Burkina Faso

Western Africa · UN member State

9 international avenues available

People in Burkina Faso have 9 international avenues available.

This portal is a first source of ideas, not a substitute for expert advice. Before you take any step, talk to a human rights lawyer, for example the team of lawyers at Just Access e.V. (contact@just-access.de).

Complaint about civil and political rights

Human Rights Committee

Available

In force for Burkina Faso since 4 April 1999

Acceded on 4 January 1999

Findings of violation and recommendations such as compensation, protection from deportation, investigation and prosecution, or changes to laws and policies.

Which States it covers: The State must be party to the First Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.
Who can file: The victim, a group of victims, or someone acting for them with their written consent. If you act without consent, you must explain why, for example because the victim is detained without contact with the outside world or has disappeared.
Time limit: 5 years from the final decision in the State, or 3 years after another international procedure ended. A later complaint is accepted only if there are good reasons for the delay.
Do I need to use national courts first?: Yes. You must first use the courts and authorities of the State, up to the highest level. This is not needed if those remedies are unavailable, ineffective or unreasonably slow.
Good to know: The events must have happened after the State accepted the procedure, unless the violation continues. The same case cannot be pending before another international body. You can ask for your name to be kept from the public, but the complaint cannot be anonymous. Complaints are filed through the OHCHR online portal.
How long it usually takes (estimate): Usually 1 to 3 years.
What it can achieve: Findings of violation and recommendations such as compensation, protection from deportation, investigation and prosecution, or changes to laws and policies.
Do I need a lawyer?: No. You can file the complaint yourself. Just Access e.V. offers free guidance at contact@just-access.de.
What if my situation is urgent?: If you face a risk of serious and irreparable harm, for example deportation to torture, you can ask the Committee for interim measures while it examines the case.
Privacy and safety: The procedure is confidential but the final decision is published. You can ask for your name to be withheld from the public. The State and the UN will know who you are. States must protect complainants from reprisals, but this is not always respected.
What happens after the decision?: If the Committee finds a violation, it tells the State what it must do to repair the harm. The State is asked to report on the steps taken within 90 or 180 days, and the Committee follows up. The decision cannot be appealed.

How to submit Official information

Talk to a lawyer before you submit anything.

Source: UN Treaty Collection, Chapter IV (IV-5)(PDF p. 443)Last updated: 10 November 2026.

Complaint about discrimination against women

Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women

Available

In force for Burkina Faso since 10 January 2006

Ratified on 10 October 2005

Findings of violation and recommendations such as compensation, protection from deportation, investigation and prosecution, or changes to laws and policies.

Which States it covers: The State must be party to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
Who can file: The victim, a group of victims, or someone acting for them with their written consent. If you act without consent, you must explain why, for example because the victim is detained without contact with the outside world or has disappeared.
Time limit: No fixed deadline. File as soon as possible.
Do I need to use national courts first?: Yes. You must first use the courts and authorities of the State, up to the highest level. This is not needed if those remedies are unavailable, ineffective or unreasonably slow.
Good to know: The events must have happened after the State accepted the procedure, unless the violation continues. The same case cannot be pending before another international body. You can ask for your name to be kept from the public, but the complaint cannot be anonymous. Complaints are filed through the OHCHR online portal. It must also not have been examined before by another international body.
How long it usually takes (estimate): Usually 2 to 5 years.
What it can achieve: Findings of violation and recommendations such as compensation, protection from deportation, investigation and prosecution, or changes to laws and policies.
Do I need a lawyer?: No. You can file the complaint yourself. Just Access e.V. offers free guidance at contact@just-access.de.
What if my situation is urgent?: If you face a risk of serious and irreparable harm, for example deportation to torture, you can ask the Committee for interim measures while it examines the case.
Privacy and safety: The procedure is confidential but the final decision is published. You can ask for your name to be withheld from the public. The State and the UN will know who you are. States must protect complainants from reprisals, but this is not always respected.
What happens after the decision?: If the Committee finds a violation, it tells the State what it must do to repair the harm. The State is asked to report on the steps taken within 90 or 180 days, and the Committee follows up. The decision cannot be appealed.

How to submit Official information

Talk to a lawyer before you submit anything.

Source: UN Treaty Collection, Chapter IV (IV-8-b)(PDF p. 182)Last updated: 10 November 2026.

