9/11 WTC Demolition, Insurance & Redevelopment

At some point in the future all skyscrapers will have to be demolished. HOW, WHEN and WHO will demolish these tall buildings? The World Trade Center was the first major skyscraper complex to be demolished, in the name of Al-Qaeda, at Minimal Cost but at a Maximum Loss of Human Life.

The commercial viability and long term profitability of tall buildings depends upon various factors. Market forces such as (the 1987) stock market crashes would increase vacancies in such buildings and more modern attractive sites would become available at competitive rates over time. Costs relating to capital improvements, maintenance and deconstruction are important components of Property Management and Profitability.

The architects, the owners and even some of the investors in the WTC Complex and the following skyscrapers should have addressed the fundamental issue of deconstruction /dismantling the buildings. How do we remove these tall buildings in the future from the heart of bustling and congested cities? What goes up, must come down at some point. When is the best time?

SKYSCRAPERS - HOW, WHEN AND WHO WILL DEMOLISH THE WORLD'S TALLEST BUILDINGS?

Sears Tower - 527.3m/1,729ft Pinnacle - 108 Floors - 1974 Built - US Chicago
1 World Trade Center (North Tower) - 526.3m/1,724ft Pinnacle - 110 Floors - 1972 Built - US New York City

Taipei 101 - 509.2m/1,671ft Pinnacle - 101 Floors - 2004 Built - China (Taiwan) Taipei

Shanghai World Financial Center - 492m/1,614ft Pinnacle - 101 Floors - 2008 Built - China Shanghai

John Hancock Center - 457.2m/1,500ft Pinnacle - 100 Floors - 1969 Built - US Chicago

Petronas Tower 1 - 452m/1,483 ft Pinnacle - 88 Floors - 1998 Built - Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur
Petronas Tower 2 - 452m/1,483 ft Pinnacle - 88 Floors - 1998 Built - Malaysia - Kuala Lumpur

Empire State Building - 448.7m/1,472ft Pinnacle - 102 Floors - 1931 Built - US New York City
Jin Mao Tower - 420.5m/1,380ft Pinnacle - 88 Floors - 1998 Built - China Shanghai
International Finance Centre - 415.8m/1,364ft Pinnacle - 88 Floors - 2003 Built - China Hong Kong

2 World Trade Center (South Tower) - 416m/1,362ft Pinnacle - 110 Floors - 1973 Built - US New York City

CITIC Plaza - 391m/1,283ft Pinnacle - 80 Floors - 1997 Built - China Guangzhou

LARRY SILVERSTEIN - THE PUBLIC FACE OF THE LEASE BUT NOT THE ONLY INVESTOR
In January 2001, Silverstein, via Silverstein Properties and Westfield America, made a $3.2 billion bid for the lease to the WTC. Silverstein's bid for the lease to the WTC was accepted on Tuesday July 24, 2001, six weeks before the buildings were destroyed in the Tuesday September 11, 2001 attacks. The lease agreement applied to One, Two, Four and Five WTC center, and about 425,000 square feet of retail space. Silverstein Properties already owned WTC 7 at this time. Silverstein put up only $14 million of his own money. His partners put up a further $111 million, and banks provide $563 million in loans. Silverstein was also given the right to rebuild the structures, should they be destroyed.

Larry Silverstein claimed approximately $4.5 billion dollars insurance, following the destruction of the WTC complex. These funds are being used to develop the new WTC site and to fund other projects.

The Old WTC Complex was composed of seven buildings. Note the number of stories each building had and how they were destroyed.

Building 1 was the North Tower with 110 floors and an antenna mast on roof.
Building 2 was the South Tower, with 110 floors and an observation deck on roof.
Building 3 was the 22 story Marriott World Trade Center Hotel.
Building 4 was a low-rise 9 story office building.
Building 5 was a low-rise 9 story office building.
Building 6 was the low-rise 7 story US Customs House, a Federal office building.
Building 7 was a mid-rise with 47 floors containing office space and utility infrastructure as well as the New York City government emergency response center.

AL-QAEDA....A FEW EXPLOSIVES WILL HELP....

There are numerous web sites expressing suspicions about how the WTC complex was destroyed. Here are a few sites exploring the collapse of the buildings.


Intro to Controlled demolition hypothesis for the collapse of the World Trade Center
According to the controlled demolition hypothesis conspiracy theory, the World Trade Center was not destroyed by the planes that crashed into it as part of the September 11th attacks, nor by the fires that followed, but by explosives or other devices planted in the buildings in advance. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controlled_demolition_hypothesis_for_the_collapse_of_the_World_Trade_Center

9/11 Theologian Says Controlled Demolition of World Trade Center Is Now a Fact, Not a Theory
In two speeches to overflowing crowds in New York last weekend (October 21, 2005), notable theologian David Ray Griffin argued that recently revealed evidence seals the case that the Twin Towers and WTC-7 were destroyed by controlled demolition with explosives.
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=20051021&articleId=1129

Proof Of Controlled Demolition At The WTC, by Jerry Russell, Ph.D. http://www.attackonamerica.net/proofofcontrolleddemolitionatwtc.htm

Why Did the World Trade Center Collapse? Science, Engineering, and Speculation - JOM
In order to separate the fact from the fiction, we have attempted to quantify various details of the collapse. The airplane impact with damage to the columns; the ensuing fire with loss of steel strength and distortion as well as the collapse, which generally occurred inward without significant tipping.
http://www.tms.org/pubs/journals/JOM/0112/Eagar/Eagar-0112.html

World Trade Center Demolition Blog
This blog will deal with the collapse of the world trade center buildings 1, 2 and 7 on 9/11/01, and in particular will focus on the idea that the towers were brought down by controlled demolition.
http://wtcdemolition.blogspot.com/

* * * * * * *

Marion Cotillard - Criticism Unjustified The French Actress Marion Cotillard caused some controversy recently when her comments concerning 911 resurfaced in 2008. Here follows a English translation of the French transcript from Mariana magazine. She has only voiced an opinion, which has already been expressed by other people.


"We can watch on the internet all the films that, well… about 9/11 about, about the conspiracy theory. It’s fascinating. It’s even addictive after a while. (Let’s take 9/11, for example, what did disturb you more concretely?) You are shown that other towers of the same kind that were hit by planes, that burnt… There is a tower, I think that it’s in Spain that burnt for 24 hours. (Before collapsing…) It never collapsed! None of these towers collapsed. And, over there, in a few minutes, the thing collapses. And, then, after that, we’ll talk lengthily about it because there was, because the thing was filled with gold, the towers from 9/11. And then it was a money sucker because they were finished, it seems to me, in ‘73, and to update all that, to modernise all the technology and everything, it was much more expensive to have work done etc than destroying them. Did man walk on the moon? I’ve seen quite a lot of documentaries about it and I ask myself. But, in any case, I don’t believe everything that I’m told, that’s for sure."

BIN LADIN versus Bush - Who Speaks From the Heart?

Translation of Shaykh Usama bin Ladin Message -
As-Sahab Production - Wednesday 19 March 2008

In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful…

To the intelligent ones in the European Union : peace be upon he who follows guidance.

This talk of mine is to you and concerns the insulting drawings and your negligence in spite of the opportunity presented to take the necessary measures to prevent their being repeated.

To begin, I tell you: hostility between human beings is very old, but the intelligent ones among the nations in all eras, have been keen to observe the etiquettes of dispute and the morals of fighting.

This is best for them, as conflict is ever changing and war has its ups and downs.

However, you, in your conflict with us, have abandoned many of the morals of fighting in practice, even if you hold aloft its slogans in theory.

How it saddens us that you target our villages with your bombing: those modest mud villages which have collapsed onto our women and children.

You do that intentionally, and I am witness to that.

All of this [you do] without right and in conformity with your oppressive ally who – along with his oppressive policies – is about to depart the White House.

And it is no longer hidden from you that these savage acts haven’t ended the war, but rather, increase our determination to cling to our right, avenge our people, and expel the invaders from our country.

And [you also know now] that these massacres are never erased from the memory of the peoples, and the effects of this are not hidden.

Although our tragedy in your killing of our women and children is a very great one, it paled when you went overboard in your unbelief and freed yourselves of the etiquettes of dispute and fighting and went to the extent of publishing these insulting drawings.

This is the greater and more serious tragedy, and reckoning for it will be more severe.

And I bring your attention to a telling matter, which is that despite your publishing of the insulting drawings, you haven’t seen any reaction from the one and a half billion Muslims, which includes an insult to the Prophet of Allah, Jesus the son of Mary (peace and prayers be upon him).

