A heavyweight companion to convention rights

This is a substantial work which will form an important addition to the library of any human rights practitioner. Its stated aim is to set out the relevant rules and principles of each article of the convention, supported by direct quotations from judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR).

The author was faced with a formidable task, given that by mid-2026 the number of cases decided by the ECtHR exceeded 60,000. As a result, the book runs to more than 860 pages, and could have been double the length without verbosity. The author’s industry is thus to be commended. 

The book begins with an introduction to the concept of human rights and the background to the convention. As a necessarily potted summary, it omits some interesting aspects of how modern human rights came to international legal prominence. Contrary to the author’s account, the prioritising of individual rights did not emerge by consensus immediately following recognition of the atrocities of the second world war, but rather in fits and starts. 

The author writes about the relationship between human rights and democracy, but is less clear about the tension between the two concepts. Rights such as freedom of speech and universal suffrage are necessary for democracy. But, equally, legal rights that place limits on what a majority government may do conflict with majority rule – indeed, their very aim is to restrain democracy if the latter threatens oppression. 

Quibbles aside, the core of the book achieves its aim with concise, clear presentation of principles and supporting quotations from ECtHR judgments. The book covers each article of the convention, with a one- or two-paragraph introduction about the right. The author considers the positive and negative obligations for states, before working through those obligations by giving summary points supported by extracts from judgments. 

The result is an easy-to-use guide which has enough detail to provide at least a general answer to any question about the convention. 

James Wilson is an independent author. His latest book is Lord Denning: Life, Law and Legacy (Wildy, Simmonds & Hill, 2023)