Complaint about disability rights

Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities

Available

In force for Burkina Faso since 22 August 2009

Ratified on 23 July 2009

Findings of violation and recommendations such as compensation, protection from deportation, investigation and prosecution, or changes to laws and policies.

Which States it covers: The State must be party to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Who can file: The victim, a group of victims, or someone acting for them with their written consent. If you act without consent, you must explain why, for example because the victim is detained without contact with the outside world or has disappeared.
Time limit: No fixed deadline. File as soon as possible.
Do I need to use national courts first?: Yes. You must first use the courts and authorities of the State, up to the highest level. This is not needed if those remedies are unavailable, ineffective or unreasonably slow.
Good to know: The events must have happened after the State accepted the procedure, unless the violation continues. The same case cannot be pending before another international body. You can ask for your name to be kept from the public, but the complaint cannot be anonymous. Complaints are filed through the OHCHR online portal. It must also not have been examined before by another international body.
How long it usually takes (estimate): Usually 2 to 4 years.
What it can achieve: Findings of violation and recommendations such as compensation, protection from deportation, investigation and prosecution, or changes to laws and policies.
Do I need a lawyer?: No. You can file the complaint yourself. Just Access e.V. offers free guidance at contact@just-access.de.
What if my situation is urgent?: If you face a risk of serious and irreparable harm, for example deportation to torture, you can ask the Committee for interim measures while it examines the case.
Privacy and safety: The procedure is confidential but the final decision is published. You can ask for your name to be withheld from the public. The State and the UN will know who you are. States must protect complainants from reprisals, but this is not always respected.
What happens after the decision?: If the Committee finds a violation, it tells the State what it must do to repair the harm. The State is asked to report on the steps taken within 90 or 180 days, and the Committee follows up. The decision cannot be appealed.

How to submit Official information

Talk to a lawyer before you submit anything.

Source: UN Treaty Collection, Chapter IV (IV-15-a)(PDF p. 103)Last updated: 10 November 2026.

Urgent action to find a disappeared person

Committee on Enforced Disappearances

Available

In force for Burkina Faso since 23 December 2010

Ratified on 3 December 2009

The Committee asks the State to search for and locate the person at once, and can request interim and protection measures.

Information to the UN independent experts

Special Procedures of the Human Rights Council

Available

The experts can write to the government, ask for information, urge it to stop the violation and investigate, and report publicly. They cannot issue binding decisions or award compensation.

Complaint about a pattern of serious violations

Human Rights Council

Available

The Council can keep the situation under review, appoint an independent expert or recommend technical assistance to the State. It does not decide individual cases or award compensation.

Communication to the African Commission

African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights

Available

In force

Recommendations such as compensation, investigation and prosecution, law reform and protection measures. If the State has accepted the African Court, the Commission can refer the case to the Court.

Which States it covers: The State must be party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights. All African Union members except Morocco are.
Who can file: Anyone, including victims, other individuals and NGOs. The author does not need to be related to the victim, and NGOs do not need observer status.
Time limit: Within a reasonable period after the final decision in the State. The Commission has generally treated about 6 months as reasonable, and longer delays must be explained.
Do I need to use national courts first?: Domestic remedies must be exhausted if they are available, effective and sufficient. This is not required where those conditions are not met or the procedure is unduly prolonged.
Good to know: The communication must name its authors, who can ask to stay anonymous in public. It must not use insulting language or rely only on media reports. The Commission provides an official complaint form. Under Article 56(7), the communication must not deal with a case already settled by the States involved in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter, the Charter of the Organisation of African Unity or the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. This is not a general prohibition on all parallel proceedings. Corrections checked concern available, effective and sufficient remedies and prior settlement under Article 56(7). Checked on 20 October 2026 only for the corrections described here. Other information was not reverified.
How long it usually takes (estimate): Usually 2 to 5 years.
What it can achieve: Recommendations such as compensation, investigation and prosecution, law reform and protection measures. If the State has accepted the African Court, the Commission can refer the case to the Court.
Do I need a lawyer?: No. You can file the complaint yourself. Just Access e.V. offers free guidance at contact@just-access.de.
What if my situation is urgent?: The Commission can ask the State to take provisional measures to prevent irreparable harm.
Privacy and safety: Communications are confidential until the African Union authorises publication of the decision.
What happens after the decision?: The State usually has 180 days to report on the measures taken.

How to submit Official information

Talk to a lawyer before you submit anything.