We believe in all of the Prophets (peace and prayers be upon them), and whoever detracts from or mocks any one of them is an apostate unbeliever.

And here it is worth pointing out that there is no need to use as an excuse, the sacredness you accord freedom of expression and the sacredness of your laws and how you won’t change them.

If so, then on what basis were American soldiers exempted from being subject to your laws on your land?

And on what basis do you suppress those who cast doubt on the statistics of an historical event?

In addition, you know that there is one man who can put an end to these drawings, if it mattered to him: the crownless king in Riyadh, who ordered your legal institutions to stop their investigations into the embezzlement of billions from the al-Yamamah deal, and Blair carried this out, and he is today your representative in the quartet.

To sum up, then, the laws of men which clash with the legislations of Allah the Most High are null and void, aren’t sacred, and don’t matter to us.

And in addition your practical stance towards the al-Yamamah deal requires you to admit that there are some values which are greater than your values.

In closing, I tell you: if there is no check on the freedom of your words, then let your hearts be open to the freedom of our actions.

And it is amazing and to make light of others that you talk about tolerance and peace at a time when your soldiers perpetrate murder even against the weak and oppressed in our countries.

Then came your publishing of these drawings, which came in the framework of a new Crusade in which the Pope of the Vatican has played a large, lengthy role.

And all of that is confirmation on your part of the continuation of the war, as well as a testing of the Muslims in their religion: is the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) more beloved to them than themselves and their wealth?

The answer is what you see, not what you hear, and may our mothers be bereaved of us if we fail to help the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him).

And peace be upon he who follows the guidance.

BUSH versus Bin Ladin - Who Speaks From the Heart?

BUSH MARKS FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF IRAQI INVASION

Five years after launching the U.S. invasion of Iraq, President Bush marked the anniversary with a speech at The Pentagon. - Wednesday, March 19, 2008

PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH: Thank you, all. Deputy Secretary England, thanks for the introduction. One boss may not be here, but the other one is.

(LAUGHTER)

I appreciate your kind words.

I'm pleased to be back here with the men and women of the Defense Department.

On this day in 2003, the United States began Operation Iraqi Freedom. As the campaign unfolded, tens of thousands of our troops poured across the Iraqi border, to liberate the Iraqi people and remove a regime that threatened free nations.

Five years into this battle, there is an understandable debate over whether the war was worth fighting, whether the fight is worth winning, and whether we can win it.

BUSH: The answers are clear to me. Removing Saddam Hussein from power was the right decision, and this is a fight America can and must win.

The men and women who crossed into Iraq five years ago removed a tyrant, liberated a country, and rescued millions from unspeakable horrors.

Some of those troops are with us today. And you need to know that the American people are proud of your accomplishment. And so is the commander in chief.

(APPLAUSE)

I appreciate Admiral Mullen, the Joint Chiefs who are here -- thanks for coming -- Secretary Donald Winter of the Navy.

Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte is with us.

BUSH: Admiral Thad Allen of the Coast Guard is with us.

Ambassador from Iraq is with us.

Mr. Ambassador, we're proud to have you here.

Soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen and Coast men -- Coast Guardmen, thanks for coming. Thanks for wearing the uniform.

Men and women of the Department of State are here, as well.

Operation Iraqi Freedom was a remarkable display of military effectiveness. Forces from the U.K., Austria, Poland and other allies joined our troops in the initial operations.

As they advanced, our troops fought their way through sandstorms so intense that they blackened the daytime sky. Our troops engaged in pitched battles with Fedayeen Saddam, death squads acting on the orders of Saddam Hussein that obeyed neither the conventions of war, nor the dictates of conscience.

These death squads hid in schools and they hid in hospitals, hoping to draw fire against Iraqi civilians.

BUSH: They used women and children as human shields. They stopped at nothing in their efforts to prevent us from prevailing. But they couldn't stop the coalition advance.

Aided by the most effective and precise air campaign in history, coalition forces raced across 350 miles of enemy territory, destroying Republican Guard divisions, pushing through the Karbala Gap, capturing Saddam International Airport, and liberating Baghdad in less than one month.

Along the way, our troops added new chapters to the story of American military heroism. During these first weeks of battle, Army Sergeant 1st Class Paul Ray Smith and his troops came under a surprise attack by about 100 Republican Guard forces. Sergeant Smith rallied his men. He led a counterattack, killing as many as 50 enemy soldiers before being fatally wounded.

His actions saved the lives of more than 100 American troops, and earning the Medal of Honor.

BUSH: Today, in light of the challenges we face in Iraq, some look back at this period as the easy part of the war. Yet, there was nothing easy about it. The liberation of Iraq took incredible skill and amazing courage, and the speed, precision and brilliant execution of the campaign will be studied by military historians for years to come.

What our troops found in Iraq following Saddam's removal was horrifying. They uncovered children's prisons and torture chambers, and rape rooms where Iraqi women were violated in front of their families.

They found videos showing regime thugs mutilating Iraqis deemed disloyal to Saddam. Across the Iraqi countryside they uncovered mass graves of thousands executed by the regime.

Because we acted, Saddam Hussein no longer fills fields with remains of innocent men, women and children.

Because we acted, Saddam's torture chambers and rape rooms and children's prisons have been closed for good.

Because we acted, Saddam's regime is no longer invading its neighbors, or attacking them with chemical weapons and ballistic missiles.

Because we acted, Saddam's regime is no longer paying the families of suicide bombers in the holy land.

Because we acted, Saddam's regime is no longer shooting at American and British aircraft patrolling the no-fly zones and defying the will of the United Nations.

Because we acted, the world is better and the United States of America is safer.

(APPLAUSE)

BUSH: When the Iraqi regime was removed, it did not lay down its arms and surrender. Instead, former regime elements took off their uniforms and faded into the countryside to fight the emergence of a free Iraq. And then they were joined by foreign terrorists who were seeking to stop the advance of liberty in the Middle East and seeking to establish safe havens from which to plot new attacks across the world.

The battle in Iraq has been longer and harder and more costly than we anticipated, but it is a fight we must win. So our troops have engaged these enemies with courage and determination.

And as they battle the terrorists and extremists in Iraq, they have helped the Iraqi people reclaim their nation and helped a young democracy rise from the rubble of Saddam Hussein's tyranny.

BUSH: Over the past five years we've seen moments of triumph and moments of tragedy. We've watched in admiration as 12 million Iraqis defied the terrorists and went to the polls and chose their leaders in free elections. We watched in horror as Al Qaida beheaded innocent captives and sent suicide bombers to blow up mosques and markets.

These actions show the brutal nature of the enemy in Iraq, and they serve as a grim reminder the terrorists who murder the innocent in the streets of Baghdad want to murder the innocent in the streets of America.

BUSH: Defeating this enemy in Iraq will make it less likely that we'll face the enemy here at home.

A little over a year ago, the fight in Iraq was faltering. Extremist elements were succeeding in their efforts to plunge Iraq into chaos. They had established safe havens in many parts of the country. They were creating divisions among the Iraqis along sectarian lines.

And their strategy of using violence in Iraq to cause divisions in America was working, as pressures built here in Washington for withdrawal before the job was done.

My administration understood that America could not retreat in the face of terror. And we knew that if we did not act, the violence that had been consuming Iraq would worsen and spread and could eventually reach genocidal levels.

BUSH: Baghdad could have disintegrated into a contagion of killing and Iraq could have descended into full-blown sectarian warfare.

So we reviewed the strategy and changed course in Iraq; sent reinforcements into the country in a dramatic policy shift that is now known as the surge.

General David Petraeus took command with a new mission: work with the Iraqi forces to protect the Iraqi people, pressure the enemy in the strongholds, and deny the terrorists sanctuary anywhere in the country.

And that is precisely what we have done.

In Anbar, Sunni tribal leaders had grown tired of Al Qaida's brutality and started the popular uprising called the Anbar Awakening. To take advantage of this opportunity, we sent 4,000 additional Marines to help these brave Iraqis drive Al Qaida from the province.

BUSH: As this effort succeeded, it inspired other Iraqis to take up the fight. Soon, similar uprisings began to spread across the country. Today, there are more than 90,000 Concerned Local Citizens who are protecting their communities from the terrorists and insurgents and the extremists.

The government in Baghdad has stepped forward with a surge of its own. They've added more than 100,000 new Iraqi soldiers and police during the past year.

