled from entering their home country. The death penalty must be restricted, and people may not have a re-trial if they have already been acquitted or convicted of a crime.

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    • The Geneva Convention passed regulations against torture.
      By: Steven Pepple
      The Geneva Convention passed regulations against torture.