European Convention on Human Rights

The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) protects mainly civil and political rights.

These are rights such as:

It came into force in 1953, and was incorporated into law in the United Kingdom through the Human Rights Act 1998.

About this treaty

The European Convention on Human Rights– full text of the Convention
The European Convention on Human Rights: 1 Page Briefing– a short briefing on the content of the European Convention on Human Rights
The Human Rights Act– full text of the Act which incorporated the Convention into UK law
The Human Rights Act: Summary– a summary of the Human Rights Act
What is the Human Rights Act? 2 Page Briefing– a short briefing on the content of the Human Rights Act
Your Easy Read Guide to the Human Rights Act– a guide to the Human Rights Act in Easy Read, from the British Institute for Human Rights
Explainer: The Human Rights Act– the British Institute for Human Rights briefing on the basics of the Human Rights Act
The Human Rights Act– a video from the Scottish Human Rights Commission
Our International Human Rights- The Human Rights Act- listen to a recording of an event where Carlyn Miller, from the British Institute for Human Rights, explains the Human Rights Act
What is the Human Rights Act?– a video from EachOther explaining the role of the Human Rights Act
The History of The Human Rights Act– a video from EachOther giving a brief history of the Act
How the human rights act helped a soldier’s family– a video from EachOther about the impact of the Act on ordinary people’s lives
Historical Context of the Human Rights Act 1998– a video from IRISS about the history of the Human Rights Act, from 1945 to 1998

In Scotland, and throughout the rest of the UK, this treaty is incorporated into law through the Human Rights Act 1998. Click here to learn more about the Human Rights Act.