Natural persons, non-governmental organizations, and groups of individuals who have been victimized due to the violation of the European Convention on Human Rights and its Additional Protocols by one of the contracting states can apply to the court. According to the Convention, states must not hinder the effective exercise of this right.
Individuals must exhaust domestic remedies before they can apply to the court. Accordingly, the application must be filed within 6 months from the exhaustion of domestic remedies and the reaching of a final decision.
Although the official languages of the court are English and French, individuals can submit their applications in any of the official languages of the contracting states.
Contracting states are obliged to comply with the final decisions of the court in cases to which they are a party. The Committee of Ministers has the authority to request information from the contracting states regarding the execution of the court's judgment.