Source: African Union, status list of the African Charter (as at 15 June 2017); ACHPR website confirms 54 States Parties (2026) (1)African Union, status list of the African Charter (as at 15 June 2017); ACHPR website confirms 54 States Parties (2026) (2)Last updated: 10 November 2026.

Direct application to the African Court

African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights

Available

Available: Burkina Faso has made the declaration under yes (article 34(6)) accepting individual complaints

A binding judgment ordering reparations.

Communication about children's rights in Africa

African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child

Available

In force

Ratified/Acceded on 8 June 1992

Recommendations to the State such as compensation, protection measures and reparation. The Committee follows up through country visits and implementation hearings.

Which States it covers: The State must be party to the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child. Egypt is a party to the African Children’s Charter. The Committee has held that Egypt’s Article 44 reservation does not prevent it from considering communications. Normal admissibility requirements apply.
Who can file: Victims, any interested person, groups of persons, civil society organisations, intergovernmental organisations and State parties.
Time limit: Within a reasonable period after the final decision in the State. Where exhaustion is excused, a final domestic decision is not required. The requirement to submit within a reasonable period after exhaustion does not apply when an exception to exhaustion applies.
Do I need to use national courts first?: Yes, unless remedies are unavailable, ineffective or unduly prolonged, or using them would put the child or family at risk. Explain the facts that support the exception.
Good to know: The communication must be in writing and cannot be anonymous. The communication must not raise matters pending settlement or previously settled by another international body or procedure in accordance with any legal instruments of the African Union and the principles of the United Nations Charter, and it must not rely only on media reports. Corrections checked concern Egypt’s Article 44 reservation, international proceedings and timing where exhaustion is excused. Checked on 20 October 2026 only for the corrections described here. Other information was not reverified.
How long it usually takes (estimate): Usually 2 to 5 years.
What it can achieve: Recommendations to the State such as compensation, protection measures and reparation. The Committee follows up through country visits and implementation hearings.
Do I need a lawyer?: No. You can file the complaint yourself. Just Access e.V. offers free guidance at contact@just-access.de.
What if my situation is urgent?: The Committee can ask the State to take provisional measures.
Privacy and safety: Decisions are published. You can ask for the identity of the child and the complainant to be withheld from the public.
What happens after the decision?: The State usually has 180 days to report on the measures taken.

How to submit Official information

Talk to a lawyer before you submit anything.

Source: ACERWC, ratification tableLast updated: 10 November 2026.

Information to the ICC Prosecutor

International Criminal Court, Office of the Prosecutor

Available

Available. Withdrawal takes effect on 24 June 2027

Withdrawal notified on 24 June 2026; it takes effect on 24 June 2027. Until then the State remains a party, and the Court keeps jurisdiction over crimes committed while it was a party.

The Prosecutor analyses the information and may open a preliminary examination or investigation. Any written reply depends on the Office's assessment process. Correspondence screened out as falling outside Article 15 may receive no reply.

Complaint about economic, social and cultural rights

Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights

Not available

Not available: signed on 24 September 2012 but not ratified

Findings of violation and recommendations such as compensation, protection from deportation, investigation and prosecution, or changes to laws and policies.

Which States it covers: The State must be party to the Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Who can file: The victim, a group of victims, or someone acting for them with their written consent. If you act without consent, you must explain why, for example because the victim is detained without contact with the outside world or has disappeared.
Time limit: 1 year from the final decision in the State, unless you can show it was not possible to file in time.
Do I need to use national courts first?: Yes. You must first use the courts and authorities of the State, up to the highest level. This is not needed if those remedies are unavailable, ineffective or unreasonably slow.
Good to know: The events must have happened after the State accepted the procedure, unless the violation continues. The same case cannot be pending before another international body. You can ask for your name to be kept from the public, but the complaint cannot be anonymous. Complaints are filed through the OHCHR online portal. It must also not have been examined before by another international body.
How long it usually takes (estimate): Usually 2 to 5 years.
What it can achieve: Findings of violation and recommendations such as compensation, protection from deportation, investigation and prosecution, or changes to laws and policies.
Do I need a lawyer?: No. You can file the complaint yourself. Just Access e.V. offers free guidance at contact@just-access.de.
What if my situation is urgent?: If you face a risk of serious and irreparable harm, for example deportation to torture, you can ask the Committee for interim measures while it examines the case.
Privacy and safety: The procedure is confidential but the final decision is published. You can ask for your name to be withheld from the public. The State and the UN will know who you are. States must protect complainants from reprisals, but this is not always respected.
What happens after the decision?: If the Committee finds a violation, it tells the State what it must do to repair the harm. The State is asked to report on the steps taken within 90 or 180 days, and the Committee follows up. The decision cannot be appealed.

