A Europe-wide public consultation has begun on the long-term future of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Strasbourg court that protects and interprets it.

The consultation, by the Council of Europe (CoE), is a direct result of the UK’s presidency of the council and the April 2012 Brighton conference.

In its Brighton Declaration the council called on the Committee of Ministers, made up of the foreign affairs ministers of the 47 member states, to consider the future of the convention and how the Strasbourg court can best fulfil its key role of protecting and promoting human rights in Europe.

Individuals and organisations may respond to the consultation on any aspect of the convention system, such as future challenges to the convention and court; possible reforms to cut the backlog of cases; the procedure for enforcing court judgments; the role of national authorities and payment of compensation to applicants.

Contributions should be submitted via the CoE website by midday on 27 January 2014.