The Impact of European Convention on Human Rights on Private International law

This study analyzes the existing and possible impacts of the rights guaranteed in European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and its additional protocols on cases which have foreign elements and thus fall under the scope of private international law. In this context, fisrtly it was examnied whether the ECHR is applicable to the issues which are related to private international law in the light of the nature of the rights contained in the ECHR and the obligations of the Contracting States regarding these rights. Secondly, the effect of rights contained in the ECHR applicable to the disputes arising from private international law cases on determination and ascertainment of foreign law and application of foreign law was analyzed. Then, the effects of Art 6(1) of the ECHR on international jurisdiction of national courts of Contracting States and some procedural rules which was applicable to private international law cases was examined and it was established that the Contracting States are under the obligation to respect, protect and fulfill the Conventional rights of individuals when implementing these rules on such cases. Finally, the relationship between the application of the rules on recognition and enforcement of foreign judgments which constitutes a part of private international law regimes of Contracting States and the Conventional obligations of Contracting States was discussed. Thus, by analyzing the case law of the European Court of Human Rights (EctHR) and the national courts of Contracting States and opinions which is asserted in the doctrine, a number of principles was put forward concerning the relationship between the ECHR and these areas of private international law.