How to submit Official information

Source: UN Treaty Collection, Chapter IV (IV-3-a)(PDF p. 273)Last updated: 10 November 2026.

Petition to the Inter-American Commission

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights

Not available

Not available: no ratification or declaration in the official record

Recommendations such as stopping the violation, investigating and punishing those responsible, compensation and changes in law. If the State has accepted the Inter-American Court and does not comply, the case can go to the Court.

Which States it covers: Any member State of the Organization of American States.
Who can file: Any person, group of persons or NGO legally recognised in an OAS member State. The petitioner does not have to be the victim.
Time limit: 6 months from notification of the final decision in the State. Where an exception to the exhaustion of domestic remedies applies, the petition must instead be lodged within a reasonable period, under Articles 31 and 32 of the Commission's Rules of Procedure.
Do I need to use national courts first?: Yes. You must first use the courts and authorities of the State, up to the highest level. This is not needed if those remedies are unavailable, ineffective or unreasonably slow.
Good to know: No fee is charged. Petitions are filed through the Commission's online petition portal. The time limit, coverage, review time, privacy and precautionary measures texts were corrected on the 20th of October 2026.
How long it usually takes (estimate): Usually several years. The first review of a petition can take longer than a year.
What it can achieve: Recommendations such as stopping the violation, investigating and punishing those responsible, compensation and changes in law. If the State has accepted the Inter-American Court and does not comply, the case can go to the Court.
Do I need a lawyer?: No. You can file the complaint yourself. Just Access e.V. offers free guidance at contact@just-access.de.
What if my situation is urgent?: You can request precautionary measures in serious and urgent situations where there is a risk of irreparable harm. A pending petition is not required. The Commission then asks the State to protect the people at risk.
Privacy and safety: Proceedings are generally not confidential. If you are the petitioner, you can ask for your identity to be withheld from the State, giving your reasons, and the Commission decides. The identity of the victim is generally communicated to the State.
What happens after the decision?: The State usually has 2 to 3 months to report on the measures taken.

How to submit Official information

Source: OAS member states list; OAS B-32 status table (1)OAS member states list; OAS B-32 status table (2)Last updated: 10 November 2026.

Complaint about torture and ill treatment

Committee against Torture

Not available

Not available: no ratification or declaration in the official record

Findings of violation and recommendations such as compensation, protection from deportation, investigation and prosecution, or changes to laws and policies.

Which States it covers: The State must have made the declaration under Article 22 of the Convention against Torture.
Who can file: The victim, a group of victims, or someone acting for them with their written consent. If you act without consent, you must explain why, for example because the victim is detained without contact with the outside world or has disappeared.
Time limit: No fixed deadline. The Committee can reject a complaint if the delay since the final domestic decision makes examination unduly difficult.
Do I need to use national courts first?: Yes. You must first use the courts and authorities of the State, up to the highest level. This is not needed if those remedies are unavailable, ineffective or unreasonably slow.
Good to know: The events must have happened after the State accepted the procedure, unless the violation continues. The same case cannot be pending before another international body. You can ask for your name to be kept from the public, but the complaint cannot be anonymous. Complaints are filed through the OHCHR online portal. It must also not have been examined before by another international body.
How long it usually takes (estimate): Usually 1 to 3 years.
What it can achieve: Findings of violation and recommendations such as compensation, protection from deportation, investigation and prosecution, or changes to laws and policies.
Do I need a lawyer?: No. You can file the complaint yourself. Just Access e.V. offers free guidance at contact@just-access.de.
What if my situation is urgent?: If you face a risk of torture or deportation, you can ask for interim measures. The Committee can ask the State to stop a deportation or provide medical care while it examines the case.
Privacy and safety: The procedure is confidential but the final decision is published. You can ask for your name to be withheld from the public. The State and the UN will know who you are. States must protect complainants from reprisals, but this is not always respected.
What happens after the decision?: If the Committee finds a violation, it tells the State what it must do to repair the harm. The State is asked to report on the steps taken within 90 or 180 days, and the Committee follows up. The decision cannot be appealed.