These Iraqi troops have fought bravely, and thousands have given their lives in this struggle.

Together, these Americans and Iraqi forces have driven the terrorists from many of the sanctuaries they once held. Now the terrorists have gathered in and around the northern city of Mosul, and Iraqi and American forces are relentlessly pursuing them.

There will be tough fighting in Mosul and areas of northern Iraq in the weeks ahead. But there's no doubt in my mind, because of the courage of our troops and the bravery of the Iraqis, the Al Qaida terrorists in this region will suffer the same fate as Al Qaida suffered elsewhere in Iraq.

As we have fought Al Qaida, coalition and Iraqi forces have also taken the fight to Shia extremist groups, many of them backed and financed and armed by Iran.

A year ago, these groups were on the rise.

BUSH: Today, they are increasingly isolated, and Iraqis of all faiths are putting their lives on the line to stop these extremists from hijacking their young democracy.

To ensure that military progress in Iraq is quickly followed up with real improvements in daily life, we have doubled the number of provincial reconstruction teams in Iraq.

These teams of civilian experts are serving all Iraqi -- 18 Iraqi provinces and they're helping to strengthen responsible leaders and build up local economies and bring Iraqis together so that reconciliation can happen from the ground up.

BUSH: They're very effective. They're helping give ordinary Iraqis confidence that by rejecting the extremists and reconciling with one another, they can claim their place in a free Iraq and build better lives for their families.

There's still hard work to be done in Iraq. The gains we've made are fragile and reversible. But on this anniversary, the American people should know that since the surge began, the level of violence is significantly down, civilian deaths are down, sectarian killings are down, attacks on American forces are down. We have captured or killed thousands of extremists in Iraq, including hundreds of key Al Qaida leaders and operatives.

Our men and women in uniform are performing with characteristic honor and valor. The surge is working. And as a return on our success in Iraq, we've begun bringing some of our troops home.

The surge has done more than turn the situation in Iraq around. It has opened the door to a major strategic victory in the broader war on terror.

For the terrorists, Iraq was supposed to be a place where Al Qaida rallied Arab masses to drive America out. Instead, Iraq has become the place where Arabs join with Americans to drive Al Qaida out.

BUSH: In Iraq, we're witnessing the first large-scale Arab uprising against Osama bin Laden, his grim ideology and his murderous network. And the significance of this development cannot be overstated. The terrorist movement feeds on a sense of inevitability and claims to rise on the tide of history.

The accomplishments of the surge in Iraq are exposing this myth and discrediting the extremists. When Iraqi and American forces finish the job, the effects will reverberate far beyond Iraq's borders.

Osama bin Laden once said, "When people see a strong horse and a weak horse, by nature they will take the strong horse." By defeating Al Qaida in Iraq, we will show the world that Al Qaida is the weak horse.

(APPLAUSE)

We will show that men and women who love liberty can defeat the terrorists.

BUSH: And we will show that the future of the Middle East does not belong to terror; the future of the Middle East belongs to freedom.

The challenge in this period ahead is to consolidate the gains we have made and seal the extremists' defeat.

We have learned through hard experience what happens when we pull our forces back too fast. The terrorists and extremists step in, they fill vacuums, establish safe havens and use them to spread chaos and carnage.

General Petraeus just warned that too fast a drawdown could result in such an unraveling.

With Al Qaida and insurgents and militia extremists regaining lost ground and increasing violence, men and women of the armed forces having come so far and achieved so much, we're not going to let this happen.

Next month General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker will come to Washington to testify before Congress. I will await their recommendations before making decisions on our troop levels in Iraq.

BUSH: Any further drawdown will be based on conditions on the ground and the recommendations of our commanders, and they must not jeopardize the hard-fought gains our troops and civilians have made over the past year.

Successes we're seeing in Iraq are undeniable, yet some in Washington still call for retreat. War critics can no longer credibly argue that we're losing in Iraq, so they now argue the war costs too much. In recent months we've heard exaggerated amounts of the costs of this war.

No one would argue that this war has not come at a high cost in lives and treasure. But those costs are necessary when we consider the cost of a strategic victory for our enemies in Iraq.

If we were to allow our enemies to prevail in Iraq, the violence that is now declining would accelerate and Iraq would descend into chaos. Al Qaida would regain its lost sanctuaries and establish new ones, fomenting violence and terror that could spread beyond Iraq's borders with serious consequences for the world's economy.

BUSH: Out of such chaos in Iraq, the terrorist movement could emerge emboldened, with new recruits, new resources, and an even greater determination to dominate the region and harm America.

An emboldened Al Qaida, with access to Iraq's oil resources, could pursue its ambitions to acquire weapons of mass destruction to attack America and other free nations.

Iran would be emboldened as well, with a renewed determination to develop nuclear weapons and impose its brand of hegemony across the Middle East. Our enemies would see an America -- an American failure in Iraq as evidence of weakness and a lack of resolve.

To allow this to happen would be to ignore the lessons of September the 11th and make it more likely that America would suffer another attack like the one we experienced that day, a day in which 19 armed men with box cutters killed nearly 3,000 people in our -- on our soil -- a day after which in the following of that attack more than a million Americans lost work, lost their jobs.

BUSH: The terrorists intend even greater harm to our country. And we have no greater responsibility than to defeat our enemies across the world so that they cannot carry out such an attack.

As our coalition fights the enemy in Iraq, we've stayed on the offensive in other fronts on the war on terror. You know, just a few weeks after commencing Operation Iraqi Freedom, U.S. forces captured Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind behind the September the 11th terrorist attacks. We got him in Pakistan.

BUSH: But at the same time as we launched Operation Iraqi Freedom, coalition forces thousands of miles -- hundreds of miles away launched an assault on the terrorists in the mountains of southern Afghanistan in an operation called Operation Valiant Strike.

Throughout the war on terror, we have brought the enemy -- we have fought the enemy on every single battlefront. And so long as terrorist danger remains, the United States of America will continue to fight the enemy wherever it makes its stand.

(APPLAUSE)

We will stay on the offense. But in the long run, defeating the terrorists requires an alternative to their murderous ideology. And there we have another advantage. We've got a singular advantage with our military when it comes to fighting the terrorists and bringing them to justice. And we have another advantage in our strong belief in the transformative power of liberty.

BUSH: So we're helping the people of Iraq establish a democracy in the heart of the Middle East. A free Iraq will fight terrorists instead of harboring them. A free Iraq will be an example for others of the power of liberty to change the societies and to displace despair with hope.

By spreading the hope of liberty in the Middle East, we will help free societies take root. And when they do, freedom will yield the peace that we all desire.

Our troops on the front lines understand what is at stake. They know that the mission in Iraq has been difficult and has been trying for our nation because they're the ones who have carried out most of the burdens.

They're all volunteers who have stepped forward to defend America in a time of danger. Some of them have gone out of their way to return to the fight.

One of these brave Americans is a Marine gunnery sergeant named William "Spanky" Gibson. In May of 2006 in Ramadi, a terrorist sniper's bullet ripped through his left knee. Doctors then amputated his leg.

BUSH: After months of difficult rehabilitation, Spanky was not only walking, he was training for triathlons.

Last year at the Escape From Alcatraz Swim, near San Francisco, he met Marine General James Mattis who asked if there was anything he can do for him.

Spanky had just one request: He asked to redeploy to Iraq. Today he's serving in Fallujah, the first full-leg amputee to return to the front lines.

Here's what he says about his decision to return: "The Iraqis are where we were 232 years ago as a nation. Now they're starting a new nation. And that's one of my big reasons for coming back here. I wanted to tell the people of this country that I'm back to help wherever I can."

When Americans like Spanky Gibson serve on our side, the enemy in Iraq doesn't have a chance. We're grateful to all the brave men and women of our military who have served the cause of freedom. You've done the hard work, far from home and far from your loved ones.

We give thanks for all our military families -- who love you and have supported you in this mission.

BUSH: We appreciate the fine civilians from many departments who serve alongside you. Many of you served in Iraq and Afghanistan, and some have been on these fronts several times.

You will never forget the people who fought at your side. You will always remember the comrades who served with you in combat -- did not make the journey home. America remembers them as well.

More than 4,400 men and women have given their lives in the war on terror. We pray for their families. We'll always honor their memory.

The best way we can honor them is by making sure that their sacrifice was not in vain.

Five years ago tonight, I promised the American people that in the struggle ahead we will accept no outcome but victory. Today, standing before men and women who have helped liberate a nation, I reaffirm the commitment.

