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 The Committee of Experts on the System of the European Convention on Human Rights (DH-SYSC) has the general task of contributing to the protection of human rights by improving the effectiveness of the control mechanism of the European Convention on Human Rights and the implementation of the Convention at national and European levels. Under its current terms of reference, the DH-SYSC will prepare two draft CDDH reports, one on the use of new technologies by the Court and the other on new tendencies in litigation before the Court.

The conference serves as a key opportunity to gather input and ideas from DH-SYSC members, participants and observers, legal practitioners, civil society, and academics on these issues and on new and persistent challenges facing the ECHR system in general.

10:00 - 10:15

WELCOME ADDRESS 

 Krista OINONEN, Chairperson of the Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH)

 Daniele CANGEMI, Head of the Department of Human Rights, Justice and Legal Co-operation standard-setting activities, Council of Europe

sessions

10:15 - 11:30 | SESSION 1 | New trends in litigation before the European Court of Human Rights

  There are new trends in litigation before the Court, including but not limited to a rise in inter-State applications, strategic litigation on issues such as climate change, as well as cases with joinders and large groups of applicants. These developments involve distinct substantive, procedural and administrative challenges. Complex jurisdictional issues, reliance on expert or scientific evidence, and third-party interventions are also becoming more common. At the same time, the Court faces heightened public interest and media attention in certain cases. Together, these developments also have implications for its internal coordination, hearing formats, and communication with parties.

This session will identify these challenges and how the Court is adapting to these evolving dynamics, how applicants and respondents are experiencing and addressing them, and whether any other approaches might be considered in order to ensure continued effective management of new litigation trends.

 MODERATOR

  • Ed BATES, Associate Professor, Leicester Law School, University of Leicester 

 

 SPEAKERS

  • Lətif HÜSEYNOV, Judge of the European Court of Human Rights elected in respect of Azerbaijan
  • Isabella RISINI, Professor at Technische Hochschule Georg Agricola
  • Isabelle NIEDLISPACHER, Agent to the European Court of Human Rights for the Government of Belgium
  • Jenny SANDVIG, Partner, SVW, former Policy Director at the Norwegian National Human Rights Institution
  • Abel CAMPOS, Deputy Registrar of the European Court of Human Rights

 

Includes Q&A / Open discussion with audience

 

**** 11:30 – 11:45 | Coffee break ****

 

11:45 - 13:00 | SESSION 2 | Challenges and opportunities in the Court’s use of new technologies

  The Court has put in place the Gateway case-management project with a view to enhancing its efficiency and productivity, uses artificial intelligence in the language department, and plans to use it to assist lawyers during the drafting process and to improve translation capabilities. The integration of new technologies into its processes is expected to continue. This session will take stock of the Court’s use of new technologies, including artificial intelligence, and will bring experiences from the use of new technologies in other international and national jurisdictions. It will explore the following questions: what are the benefits in terms of efficiency and effectiveness in carrying out case-processing tasks, the quality and consistency of the courts’ decisions, and terms of increasing accessibility and transparency for applicants? What are the risks? What principles should govern the use of artificial intelligence in international judicial processes?

 MODERATOR

 

  • Tim KOLK (Estonia), Member of the Steering Committee for Human Rights (CDDH) in respect of Estonia, CDDH thematic rapporteur on human rights and artificial intelligence
     

 SPEAKERS

  • Klaudiusz RYNGIELEWICZ, Director of filtering and support services, European Court of Human Rights
  • Mateja ĐUROVIĆ, Judge of the European Court of Human Rights elected in respect of Serbia
  • Veronika FIKFAK, Professor of Human Rights and International Law at University College London, School of Public Policy and a co-Director of the UCL Institute for Human Rights
  • Matthieu QUINIOU, Avocat, member of the CEPEJ (European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice) Artificial Intelligence Advisory Board (AIAB), Chair of UNESCO ITEN

 

Includes Q&A / Open discussion with audience

14:30 - 16:15 | SESSION 3 | The European Court of Human Rights in 2025 and Beyond (Open Forum)

   This open forum offers space for exchanges on persistent and emerging challenges facing the system of the European Convention on Human Rights. Participants will be invited to reflect on the Court’s procedures and working methods, as well as the execution of its judgments.

At the same time, the session will look ahead: How can the Court and member States anticipate and adapt to future demands while maintaining the high standards of human rights protection set by the Convention system? What are areas for future work? 

This session encourages a constructive dialogue between stakeholders, aimed at identifying practical suggestions, sharing experiences, and contributing to a collective vision for a resilient and responsive Court in the years to come.

 MODERATOR

  • Tonje MEINICH (Norway), Vice-chairperson of the CDDH, Chair of the 46+1 ad hoc negotiation group on the Accession of the EU to the ECHR

 

 SPEAKERS

 

PANEL 1

  • Alex TALLON, Vice-President of the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE)
  • Babette KOOPMAN, Agent to the European Court of Human Rights for the Government of the Netherlands, member of the CDDH
  • Philip LEACH, Professor of Human Rights Law, Middlesex University London 

 

****  15:30 – 15:45 | Coffee break ****

 

PANEL 2

  • Ioulietta BISIOULI, Director, European Implementation Network (EIN)
  • Marius EMBERLAND, Professor, Department of Law and Governance, Norwegian Business School
  • Vassilis TZEVELEKOS, Reader in Law (Associate Professor) at Liverpool University School of Law and Social Justice, Co-Editor-in-Chief of The European Convention on Human Rights Law Review

 

Includes Q&A / Open discussion with audience

 16:30

CLOSING SESSION

 John Finbarr (Barra) LYSAGHT, Chair of the DH-SYSC

meet our speakers

Back Jenny SANDVIG

Partner, SVW, former Policy Director at the Norwegian National Human Rights Institution
Jenny SANDVIG

Jenny Sandvig specialises in litigation and dispute resolution. Jenny was Policy Director for the Norwegian National Institution for Human Rights (NHRI). As part of the NHRI’s management, Jenny was responsible for their work on climate and environmental rights.

Jenny has authored Karnov’s commentary on the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). She is a co-author on «Klimarett» (Climate law), edited by Prof. Hans Chr. Bugge. Jenny has also co-written several articles published internationally, on the rule of law and climate rights.

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practical details
  • Working languages / interpretation services: English and French.
  • Visa: kindly note that visa arrangements are the traveler’s responsibility.
  • Participation: the conference will be held in person and is by invitation only. It is not open to the public. However, the event will be livestreamed on this webpage to allow for broader access. Please note that the livestream is for viewing purposes only; remote participants will not have the possibility to take the floor or interact with the speakers.
  • Venue: Agora building of the Council of Europe, room G03.
  • Getting around Strasbourg: local transport & useful contacts.
  • Access to the Council of Europe premises and registration: badges will be distributed at the entrance of the building on the first day of the Conference upon presentation of a valid ID or passport.
  • Meals: Coffee breaks will be provided during the conference. Participants are responsible for their own lunches. A cafeteria is available on-site.