European Court of Human Rights

The European Convention on Human Rights (opened for signature this day) set out, against a background of expansionist Soviet Communism, a declaration of Western beliefs in political and religious freedom and due process of law.

The European Court of Human Rights ruled that inhuman and degrading British treatment of political prisoners interned in Northern Ireland contravened the European Convention on Human Rights .

The Status of Children Act of Ireland struck down illegitimacy laws, provided for guardianship and maintenance of children, and allowed children of unmarried parents to inherit as if their parents had been married.

A Defamation Act of this date, repealing and amending earlier British acts, has been later attacked as inviting censorship by private interests: a sedition law for millionaires, because of the huge figures exacted in...

Britain's Human Rights Act, enacted in 1998, finally came into force; it directed British courts to take cognizance of decisions by the European Court of Human Rights .