A strong European Court of Human Rights is essential and the Strasbourg Court has played a major role in advancing civil liberties and human rights at home and in Europe.
The real burden on the Court is the failure of some countries to take their obligations under the Convention seriously by protecting rights effectively at home. The UK should use its short opportunity in the Chair to promote better national implementation of fundamental human rights standards at home by each of our international partners. Unfortunately, comparing the Strasbourg Court to a small claims court damages our public commitment to the international rule of law.