The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is an international treaty designed to protect human rights and political freedoms in Europe. It was opened for signature by Council of Europe member states on 4 November 1950 and entered into force on 3 September 1953.

The Convention’s rights are enforced through the European Court of Human Rights, an international court based in Strasbourg. Individuals, groups and states can bring applications alleging that a state party has breached rights set out in the Convention or its protocols. The court’s judgments are legally binding on the states concerned.

The Convention is at the centre of a political debate in the UK: Reform UK has said it would withdraw the country from it to prevent legal challenges to its proposals on asylum and deportation.