The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) entered into force on September 3, 1953, with binding effect on all Member States of the Council of Europe. It grants the people of Europe a number of fundamental rights and freedoms, including: right to life * prohibition of torture * prohibition of slavery and forced labor * right to liberty and security * right to a fair trial * no punishment without law * right to respect for private and family life * freedom of thought, conscience, and religion * freedom of expression * freedom of assembly and association * right to marry * right to an effective remedy * prohibition of discrimination. Any person who feels his or her rights under the ECHR have been violated by the authorities of one of the Member States can bring a case to the European Court of Human Rights, established under the Convention. Member States are bound by the Court's decisions and the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe make sure that the decisions are properly executed. Today, the Court receives thousands of petitions annually, demonstrating the immense impact of the Convention and the Strasbourg Court. This comprehensive German-style commentary deals with the ECHR systematically and article-by-article, considering the development and scope of each article, together with the relevant case-law and literature. It is an extremely useful tool for all those working and studying in the area of European human rights, and it will help in gaining a deeper understanding of the ECHR.ò