Introductory Note

Abstract

This chapter contains an overview of the activities of the European Court of Human Rights in 2019. It outlines the major events that took place, including the first advisory opinion given pursuant to Protocol 16 and the first Infringement Proceedings concerning the execution of the Court’s judgments pursuant to Article 46, Paragraph 4 of the Convention. It refers to the importance of the completion of the Interlaken process, to the new structure and drafting methodology of the Court’s judgments, to the efforts that need to be deployed in order to further reduce the Court’s backlog, as well as to the intensification of the dialogue of the Court, especially with judicial authorities and Council of Europe monitoring bodies. The main part of the overview consists of a presentation of some of the most noteworthy judgments delivered in 2019 on a variety of issues, including migrants and asylum seekers, environmental pollution, violence against women, and video surveillance. It concludes that the Court, through its activities and its judgments on the most contemporary issues, remains relevant and continues to provide guidance to international organs and national authorities alike.