The battle in Iraq is noble, it is necessary, and it is just. And with your courage, the battle in Iraq will end in victory.

God bless.

(APPLAUSE)

AA-1177 Identifies The Lies, Deception and Double Standards in a Democracy and Elsewhere....

Some Simple Examples of Lies, Deception and Double Standards in a Democracy - Diego Garcia, Extraordinary Rendition, Torture, Terrorism, Media, Wars and Iraq, Human Rights Violations on British Soil and Abroad, Landmines, Religion, Plane Stupid, Espionage, Sibel Edmonds..........

DIEGO GARCIA

Paradise Cleansed - Our Deportation of the People of Diego Garcia is a Crime that Cannot Stand - 2 October 2004 - John Pilger Http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2004/oct/02/foreignpolicy.comment
Support the Chagos Islanders - http://www.chagossupport.org.uk/

EXTRAORDINARY RENDITION

Court gags ex-SAS man who made torture claims - 29 February 2008. Ben Griffith, a former SAS soldier was served with a high court order yesterday preventing him from making fresh disclosures about how hundreds of Iraqis and Afghans captured by British and American special forces were rendered to prisons where they faced torture. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/feb/29/military.law

SAS veteran: 'We held terror suspects before handing them over to US for rendition' - 25 February 2008. A former SAS soldier claimed British Special Forces were being used to seize terror suspects to be handed over to American forces for extraordinary rendition. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=518517&in_page_id=1770

US misled London on rendition flights - 21 February 2008. The US admitted on Thursday to inadvertently misleading the British government by using UK territory to refuel two “rendition” flights carrying alleged terrorists without informing ministers. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a336ab2c-e085-11dc-b0d7-0000779fd2ac.html

Police reject UK rendition claims - 9 June 2007. An inquiry has found no evidence that British airports were used by the CIA flying terrorist suspects for torture in other countries. The chief constable of Greater Manchester, Michael Todd, began an investigation into Liberty's claims. "Mr Todd has now examined all of the information available relating to this issue and has concluded that there is indeed no evidence to substantiate Liberty's allegations." "There was no evidence that UK airports were used to transport people by the CIA for torture in other countries." The Council of Europe has accused the UK of collusion. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6736227.stm

Resolution 1507 (2006) - Alleged secret detentions and unlawful inter-state transfers of detainees involving Council of Europe member states - 27 June 2006 http://assembly.coe.int/Main.asp?link=/Documents/AdoptedText/ta06/ERES1507.htm

Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights
Alleged secret detentions and unlawful inter-state transfers involving Council of Europe member states
Draft report – Part II (Explanatory memorandum) - 7 June 2006
Rapporteur: Mr Dick Marty, Switzerland, ALDE
http://assembly.coe.int/CommitteeDocs/2006/20060606_Ejdoc162006PartII-FINAL.pdf

The response from Michael Todd, chief constable of Greater Manchester Police to Liberty's Allegations.
http://www.liberty-human-rights.org.uk/news-and-events/pdfs/er-acpo-response-june-07.pdf

Extraordinary Rendition by the United States - Extraordinary rendition and irregular rendition are terms used to describe the apprehension and extrajudicial transfer of a person from one state to another, and the term torture by proxy is used by some critics to describe situations in which the U.S. has purportedly transferred suspected terrorists to countries known to employ harsh interrogation techniques that may rise to the level of torture. It has been alleged that torture has been employed with the knowledge or acquiescence of the United States, although United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stated in an April 2006 radio interview that the United States does not transfer people to places where it is known they will be tortured. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraordinary_rendition

TORTURE

Lynndie England "Rumsfeld Knew" - 17 March 2008. She is one of the faces symbolizing the Iraq war. Pictures showing her abusing Iraqi detainees in Abu Graib prison brought her notorious fame throughout the world. In her first interview in three years Lynndie England talks about Abu Ghraib, about Charles Graner, about guilt, her current life - and the role of the Bush administration. http://www.stern.de/politik/ausland/614356.html?nv=ct_cb / http://www.salon.com/news/abu_ghraib/2006/03/14/introduction/

UK Iraq torture 'worse after Saddam' - 21 September 2006. Allegations of severe torture have regularly emerged from Iraq. Torture may be worse now in Iraq than under former leader Saddam Hussein, the UN's chief anti-torture expert says. Manfred Nowak said the situation in Iraq was "out of control", with abuses being committed by security forces, militia groups and anti-US insurgents. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5368360.stm

Damning documentary evidence unveiled. Dissident bloggers in coordinated expose of UK government lies over torture - 29 December 2005 - Craig Murray - Writer and broadcaster
As Britain's outspoken Ambassador to the Central Asian Republic of Uzbekistan, Craig Murray helped expose vicious human rights abuses by the US-funded regime of Islam Karimov. He is now a prominent critic of Western policy in the region. http://www.craigmurray.org.uk/archives/2005/12/damning_documen.html

Anger as US backs brutal regime - 15 May 2005. Human rights concerns as troops put down uprising in Uzbekistan http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2005/may/15/usa.paulharris

Abu Ghraib Torture and Prisoner Abuse - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Beginning in 2004, accounts of abuse, torture, sodomy and homicide of prisoners held in the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq (also known as Baghdad Correctional Facility) came to public attention. The acts were committed by some personnel of the 372nd Military Police Company of the United States, and possibly additional American governmental agencies. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Ghraib_prisoner_abuse

Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp
Detention, Treatment, and Trial of Certain Non-Citizens in the War Against Terrorism
The Guantanamo Bay detention camp is a United States military prison operated by Joint Task Force Guantanamo since 2002 in Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, which is on the shore of Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. The detainment areas consist of three camps in the base: Camp Delta (which includes Camp Echo), Camp Iguana, and Camp X-Ray (which has been closed). The facility is often referred to as Guantanamo, or Gitmo (derived from the abbreviation "GTMO"). http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guantanamo_Bay_detention_camp

TERRORISM

Ministers reject 7 July inquiry - 7 September 2007.
The government has officially confirmed it will not hold a public inquiry into the 7 July London bombings. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/6984268.stm

The IT man who tried to stop the 7/7 bombers - 24 June 2006.
Computer expert made DVDs and encrypted emails for Islamist circle. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2006/jun/24/july7.uksecurity

Terror threat: The great deception - 15 February 2006. As MPs vote today on another security bill, we reveal how the public was misinformed and manipulated over the war on terror. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/terror-threat-the-great-.htmlption-466649.html

The 9/11 Commission Report: A 571-Page Lie by Dr. David Ray Griffin, 22 May 2005.
In discussing my second 9/11 book, The 9/11 Commission Report: Omissions and Distortions, I have often said, only half in jest, that a better title might have been "a 571-page lie." (Actually, I was saying "a 567-page lie," because I was forgetting to count the four pages of the Preface.) In making this statement, one of my points has been that the entire Report is constructed in support of one big lie: that the official story about 9/11 is true.
http://www.911truth.org/article.php?story=20050523112738404

MEDIA

EXCLUSIVE: BUSH PLOT TO BOMB HIS ARAB ALLY - Madness of war memo - 2 November 2005. President Bush planned to bomb Arab TV station al-Jazeera in friendly Qatar, a "Top Secret" No 10 memo reveals.
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16397937&method=full&siteid=94762&headline=exclusive--bush-plot-to-bomb-his-arab-ally-name_page.html

Al Jazeera Correspondent Killed in US Attack - 8 April 2003. http://globalresearch.ca/articles/ALJ304B.html

Al-Jazeera accuses US of bombing its Kabul office Targeting of building denied by Pentagon - 17 November 2001. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2001/nov/17/warinafghanistan2001.afghanistan

WARS AND IRAQ

THE LIE OF THE CENTURY
The Downing Street Memo is only the beginning of the proof we were all lied to.

"All war is based on deception." -- Sun Tzu, The Art of War

There is nothing new in a government lying to their people to start a war. Indeed because most people prefer living in peace to bloody and horrific death in war, any government that desires to initiate a war usually lies to their people to create the illusion that support for the war is the only possible choice they can make.
http://www.whatreallyhappened.com/lieofthecentury.html

It's official: Blair's government set out to deceive us about Iraq - 21 February 2008.
In July 2003, in the week following the death of David Kelly, a reader contacted the New Statesman and suggested that the media were missing the obvious. The Commons foreign affairs committee had just cleared the government of "sexing up" the September 2002 dossier on Iraqi weapons of mass destruction - a claim, first made by Andrew Gilligan on the BBC's Today programme, for which Dr Kelly may or may not have been the source.
http://www.newstatesman.com/200802210001

IMMIGRATION & HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS ON BRITISH SOIL

Honour violence and killings, forced marriages, kidnappings.............. Children are simply slaves and financial commodities of some uncivilised and uneducated immigrants. Great Britain's immigration policy could have easily prevented the import of these abusive and destructive acts.

