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Human Rights: Enforcement

Interpretation and Strasbourg case law

  • 3 things to know
  • Components 2 and 3

Overview

Mirror principle, judicial dialogue between London and Strasbourg and reading down.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What does section 2 of the Human Rights Act require of a court?

Key term

What does section 3 of the Human Rights Act require?

Key term

How strong is the interpretive obligation under section 3?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What does section 2 of the Human Rights Act require of a court?

    Model answer

    Section 2 requires a court to take into account relevant judgments of the European Court of Human Rights. The court must consider that case law whenever a Convention right arises. The court is not bound to follow it.

  2. 2

    Why does section 2 say take into account rather than follow?

    Model answer

    Parliament chose to preserve the authority of domestic courts rather than bind them to Strasbourg. Domestic courts may therefore depart from Strasbourg where the case law is unclear or has misunderstood domestic law.

  3. 3

    What is the mirror principle?

    Model answer

    The mirror principle is the approach under which domestic courts keep pace with Strasbourg jurisprudence, no more and no less. Critics argue it makes domestic courts followers rather than developers of rights.

  4. 4

    When may a domestic court decline to follow Strasbourg?

    Model answer

    A domestic court may decline where a Strasbourg decision rests on a misunderstanding of domestic law or procedure. A court may also decline where the point has not been decided consistently by a Grand Chamber.

  5. 5

    What is the judicial dialogue between London and Strasbourg?

    Model answer

    Judicial dialogue is the exchange in which a domestic court explains why it disagrees and Strasbourg reconsiders. The approach to hearsay evidence in criminal trials is the example usually given of the process working.

  6. 6

    What does section 3 of the Human Rights Act require?

    Model answer

    Section 3 requires legislation to be read and given effect, so far as it is possible to do so, in a way compatible with Convention rights. The duty applies to legislation whenever enacted.

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Parliamentary and European Law Making
Delegated Legislation
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The court sits in .
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