The State Duma of the Russian Federation has voted in favour of the draft law ratifying Protocol No. 14 to the European Convention on Human Rights. The vote clears the way once and for all for the Protocol, already ratified by the other 46 States Parties, to enter into force.
The President of the European Court of Human Rights, Jean-Paul Costa, welcomed the decision and expressed satisfaction that Protocol No. 14 would be able to take effect in respect of all States.
In particular, the new procedures (the single-judge procedure and the new powers of the three-judge committees) already applied in respect of a large number of States following the Council of Europe ministerial session in Madrid on 12 May 2009 will be rolled out to all States. Although they will not resolve all the problems posed by the flood of applications to the Court, testifying to its unprecedented appeal, these procedural measures will help the Court to operate more efficiently. It will also be possible finally to apply the remaining provisions of Protocol No. 14. Coming just a few weeks before the ministerial conference being organised by Switzerland in Interlaken on 18 and 19 February in response to a Court initiative, which will be of great importance for the Court’s future, the news of Russian ratification is an encouraging sign.