A Question of Honour: Police say 17,000 women are victims every year - 10 February 2008. Ministers are stepping up the fight against so-called 'honour' crime and forced marriages. Detectives say official statistics are 'merely the tip of the iceberg' of this phenomenon. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/a-question-of-honour-police-say-17000-women-are-victims-every-year-780522.html

Banaz Mahmod - Honour-killing victim told police four times of fears father would murder her - 12 June 2007. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/honourkilling-victim-told-police-four-times-of-fears-father-would-murder-her-452725.html

Forced Marriage and Honour Based Violence - Forced marriage and honour based violence may include a variety of different behaviours ranging in severity. http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/news_info/diversity/forced_m.htm

Forced marriage, family cohesion and community engagement: national learning through a case study of Luton http://www.luton.gov.uk/Media%20Library/Pdf/Chief%20executives/Equalities/Forced%20Marriage%20Report%20-%20Final%20Version.pdf

Murder of Victoria Climbié - From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Born. 2 Nov. 1991 Abobo, Ivory Coast - Died 25 Feb. 2000 (age 8) UK (severe physical abuse) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Climbie

Sham marriages were set up as far back as the 1950s. It is not a recent Phenomenon. My own birth certificate mother obtained instant British citizenship through a sham proxy marriage. There is nothing respectful and honourable about sham marriages especially the cover ups. As to be expected she disappeared for days without telling her husband where she actually was. It wasn't long before she walked out and found another man.

Up to three in four marriages revealed as 'sham' as immigration rules are tightened - 26 June 2007. Three in every four register office weddings taking place in some parts of Britain may have been a "sham" to allow immigrants to live in the country, it has emerged. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=464209&in_page_id=1770

Enslavement of human beings is ongoing in Great Britain, in the hands of immigrants and their (British) associates. While a few guilty people have been charged for such crimes in the US, Great Britain has been intentionally turning a blind eye. My sister along with her Egyptian husband are guilty of such acts on British soil and other blood relations have colluded with them.

N.Y. Slavery Case Nears Conclusion Wealthy Long Island Couple Could Face 40 Years For Allegedly Enslaving Two Indonesian Housekeepers - 11 December 2007. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/12/11/national/main3605406.shtml

US jails Egypt Pair for Slavery - 24 October 2006. Two Egyptians have been jailed by a US court after pleading guilty to enslaving a 10-year-old Egyptian girl at their south California home. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6079688.stm

Saudi maids raped, enslaved - Thousands flee sponsors after reported abuse - 10 March 2004. http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=37518

Homaidan Al-Turki, is a Saudi national who was convicted of crimes against an Indonesian woman whom he held as a slave in his Aurora, Colorado home. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homaidan_Al-Turki#_note-0

**

HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN SAUDI ARABIA

King Abdullah urged to spare Saudi ‘witchcraft’ woman’s life - 16 February 2008 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article3378460.ece

HUMAN RIGHTS IN THE KINGDOM OF SAUDI ARABIA - Taken from the Amnesty International Report 2007 http://www.amnesty.org/en/region/middle-east-and-north-africa/west-gulf/saudi-arabia

Saudi King Abdullah spares rape victim from lashes - 18 December 2007 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article3064649.ece

Saudi torture: a Whitehall cover-up - 15 January 2007. It is not just in arms deals that Britain twists the law to please the Saudis. The human rights lawyer Geoffrey Bindman tells another shocking story. http://www.newstatesman.com/200701150015

'I would have confessed to anything' - 10 May 2005. How do you survive almost three years of torture in a foreign prison for a crime you didn't commit? Sandy Mitchell talks to Stuart Jeffries about 'the guilt of being broken' http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2005/may/10/alqaida.saudiarabia

CORRUPTION, BRIBERY AND BAE

Corruption is a Crime - It’s time to end dodgy dealing: back our Al Yamamah campaign. In December 2006, the Serious Fraud Office (SFO) announced that it was dropping an investigation into allegations that BAE Systems plc paid bribes in order to secure the Al Yamamah arms deal with Saudi Arabia in the 1980s. This was Britain’s largest ever export agreement, and most recently involved a contract to supply 72 Eurofighter jets. According to Tony Blair, the decision to end the Al Yamamah investigation was taken in the interests of national security as Saudi Arabia is an ally in the War on Terror. The Conservatives have been criticised for their silence over Al Yamamah, leaving it to the Liberal Democrats to take the lead on pressing the Government over Al Yamamah. On June 7th 2007, Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Menzies Campbell challenged the Prime Minister over Al Yamamah following the revelation by the BBC that over £1 billion had been paid in secret to a Saudi prince. http://www.corruptionisacrime.com/

BAE: secret papers reveal threats from Saudi prince - 15 February 2008.
Saudi Arabia's rulers threatened to make it easier for terrorists to attack London unless corruption investigations into their arms deals were halted, according to court documents revealed yesterday. Previously secret files describe how investigators were told they faced "another 7/7" and the loss of "British lives on British streets. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/feb/15/bae.armstrade

BAE faces fines in US bribery probe - 26 June 2007. BAE Systems faces the threat of substantial fines, criminal prosecution of managers and the forced appointment of an independent monitor to oversee its American business after the US Justice department launched a corruption probe into the company. http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/0788c448-23ad-11dc-8ee2-000b5df10621.html

RELIGION

Vatican cover-up- 'One of the biggest scandals of our times' - 19 August 2003.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/aug/19/religion.childprotection

Two decades of abuse went unseen - 20 March 2007.
The children in the care of Eunice Spry face a lifetime of counselling, after suffering years of physical and mental abuse at her hands. Spry denied all the charges and said she loved the children. The abuse was not spotted by health professionals over a period of 20 years.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/gloucestershire/6449027.stm

LANDMINES

Diana's landmine crusade put Tories in a panic - 3 January 2000.
US diplomatic cables describe controversy over Angola visit - 'She was excited about the results and talking about more visits to Vietnam, Cambodia, Kuwait and a return engagement in Angola. No one can come to Angola and see the human devastation caused by landmines and not be moved. We have told the British ambassador how seriously the United States' government takes this problem and how much we appreciate Diana's support.'

REAL POSITION - The 1997 (Ottawa) Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer or Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction came into force on 1 March 1999 but a number of key countries refused to sign, including the United States, Russia and China. To date, they have still not signed the treaty. Campaign groups are continuing to press for a worldwide ban.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2000/jan/03/monarchy.freedomofinformation

PLANE STUPID

Evidence fix led to third runway being approved - 9 March 2008.
In the effort to push through the third runway, the government and BAA have bent the facts to fit the case. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article3512042.ece

Heathrow protesters scale Commons roof - 27 February 2008.
Climate protesters scaled the roof of parliament in a major security breach on Wednesday and threatened further direct action. http://uk.reuters.com/article/UKNews1/idUKL2769586820080227

ESPIONAGE & KATHERINE GUN

Job Well Done!

GCHQ translator cleared over leak - 26 February 2004. Katherine Gun, a GCHQ translator sacked for revealing a secret e-mail has been cleared of a charge under the Official Secrets Act. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3485072.stm

British spy op wrecked peace move - 15 February 2004. A joint British and American spying operation at the United Nations scuppered a last-ditch initiative to avert the invasion of Iraq. Senior UN diplomats from Mexico and Chile provided new evidence last week that their missions were spied on, in direct contravention of international law. http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2004/feb/15/iraq.iraq

Revealed: US dirty tricks to win vote on Iraq war - 2 March 2003. Secret document details American plan to bug phones and emails of key Security Council members. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2003/mar/02/usa.iraq

ESPIONAGE WITH RUSSIANS AND BRITS

Who is deceiving who?

