Abstract

The European Court of Human Rights started its activity in 1959, when there were 13 States party to the Convention. It is now the most important Court in the world in the field of human rights. Its jurisdiction covers 47 States, practically the whole Europe. It is competent for some 800 millions individual applicants.

Speaker Bio

Jean-Paul Costa

Former President of the European Court of Human Rights

• Born on 3 November 1941 in Tunis
• Diploma of the Institute of Political Studies of Paris, 1961
• Master of Law, Faculty of Law, Paris, 1962
• Diploma of Superior Studies (post-graduate), Public Law, 1964
• Student at the National School of Administration, 1964-1966
• Appointed as Auditeur at the Conseil d’Etat, 1966
• Rapporteur at the judicial section of the Council of State, 1966-1971, 1977-1980, 1987-1989
• Lecturer at the Institute of Political Studies of Paris (1968-1973) and at the National School of Administration of Paris (1978-1979)
• Professor at the International Institute of Public Administration, 1985-1989
• Chairman of the Complaints Committee of the Cultural and Technical Co-operation Agency, 1979-1980
• Directeur du cabinet (political secretary) of the Ministry of Education (Alain Savary), 1981-1984
• Assessor of sub-section (chamber), judicial section of the Council of State, 1989-1993
• Chairman of sub-section (chamber), judicial section of the Council of State, 1993-1998
• Chairman of the group "Human rights and the role of public agencies" of the International Institute of Administrative Sciences in Brussels, 1993-1996
• Chairman of the commission for access to administrative documentation (CADA), 1995-1998
• Chairman of the commission for amiable settlement of disputes concerning public contracts, 1996-1998
• Associate Professor, Universities of Orleans and Paris I, 1989-1998
• Judge elected in respect of France at the European Court of Human Rights, since 1 November 1998
• President of Section 2000-2007 and Vice-President of the Court 2001-2007
• Elected Honorary Bencher by the Masters of the Bench of the Inner Temple, 2002
• President of the Court since 19 January 2007 (retired on 3 November 2011)
  

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• European perspective on human rights