Democratic structures around the world face a notable decline, driven at least partially by the rise of right-wing populism. While not monolithic, these movements consolidate power by constructing exclusionary narratives that divide societies into “real” citizens and threatening “others,” using in particular “gendered” politics to legitimise this reshaping of public life.[1] This blog examines how […]
Two days before Romanians were to vote in the 2024 presidential run-off, the Constitutional Court annulled the first-round results, citing concerns around fairness and integrity.[1] Behind this lay the unprecedented claim that AI-generated disinformation, allegedly orchestrated by Russia, had compromised Romanians’ integrity to vote. Declassified intelligence revealed that nearly 800 dormant TikTok accounts linked to […]
Respect for human dignity is continually presented as one of the fundamental values of the Council of Europe. A recent example is found in the European Court of Human Rights’ (ECtHR) judgment in Ukraine and The Netherlands v. Russia in July 2025.[1] A more surprising recent example is found in the open letter in May […]
Professor Susanne Baer, a former judge of the German Constitutional Court, once stated that one of the goals of judicial review is to fulfil the promise of human dignity as equal respect. What Professor Baer stated is certainly applicable also to the institutions that protect human rights beyond the state, including the European Court of […]
The Internet is an indispensable part of our lives, and access to it by all is key to democracy. Yet, in India, digital infrastructure is rather poor and characterised by a design, that makes it not universally accessible to all regardless of (dis)abilities. This post discusses the right to accessibility for persons with disabilities (‘PWDs’). […]
Despite medical consensus and Beatriz’s explicit desire to survive for her infant son, El Salvador’s absolute criminalisation of abortion prevented life-saving intervention for a 22-year-old woman carrying an anencephalic foetus whilst suffering from severe lupus. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights’ judgment in Beatriz et al. v. El Salvador on 22 November 2024 represents both […]
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 […]