How to submit Official information

Source: UN Treaty Collection, Chapter IV (IV-9), declarations sectionLast updated: 10 November 2026.

Complaint about racial discrimination

Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Not available

Not available: no ratification or declaration in the official record

Findings of violation and recommendations such as compensation, protection from deportation, investigation and prosecution, or changes to laws and policies.

Which States it covers: The State must have made the declaration under Article 14 of the Convention on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination.
Who can file: The victim, a group of victims, or someone acting for them with their written consent. If you act without consent, you must explain why, for example because the victim is detained without contact with the outside world or has disappeared.
Time limit: 6 months from the final decision in the State, except in exceptional circumstances that you can prove.
Do I need to use national courts first?: Yes. You must first use the courts and authorities of the State, up to the highest level. This is not needed if those remedies are unavailable, ineffective or unreasonably slow.
Good to know: The events must have happened after the State accepted the procedure, unless the violation continues. The same case cannot be pending before another international body. You can ask for your name to be kept from the public, but the complaint cannot be anonymous. Complaints are filed through the OHCHR online portal.
How long it usually takes (estimate): Usually 2 to 5 years.
What it can achieve: Findings of violation and recommendations such as compensation, protection from deportation, investigation and prosecution, or changes to laws and policies.
Do I need a lawyer?: No. You can file the complaint yourself. Just Access e.V. offers free guidance at contact@just-access.de.
What if my situation is urgent?: If you face a risk of serious and irreparable harm, for example deportation to torture, you can ask the Committee for interim measures while it examines the case.
Privacy and safety: The procedure is confidential but the final decision is published. You can ask for your name to be withheld from the public. The State and the UN will know who you are. States must protect complainants from reprisals, but this is not always respected.
What happens after the decision?: If the Committee finds a violation, it tells the State what it must do to repair the harm. The State is asked to report on the steps taken within 90 or 180 days, and the Committee follows up. The decision cannot be appealed.

How to submit Official information

Source: UN Treaty Collection, Chapter IV (IV-2), declarations sectionLast updated: 10 November 2026.

Complaint about children's rights

Committee on the Rights of the Child

Not available

Not available: signed on 25 September 2024 but not ratified

Findings of violation and recommendations such as compensation, protection from deportation, investigation and prosecution, or changes to laws and policies.

Which States it covers: The State must be party to the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on a communications procedure.
Who can file: A child, a group of children, or someone acting for them with their consent. A child friendly version of the online form is available.
Time limit: 1 year from the final decision in the State, unless you can show it was not possible to file in time.
Do I need to use national courts first?: Yes. You must first use the courts and authorities of the State, up to the highest level. This is not needed if those remedies are unavailable, ineffective or unreasonably slow.
Good to know: The events must have happened after the State accepted the procedure, unless the violation continues. The same case cannot be pending before another international body. You can ask for your name to be kept from the public, but the complaint cannot be anonymous. Complaints are filed through the OHCHR online portal. It must also not have been examined before by another international body.
How long it usually takes (estimate): Usually several years.
What it can achieve: Findings of violation and recommendations such as compensation, protection from deportation, investigation and prosecution, or changes to laws and policies.
Do I need a lawyer?: No. You can file the complaint yourself. Just Access e.V. offers free guidance at contact@just-access.de.
What if my situation is urgent?: If you face a risk of serious and irreparable harm, for example deportation to torture, you can ask the Committee for interim measures while it examines the case.
Privacy and safety: The procedure is confidential but the final decision is published. You can ask for your name to be withheld from the public. The State and the UN will know who you are. States must protect complainants from reprisals, but this is not always respected.
What happens after the decision?: If the Committee finds a violation, it tells the State what it must do to repair the harm. The State is asked to report on the steps taken within 90 or 180 days, and the Committee follows up. The decision cannot be appealed.

How to submit Official information

Source: UN Treaty Collection, Chapter IV (IV-11-d)(PDF p. 455)Last updated: 10 November 2026.

Complaint about enforced disappearance

Committee on Enforced Disappearances

Not available

Not available: no ratification or declaration in the official record

Findings of violation and recommendations such as compensation, protection from deportation, investigation and prosecution, or changes to laws and policies.

