Humboldt-Speech on Europe by Prof. Dr. Linos-Alexandre Sicilianos, President of the ECHR
On the 19th of November, Prof. Dr. Linos-Alexandre Sicilianos, President of the European Court of Human Rights, was a guest at Humboldt University and spoke about the ECHR and its current challenges.
First, the speaker made it clear that all challenges must be seen against the background of the far-reaching effects of the judgments of the ECHR and that this also puts strong pressure on the judges. In this context, he also explained the Court's defining live-instrument doctrine, which states that the ECHR must always interpret the European Convention on Human Rights in the light of the present, right up to the limit of the wording.
He then focused on the problems of the ECHR as an institution. For example, 60,000 cases are currently pending before the 47 judges, of which almost 1000 are highly explosive in political and legal terms. In addition to the mass of cases, he recognised the enforcement of judgments as a further problem.
As case-related current challenges he cites interstate disputes, such as the territorial conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, the issues of residence and deportation related to the refugee crisis, terrorism and widespread democratic deficits and populism in Europe.
After the speech, the opportunity for discussion with Mr Sicilianos was taken by many committed students and doctoral candidates.
Here you can see the Recording of the speech