UK diplomats in Moscow spying row - 23 January 2006.
Russia's state security service, the FSB, has accused British diplomats of spying in Moscow. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4638136.stm

Rock of agents - 27 January 2006.
The recent spying allegations and the damage they have done should not be swept under the political carpet in London. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2006/jan/27/worlddispatch.russia

Britain accuses Russian in murder of Litvinenko - 22 May 2007.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/05/22/europe/poison.php

Suspect in Litvinenko poisoning accuses Berezovsky and MI6 of murder - 31 May 2007.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/05/31/europe/poison.php

UK expels four Russian diplomats - 16 July 2007.
The UK is to expel four Russian diplomats in response to Moscow's refusal to extradite the prime suspect in the murder of Alexander Litvinenko.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6901346.stm

Russia expels four embassy staff - 19 July 2007.
Russia is to expel four UK embassy staff in the row over Moscow's refusal to extradite the man suspected of Alexander Litvinenko's murder.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/6906481.stm

The Litvinenko Case - 19 July 2007. Ros Taylor details key events before and after the death of former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2007/jul/19/russia.world

SIBEL EDMONDS - A Female Whistleblower!
Sibel Dinez Edmonds, a Turkish-American, was hired as a translator by the FBI shortly after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 because of her knowledge of Middle Eastern languages. She was fired less than a year later in March 2002 for reporting shoddy work and security breaches to her supervisors that could have prevented those attacks. On January 14, 2004, the Justice Department's Office unclassified summary of the Justice Department's Inspector General's report on Edmonds found that many of her claims were supported, that the FBI did not take them seriously enough, and that her allegations were, in fact, the most significant factor in the FBI's decision to terminate her services. http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Sibel_Edmonds

Tip-off thwarted nuclear spy ring probe - 27 January 2008. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article3257725.ece

FBI denies file exposing nuclear secrets theft - 20 January 2008.
The FBI has been accused of covering up a file detailing government dealings with a network stealing nuclear secrets. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article3216737.ece

For sale: West’s deadly nuclear secrets - 6 January 2008. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article3137695.ece

AA-1177 European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms

The AA-1177 blog contains instances of Human Rights Violations.

European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
as amended by Protocol No. 11 with Protocol Nos. 1, 4, 6, 7, 12 and 13.

http://www.echr.coe.int/NR/rdonlyres/D5CC24A7-DC13-4318-B457-5C9014916D7A/0/EnglishAnglais.pdf

The text of the Convention had been amended according to the provisions of Protocol No. 3 (ETS No. 45), which entered into force on 21 September 1970, of Protocol No. 5 (ETS No. 55), which entered into force on 20 December 1971 and of Protocol No. 8 (ETS No. 118), which entered into force on 1 January 1990, and comprised also the text of Protocol No. 2 (ETS No. 44) which, in accordance with Article 5, paragraph 3 thereof, had been an integral part of the Convention since its entry into force on 21 September 1970. All provisions which had been amended or added by these Protocols are replaced by Protocol No. 11 (ETS No. 155), as from the date of its entry into force on 1 November 1998. As from that date, Protocol No. 9 (ETS No. 140), which entered into force on 1 October 1994, is repealed.

Registry of the European Court of Human Rights - September 2003

*

Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
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.
2 Deprivation of life shall not be regarded as inflicted in contravention of this article when it results from the use of force which is no more than absolutely necessary:

a in defence of any person from unlawful violence;
b in order to effect a lawful arrest or to prevent the escape of a person lawfully detained;
c in action lawfully taken for the purpose of quelling a riot or insurrection.

Article 3 . Prohibition of torture
No one shall be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Article 4 . Prohibition of slavery and forced labour
1 No one shall be held in slavery or servitude.

2 No one shall be required to perform forced or compulsory labour.

3 For the purpose of this article the term forced or compulsory labour shall not include:

a any work required to be done in the ordinary course of detention imposed according to the provisions of Article 5 of this Convention or during conditional release from such detention;
b any service of a military character or, in case of conscientious objectors in countries where they are recognised, service exacted instead of compulsory military service;
c any service exacted in case of an emergency or calamity threatening the life or well-being of the community;
d any work or service which forms part of normal civic obligations.

Article 5 . Right to liberty and security
1 Everyone has the right to liberty and security of person. No one shall be deprived of his liberty save in the following cases and in accordance with a procedure prescribed by law:

a the lawful detention of a person after conviction by a competent court;
b the lawful arrest or detention of a person for non-compliance with the lawful order of a court or in order to secure the fulfilment of any obligation prescribed by law;
c the lawful arrest or detention of a person effected for the purpose of bringing him before the competent legal authority on reasonable suspicion of having committed an offence or when it is reasonably considered necessary to prevent his committing an offence or fleeing after having done so;
d the detention of a minor by lawful order for the purpose of educational supervision or his lawful detention for the purpose of bringing him before the competent legal authority;
e the lawful detention of persons for the prevention of the spreading of infectious diseases, of persons of unsound mind, alcoholics or drug addicts or vagrants;
f the lawful arrest or detention of a person to prevent his effecting an unauthorised entry into the country or of a person against whom action is being taken with a view to deportation or extradition.

2 Everyone who is arrested shall be informed promptly, in a language which he understands, of the reasons for his arrest and of any charge against him.

3 Everyone arrested or detained in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 1.c of this article shall be brought promptly before a judge or other officer authorised by law to exercise judicial power and shall be entitled to trial within a reasonable time or to release pending trial. Release may be conditioned by guarantees to appear for trial.

4 Everyone who is deprived of his liberty by arrest or detention shall be entitled to take proceedings by which the lawfulness of his detention shall be decided speedily by a court and his release ordered if the detention is not lawful.

5 Everyone who has been the victim of arrest or detention in contravention of the provisions of this article shall have an enforceable right to compensation.

Article 6 . Right to a fair trial
1 In the determination of his civil rights and obligations or of any criminal charge against him, everyone is entitled to a fair and public hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial tribunal established by law. Judgment shall be pronounced publicly but the press and public may be excluded from all or part of the trial in the interests of morals, public order or national security in a democratic society, where the interests of juveniles or the protection of the private life of the parties so require, or to the extent strictly necessary in the opinion of the court in special circumstances where publicity would prejudice the interests of justice.

2 Everyone charged with a criminal offence shall be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law.

3 Everyone charged with a criminal offence has the following minimum rights:

a to be informed promptly, in a language which he understands and in detail, of the nature and cause of the accusation against him;
b to have adequate time and facilities for the preparation of his defence;
c to defend himself in person or through legal assistance of his own choosing or, if he has not sufficient means to pay for legal assistance, to be given it free when the interests of justice so require;
d to examine or have examined witnesses against him and to obtain the attendance and examination of witnesses on his behalf under the same conditions as witnesses against him;
e to have the free assistance of an interpreter if he cannot understand or speak the language used in court.

Article 7 . No punishment without law
1 No one shall be held guilty of any criminal offence on account of any act or omission which did not constitute a criminal offence under national or international law at the time when it was committed. Nor shall a heavier penalty be imposed than the one that was applicable at the time the criminal offence was committed.

2 This article shall not prejudice the trial and punishment of any person for any act or omission which, at the time when it was committed, was criminal according to the general principles of law recognised by civilised nations.

Article 8 . Right to respect for private and family life
1 Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence.

2 There shall be no interference by a public authority with the exercise of this right except such as is in accordance with the law and is necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security, public safety or the economic well-being of the country, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

Article 9 . Freedom of thought, conscience and religion
1 Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to Manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance.

2 Freedom to manifest one’s religion or beliefs shall be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of public safety, for the protection of public order, health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

Article 10 . Freedom of expression
1 Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers. This article shall not prevent States from requiring the licensing of broadcasting, television or cinema enterprises.

2 The exercise of these freedoms, since it carries with it duties and responsibilities, may be subject to such formalities, conditions, restrictions or penalties as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society, in the interests of national security, territorial integrity or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals, for the protection of the reputation or rights of others, for preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence, or for maintaining the authority and impartiality of the judiciary.

Article 11 . Freedom of assembly and association
1 Everyone has the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and to freedom of association with others, including the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests.

2 No restrictions shall be placed on the exercise of these rights other than such as are prescribed by law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, for the prevention of disorder or crime, for the protection of health or morals or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others. This article shall not prevent the imposition of lawful restrictions on the exercise of these rights by members of the armed forces, of the police or of the administration of the State.

Article 12 . Right to marry
Men and women of marriageable age have the right to marry and to found a family, according to the national laws governing the exercise of this right.

Article 13 . Right to an effective remedy
Everyone whose rights and freedoms as set forth in this Convention are violated shall have an effective remedy before a national authority notwithstanding that the violation has been committed by persons acting in an official capacity.

Article 14 . Prohibition of discrimination
The enjoyment of the rights and freedoms set forth in this Convention shall be secured without discrimination on any ground such as sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth or other status.