Which States it covers: The State must have made the declaration under Article 31 of the Convention on Enforced Disappearance.
Who can file: The victim, a group of victims, or someone acting for them with their written consent. If you act without consent, you must explain why, for example because the victim is detained without contact with the outside world or has disappeared.
Time limit: No fixed deadline. File as soon as possible.
Do I need to use national courts first?: Yes. You must first use the courts and authorities of the State, up to the highest level. This is not needed if those remedies are unavailable, ineffective or unreasonably slow.
Good to know: The events must have happened after the State accepted the procedure, unless the violation continues. The same case cannot be pending before another international body. You can ask for your name to be kept from the public, but the complaint cannot be anonymous. Complaints are filed through the OHCHR online portal. It must also not have been examined before by another international body.
How long it usually takes (estimate): Usually several years.
What it can achieve: Findings of violation and recommendations such as compensation, protection from deportation, investigation and prosecution, or changes to laws and policies.
Do I need a lawyer?: No. You can file the complaint yourself. Just Access e.V. offers free guidance at contact@just-access.de.
What if my situation is urgent?: If you face a risk of serious and irreparable harm, for example deportation to torture, you can ask the Committee for interim measures while it examines the case.
Privacy and safety: The procedure is confidential but the final decision is published. You can ask for your name to be withheld from the public. The State and the UN will know who you are. States must protect complainants from reprisals, but this is not always respected.
What happens after the decision?: If the Committee finds a violation, it tells the State what it must do to repair the harm. The State is asked to report on the steps taken within 90 or 180 days, and the Committee follows up. The decision cannot be appealed.

How to submit Official information

Source: UN Treaty Collection, Chapter IV (IV-16), declarations sectionLast updated: 10 November 2026.

Complaint about the rights of migrant workers

Committee on Migrant Workers

Not yet in force

Not yet in force. It starts only when 10 States have accepted it under Article 77, and 5 have done so.

Case before the Inter-American Court, through the Commission

Inter-American Court of Human Rights

Not available

Not available: no ratification or declaration in the official record

A binding judgment ordering reparations.

Collective complaint under the European Social Charter

European Committee of Social Rights

Not available

Not available: no ratification or declaration in the official record

A decision on whether the State complies with the Charter. The Committee of Ministers then adopts a resolution or a recommendation to the State.

Human rights case before the ECOWAS Court

ECOWAS Community Court of Justice

Not available

No longer available: denounced with effect from 29 January 2025

Left ECOWAS with effect from 29 January 2025. Cases about earlier events: check with the Court.

A binding judgment that is final and cannot be appealed.

Application to the European Court of Human Rights

European Court of Human Rights

Not available

Not available: no ratification or declaration in the official record

A binding judgment. The State may have to pay compensation and take measures such as releasing a prisoner or changing the law.

Which States it covers: Council of Europe member States.
Who can file: Any person, group of individuals, NGO or company claiming to be a victim.
Time limit: The four-month period normally runs from the final decision in the effective domestic-remedy process. If no effective remedy exists, it can run from the act, event or decision complained of.
Do I need to use national courts first?: Yes. You must generally use effective domestic remedies within normal appeal procedures, not special discretionary or extraordinary remedies. This is not needed if those remedies are unavailable, ineffective or unreasonably slow.
Good to know: The 4 month time limit is strict. Only a complete application form, sent as the Court's instructions require, stops it. A fax or an incomplete form does not. The Court cannot examine a case that is substantially the same as one already submitted to another international procedure, unless it contains relevant new information. Corrections checked concern the four-month starting point and normal effective-remedy appeal procedures. Checked on 20 October 2026 only for the corrections described here. Other information was not reverified.
How long it usually takes (estimate): Usually 3 to 7 years.
What it can achieve: A binding judgment. The State may have to pay compensation and take measures such as releasing a prisoner or changing the law.
Do I need a lawyer?: Not needed to apply, but strongly advised. Once the case is sent to the government you normally need a lawyer.
What if my situation is urgent?: In exceptional cases, if you face an imminent risk of irreparable harm, for example expulsion to a country where you risk death or ill treatment, the Court can indicate interim measures under Rule 39.
Privacy and safety: Case documents are generally public. The Court can exceptionally keep your identity from the public, but not from the State.
What happens after the decision?: The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe supervises how the State carries out the judgment. Compensation is usually due within 3 months.

How to submit Official information

Source: Council of Europe Treaty Office, ETS No. 005Last updated: 10 November 2026.