Euro court to be kitted out with on-line public service

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg is teaming up with UK software providers and e-consultants Tikit to implement phase II of its court management information system (CMIS).The project, expected to be completed by the end of the year, will see an upgraded version of the court's on-line public information system integrated with the phase I CMIS - an internal case management system implemented last year by Tikit.The business manager of the e-solutions team at Tikit, Eliza Hedegaard, said: 'When elements of the original CMIS are combined with the added functionality of the new information system, we will provide the public with web access to an extensive database of information about the court's activities.'She said this information will include progress of individual cases, judgments, and the status of measures adopted by governments to implement the court's decisions.In the past 18 months, Tikit has carried out IT work for 35 of the top 100 law firms in the UK, including City firms Lovells, Rowe & Maw and SJ Berwin.

Meanwhile, the British Council has been temporarily thwarted in its plans to launch a Commonwealth-wide human rights Web site.The council had hoped to launch the site - offering lawyers access to a wide range of information sources and a forum for idea sharing - at the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Brisbane, which was scheduled to be held this December.

However, this has now been postponed following last month's terrorist attacks in the US.

'It was a bit of a blow, but we are looking to stage the launch at the next suitable international event,' said Sylvia Bluck, law and human rights consultant at the British Council.LINKS http://humanrights.britishcouncil.orgAndrew Towler