Article 15 . Derogation in time of emergency
1 In time of war or other public emergency threatening the life of the nation any High Contracting Party may take measures derogating from its obligations under this Convention to the extent strictly required by the exigencies of the situation, provided that such measures are not inconsistent with its other obligations under international law.

2 No derogation from Article 2, except in respect of deaths resulting from lawful acts of war, or from Articles 3, 4 (paragraph 1) and 7 shall be made under this provision.

3 Any High Contracting Party availing itself of this right of derogation shall keep the Secretary General of the Council of Europe fully informed of the measures which it has taken and the reasons therefor. It shall also inform the Secretary General of the Council of Europe when such measures have ceased to operate and the provisions of the Convention are again being fully executed.

Article 16 . Restrictions on political activity of aliens
Nothing in Articles 10, 11 and 14 shall be regarded as preventing the High Contracting Parties from imposing restrictions on the political activity of aliens.

Article 17 . Prohibition of abuse of rights
Nothing in this Convention may be interpreted as implying for any State, group or person any right to engage in any activity or perform any act aimed at the destruction of any of the rights and freedoms set forth herein or at their limitation to a greater extent than is provided for in the Convention.

Article 18 . Limitation on use of restrictions on rights
The restrictions permitted under this Convention to the said rights and freedoms shall not be applied for any purpose other than those for which they have been prescribed.

SECTION II . EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS
Article 19 . Establishment of the Court
To ensure the observance of the engagements undertaken by the High Contracting Parties in the Convention and the Protocols thereto, there shall be set up a European Court of Human Rights, hereinafter referred to as «the Court». It shall function on a permanent basis.

Article 20 . Number of judges
The Court shall consist of a number of judges equal to that of the High Contracting Parties.

Article 21 . Criteria for office
1 The judges shall be of high moral character and must either possess the qualifications required for appointment to high judicial office or be jurisconsults of recognised competence.

2 The judges shall sit on the Court in their individual capacity.

3 During their term of office the judges shall not engage in any activity which is incompatible with their independence, impartiality or with the demands of a full-time office; all questions arising from the application of this paragraph shall be decided by the Court.

Article 22 . Election of judges
1 The judges shall be elected by the Parliamentary Assembly with respect to each High Contracting Party by a majority of votes cast from a list of three candidates nominated by the High Contracting Party.

2 The same procedure shall be followed to complete the Court in the event of the accession of new High Contracting Parties and in filling casual vacancies.

Article 23 . Terms of office
1 The judges shall be elected for a period of six years. They may be reelected. However, the terms of office of one-half of the judges elected at the first election shall expire at the end of three years.

2 The judges whose terms of office are to expire at the end of the initial period of three years shall be chosen by lot by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe immediately after their election.

3 In order to ensure that, as far as possible, the terms of office of one-half of the judges are renewed every three years, the Parliamentary Assembly may decide, before proceeding to any subsequent election, that the term or terms of office of one or more judges to be elected shall be for a period other than six years but not more than nine and not less than three years.

4 In cases where more than one term of office is involved and where the Parliamentary Assembly applies the preceding paragraph, the allocation of the terms of office shall be effected by a drawing of lots by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe immediately after the election.

5 A judge elected to replace a judge whose term of office has not expired shall hold office for the remainder of his predecessor’s term.

6 The terms of office of judges shall expire when they reach the age of 70.

7 The judges shall hold office until replaced. They shall, however, continue to deal with such cases as they already have under consideration.

Article 24 . Dismissal
No judge may be dismissed from his office unless the other judges decide by a majority of two-thirds that he has ceased to fulfil the required conditions.

Article 25 . Registry and legal secretaries
The Court shall have a registry, the functions and organisation of which shall be laid down in the rules of the Court. The Court shall be assisted by legal secretaries.

Article 26 . Plenary Court
The plenary Court shall

a elect its President and one or two Vice-Presidents for a period of three years; they may be re-elected;
b set up Chambers, constituted for a fixed period of time;
c elect the Presidents of the Chambers of the Court; they may be re-elected;
d adopt the rules of the Court, and
e elect the Registrar and one or more Deputy Registrars.

Article 27 . Committees, Chambers and Grand Chamber
1 To consider cases brought before it, the Court shall sit in committees of three judges, in Chambers of seven judges and in a Grand Chamber of seventeen judges. The Court’s Chambers shall set up committees for a fixed period of time.

2 There shall sit as an ex officio member of the Chamber and the Grand Chamber the judge elected in respect of the State Party concerned or, if there is none or if he is unable to sit, a person of its choice who shall sit in the capacity of judge.

3 The Grand Chamber shall also include the President of the Court, the Vice-Presidents, the Presidents of the Chambers and other judges chosen in accordance with the rules of the Court. When a case is referred to the Grand Chamber under Article 43, no judge from the Chamber which rendered the judgment shall sit in the Grand Chamber, with the exception of the President of the Chamber and the judge who sat in respect of the State Party concerned.

Article 28 . Declarations of inadmissibility by committees
A committee may, by a unanimous vote, declare inadmissible or strike out of its list of cases an application submitted under Article 34 where such a decision can be taken without further examination. The decision shall be final.

Article 29 . Decisions by Chambers on admissibility and merits
1 If no decision is taken under Article 28, a Chamber shall decide on the admissibility and merits of individual applications submitted under Article 34.

2 A Chamber shall decide on the admissibility and merits of inter-State applications submitted under Article 33.

3 The decision on admissibility shall be taken separately unless the Court, in exceptional cases, decides otherwise.

Article 30 . Relinquishment of jurisdiction to the Grand Chamber
Where a case pending before a Chamber raises a serious question affecting the interpretation of the Convention or the protocols thereto, or where the resolution of a question before the Chamber might have a result inconsistent with a judgment previously delivered by the Court, the Chamber may, at any time before it has rendered its judgment, relinquish jurisdiction in favour of the Grand Chamber, unless one of the parties to the case objects.

Article 31 . Powers of the Grand Chamber
The Grand Chamber shall

a determine applications submitted either under Article 33 or Article 34 when a Chamber has relinquished jurisdiction under Article 30 or when the case has been referred to it under Article 43; and
b consider requests for advisory opinions submitted under Article 47.

Article 32 . Jurisdiction of the Court
1 The jurisdiction of the Court shall extend to all matters concerning the interpretation and application of the Convention and the protocols thereto which are referred to it as provided in Articles 33, 34 and 47.

2 In the event of dispute as to whether the Court has jurisdiction, the Court shall decide.

Article 33 . Inter-State cases
Any High Contracting Party may refer to the Court any alleged breach of the provisions of the Convention and the protocols thereto by another High Contracting Party.

Article 34 . Individual applications
The Court may receive applications from any person, non-governmental organisation or group of individuals claiming to be the victim of a violation by one of the High Contracting Parties of the rights set forth in the Convention or the protocols thereto. The High Contracting Parties undertake not to hinder in any way the effective exercise of this right.

Article 35 . Admissibility criteria
1 The Court may only deal with the matter after all domestic remedies have been exhausted, according to the generally recognised rules of international law, and within a period of six months from the date on which the final decision was taken.

2 The Court shall not deal with any application submitted under Article 34 that

a is anonymous; or
b is substantially the same as a matter that has already been examined by the Court or has already been submitted to another procedure of international investigation or settlement and contains no relevant new information.

3 The Court shall declare inadmissible any individual application submitted under Article 34 which it considers incompatible with the provisions of the Convention or the protocols thereto, manifestly illfounded, or an abuse of the right of application.

4 The Court shall reject any application which it considers inadmissible under this Article. It may do so at any stage of the proceedings.

Article 36 . Third party intervention
1 In all cases before a Chamber or the Grand Chamber, a High Contracting Party one of whose nationals is an applicant shall have the right to submit written comments and to take part in hearings.

2 The President of the Court may, in the interest of the proper administration of justice, invite any High Contracting Party which is not a party to the proceedings or any person concerned who is not the applicant to submit written comments or take part in hearings.

Article 37 . Striking out applications
1 The Court may at any stage of the proceedings decide to strike an application out of its list of cases where the circumstances lead to the conclusion that

a the applicant does not intend to pursue his application; or
b the matter has been resolved; or
c for any other reason established by the Court, it is no longer justified to continue the examination of the application.

However, the Court shall continue the examination of the application if respect for human rights as defined in the Convention and the protocols thereto so requires.

2 The Court may decide to restore an application to its list of cases if it considers that the circumstances justify such a course.

