Clarke hails ECHR reform but critics unconvinced

The FT reported that the United kingdom Justice Minister Ken Clarke hailed the UK’s 'substantial' success in uniting 47 countries around a programme of reform for the European Court of Human Rights, but critics, including the court’s president, Sir Nicolas Bratz, questioned whether the changes would have any effect.

Separately, EUObserver reported that the United Kingdom was obstructing attempts by European Union institutions to accede to the European Convention of Human Rights.

Blog: Public Service Europe, 23.4.12: Post-Brighton: the future of the European Court of Human Rights (by Angela Patrick) http://www.publicserviceeurope.com/article/1831/post-brighton-the-future-of-the-european-court-of-human-rights

EUObserver, 19.4.12: UK obstructing EU accession to human rights convention http://euobserver.com/22/115954

ESO: Background information: Cameron seeks allies over curbing ECHR http://www.europeansources.info/record/cameron-seeks-allies-over-curbing-echr/

BBC News, 19.4.12: Ken Clarke: ECHR must hear fewer cases http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17779769

UK: Ministry of Justice: Speech, 19.4.12: Justice Secretary opening remarks to Brighton conference http://www.justice.gov.uk/news/speeches/ken-clarke/justice-secretaru-opening-remarks-to-brighton-conference

UK: Ministry of Justice: Press Release, 20.4.12: UK delivers European court reform http://www.justice.gov.uk/news/press-releases/moj/uk-delivers-european-court-reform

Council of Europe: High Level Conference on the Future of the European Court of Human Rights, 19-20 April 2012: Brighton Declaration http://www.coe.int/en/20120419-brighton-declaration/

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