Case-note on S.W. v the United Kingdom, App no. 20166/92, Judgement of 22nd November 1995, Grand Chamber While not the first judgement in which the ECourtHR referred to human dignity (this seems to be the case of Tyrer v UK, 1978), the so-called marital rape ruling contains the ECourtHR’s first and explicit commitment to protect […]
In 2011, the Council of Europe adopted an important human rights treaty, the Istanbul Convention, which is based on the understanding that violence against women is part of a wider pattern of structural gender discrimination and inequality. Despite this, numerous judgments before the European Court of Human Rights continue to highlight the national authorities’ failure […]
The ECHR is one of the few conventions adopted in the wake of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which does not codify a commitment to human dignity. Since the European Court of Human Rights (ECourtHR) announced its resounding commitment to human dignity and human freedom in the so-called marital rape case in 1995, ECHR […]
The Global Campus of Human Rights is excited to launch its first-ever Microlearning Course on Human Dignity and Human Rights, a compelling e-learning journey into one of the most powerful concepts at the heart of human rights. “In the old days, the dignitas was for the dignitaries –the important people- and the humble masses had to show respect […]
Democracy is not just about elections, mechanisms of representation, and accountability of those in power. Since the promise that ‘all human beings are born equal and free in dignity and in rights’ made under Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights[1], democracy is also about human relationships of equality and reciprocity. In the […]
Recent weeks have seen a surge in immigration raids in the UK targeting workers lacking permission to work, referred to derogatorily as ‘illegal migrants,’ alongside broadcasting of deportation footage that has been condemned as an ‘act of performative cruelty.’ This post examines these actions against the background of a group of UK immigration policies known […]
On August 5, 2019, the Indian government unilaterally revoked Article 370 of its Constitution[1], stripping Jammu and Kashmir of its special status and autonomy. Harsh curfew, widespread communication blackouts, the mass detention of political leaders, and reports of enforced disappearances and violent crackdowns followed this drastic move. The Indian occupation of Kashmir, rooted in a tumultuous […]
The rise in digital technologies has led to an alarming increase in the non-consensual creation, sharing, and threatened disclosure of intimate images as a strategy of coercive control.[1] Alleged perpetrators of domestic abuse now seek to use these images to challenge victims’ accounts in the family court, raising significant legal and ethical concerns. Women are […]
The 8th of March marks International Women’s Day, a day on which the world comes together to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. To mark the occasion, the Dignity&Democracy Blog is organising a Special Issue to promote awareness of and discussion on persisting issues such as gender equality, freedom of expression, […]
Over the past few weeks, several reports have appeared in German media on expected challenges with postal voting from abroad ahead of Germany’s snap election scheduled for 23 February 2025 (see here, here and here). The potential legal implications were highlighted by the recent case of a German citizen living in South Africa petitioning the […]