European Treaty Series - No. 5
Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
as amended by Protocols No. 11 and No. 14 *
Rome, 4.XI.1950
The governments signatory hereto, being members of the Council of Europe,
Considering the Universal Declaration of Human Rights proclaimed by the General
Assembly of the United Nations on 10th December 1948;
Considering that this Declaration aims at securing the universal and effective recognition
and observance of the Rights therein declared;
Considering that the aim of the Council of Europe is the achievement of greater unity
between its members and that one of the methods by which that aim is to be pursued is the
maintenance and further realisation of human rights and fundamental freedoms;
Reaffirming their profound belief in those fundamental freedoms which are the foundation of
justice and peace in the world and are best maintained on the one hand by an effective
political democracy and on the other by a common understanding and observance of the
human rights upon which they depend;
Being resolved, as the governments of European countries which are like-minded and have
a common heritage of political traditions, ideals, freedom and the rule of law, to take the first
steps for the collective enforcement of certain of the rights stated in the Universal
Declaration,
Have agreed as follows:
Article 1 – Obligation to respect human rights
The High Contracting Parties shall secure to everyone within their jurisdiction the rights and
freedoms defined in Section I of this Convention.
Section I – Rights and freedoms
Article 2 – Right to life
1
Everyone's right to life shall be protected by law. No one shall be deprived of his life
intentionally save in the execution of a sentence of a court following his conviction of a crime
for which this penalty is provided by law.