The European System and Human Rights

European system for human rights protection was started by the Council of Europe, created by some Western European countries in 1949.  Many European countries are members of the Council.  There are two governing treaties:  the European Social Charter and the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms.  The Convention created the European Commission on Human Rights and the European Court of Human Rights.  The Council, the Commission and the Court are located in Strasbourg, France.  Most of the member nations give the Convention the status of domestic law.