The role of derogations from the ECHR in the current ‘war on terror’

This chapter points out that derogation from the ECHR under Article 15 ECHR was designed after the Second World War precisely to allow contracting states to meet emergencies such as the one represented by the current “war on terror,” but to remain within the ECHR system, while suspending adherence to certain rights on a temporary basis. Article 15 allows states to cease their adherence to a number of Convention rights during the period of the emergency. It might be expected therefore that reliance on derogations would be particularly significant at the present time. But the chapter finds that very few derogations have been sought from ECHR contracting states despite the recent very significant rise in terrorist activity. Given that derogations have played little part in counterterrorism efforts in most of the ECHR contracting states, a significant degree of continued adherence to the ECHR has been maintained, but some attention has turned to other methods of exploring the evasion of its protection. This chapter explores the reasons behind the lack of reliance on derogations and the implications of turning to such other methods as alternatives.