Article 38 . Examination of the case and friendly settlement proceedings
1 If the Court declares the application admissible, it shall

a pursue the examination of the case, together with the representatives of the parties, and if need be,
undertake an investigation, for the effective conduct of which the States concerned shall furnish all necessary facilities;
b place itself at the disposal of the parties concerned with a view to securing a friendly settlement of the matter on the basis of respect for human rights as defined in the Convention and the protocols thereto.

2 Proceedings conducted under paragraph 1.b shall be confidential.

Article 39 . Finding of a friendly settlement
If a friendly settlement is effected, the Court shall strike the case out of its list by means of a decision which shall be confined to a brief statement of the facts and of the solution reached.

Article 40 . Public hearings and access to documents
1 Hearings shall be in public unless the Court in exceptional circumstances decides otherwise.

2 Documents deposited with the Registrar shall be accessible to the public unless the President of the Court decides otherwise.

Article 41 . Just satisfaction
If the Court finds that there has been a violation of the Convention or the protocols thereto, and if the internal law of the High Contracting Party concerned allows only partial reparation to be made, the Court shall, if necessary, afford just satisfaction to the injured party.

Article 42 . Judgments of Chambers
Judgments of Chambers shall become final in accordance with the provisions of Article 44, paragraph 2.

Article 43 . Referral to the Grand Chamber
1 Within a period of three months from the date of the judgment of the Chamber, any party to the case may, in exceptional cases, request that the case be referred to the Grand Chamber.

2 A panel of five judges of the Grand Chamber shall accept the request if the case raises a serious question affecting the interpretation or application of the Convention or the protocols thereto, or a serious issue of general importance.

3 If the panel accepts the request, the Grand Chamber shall decide the case by means of a judgment.

Article 44 . Final judgments
1 The judgment of the Grand Chamber shall be final.

2 The judgment of a Chamber shall become final

a when the parties declare that they will not request that the case be referred to the Grand Chamber; or
b three months after the date of the judgment, if reference of the case to the Grand Chamber has not been requested; or
c when the panel of the Grand Chamber rejects the request to refer under Article 43.

3 The final judgment shall be published.

Article 45 . Reasons for judgments and decisions
1 Reasons shall be given for judgments as well as for decisions declaring applications admissible or inadmissible.

2 If a judgment does not represent, in whole or in part, the unanimous opinion of the judges, any judge shall be entitled to deliver a separate opinion.

Article 46 . Binding force and execution of judgments
1 The High Contracting Parties undertake to abide by the final judgment of the Court in any case to which they are parties.

2 The final judgment of the Court shall be transmitted to the Committee of Ministers, which shall supervise its execution.

Article 47 . Advisory opinions
1 The Court may, at the request of the Committee of Ministers, give advisory opinions on legal questions concerning the interpretation of the Convention and the protocols thereto.

2 Such opinions shall not deal with any question relating to the content or scope of the rights or freedoms defined in Section I of the Convention and the protocols thereto, or with any other question which the Court or the Committee of Ministers might have to consider in consequence of any such proceedings as could be instituted in accordance with the Convention.

3 Decisions of the Committee of Ministers to request an advisory opinion of the Court shall require a majority vote of the representatives entitled to sit on the Committee.

Article 48 . Advisory jurisdiction of the Court
The Court shall decide whether a request for an advisory opinion submitted by the Committee of Ministers is within its competence as defined in Article 47.

Article 49 . Reasons for advisory opinions
1 Reasons shall be given for advisory opinions of the Court.

2 If the advisory opinion does not represent, in whole or in part, the unanimous opinion of the judges, any judge shall be entitled to deliver a separate opinion.

3 Advisory opinions of the Court shall be communicated to the Committee of Ministers.

Article 50 . Expenditure on the Court
The expenditure on the Court shall be borne by the Council of Europe.

Article 51 . Privileges and immunities of judges
The judges shall be entitled, during the exercise of their functions, to the privileges and immunities provided for in Article 40 of the Statute of the Council of Europe and in the agreements made thereunder.

SECTION III . MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Article 52 . Inquiries by the Secretary General
On receipt of a request from the Secretary General of the Council of Europe any High Contracting Party shall furnish an explanation of the manner in which its internal law ensures the effective implementation of any of the provisions of the Convention.

Article 53 . Safeguard for existing human rights
Nothing in this Convention shall be construed as limiting or derogating from any of the human rights and fundamental freedoms which may be ensured under the laws of any High Contracting Party or under any other agreement to which it is a Party.

Article 54 . Powers of the Committee of Ministers
Nothing in this Convention shall prejudice the powers conferred on the Committee of Ministers by the Statute of the Council of Europe.

Article 55 . Exclusion of other means of dispute settlement
The High Contracting Parties agree that, except by special agreement, they will not avail themselves of treaties, conventions or declarations in force between them for the purpose of submitting, by way of petition, a dispute arising out of the interpretation or application of this Convention to a means of settlement other than those provided for in this Convention.

Article 56 . Territorial application
1 Any State may at the time of its ratification or at any time thereafter declare by notification addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe that the present Convention shall, subject to paragraph 4 of this Article, extend to all or any of the territories for whose international relations it is responsible.

2 The Convention shall extend to the territory or territories named in the notification as from the thirtieth day after the receipt of this notification by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

3 The provisions of this Convention shall be applied in such territories with due regard, however, to local requirements.

4 Any State which has made a declaration in accordance with paragraph 1 of this article may at any time thereafter declare on behalf of one or more of the territories to which the declaration relates that it accepts the competence of the Court to receive applications from individuals, non-governmental organisations or groups of individuals as provided by Article 34 of the Convention.

Article 57 . Reservations
1 Any State may, when signing this Convention or when depositing its instrument of ratification, make a reservation in respect of any particular provision of the Convention to the extent that any law then in force in its territory is not in conformity with the provision. Reservations of a general character shall not be permitted under this article.

2 Any reservation made under this article shall contain a brief statement of the law concerned.

Article 58 . Denunciation
1 A High Contracting Party may denounce the present Convention only after the expiry of five years from the date on which it became a party to it and after six months’ notice contained in a notification addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, who shall inform the other High Contracting Parties.

2 Such a denunciation shall not have the effect of releasing the High Contracting Party concerned from its obligations under this Convention in respect of any act which, being capable of constituting a violation of such obligations, may have been performed by it before the date at which the denunciation became effective.

3 Any High Contracting Party which shall cease to be a member of the Council of Europe shall cease to be a Party to this Convention under the same conditions.

4 The Convention may be denounced in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraphs in respect of any territory to which it has been declared to extend under the terms of Article 56.

Article 59 . Signature and ratification
1 This Convention shall be open to the signature of the members of the Council of Europe. It shall be ratified. Ratifications shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

2 The present Convention shall come into force after the deposit of ten instruments of ratification.

3 As regards any signatory ratifying subsequently, the Convention shall come into force at the date of the deposit of its instrument of ratification.

4 The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall notify all the members of the Council of Europe of the entry into force of the Convention, the names of the High Contracting Parties who have ratified it, and the deposit of all instruments of ratification which may be effected
subsequently.


Done at Rome this 4th day of November 1950, in English and French, both texts being equally authentic, in a single copy which shall remain deposited in the archives of the Council of Europe. The Secretary General shall transmit certified copies to each of the signatories.

**

Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms Paris, 20.III.1952

The governments signatory hereto, being members of the Council of Europe,

Being resolved to take steps to ensure the collective enforcement of certain rights and freedoms other than those already included in Section I of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms signed at Rome on 4 November 1950 (hereinafter referred to as "The Convention"),

Have agreed as follows:

Article 1 . Protection of property
Every natural or legal person is entitled to the peaceful enjoyment of his possessions. No one shall be deprived of his possessions except in the public interest and subject to the conditions provided for by law and by the general principles of international law.

The preceding provisions shall not, however, in any way impair the right of a State to enforce such laws as it deems necessary to control the use of property in accordance with the general interest or to secure the payment of taxes or other contributions or penalties.

Article 2 . Right to education
No person shall be denied the right to education. In the exercise of any functions which it assumes in relation to education and to teaching, the State shall respect the right of parents to ensure such education and teaching in conformity with their own religious and philosophical convictions.

Article 3 . Right to free elections
The High Contracting Parties undertake to hold free elections at reasonable intervals by secret ballot, under conditions which will ensure the free expression of the opinion of the people in the choice of the legislature.

Article 4 . Territorial application
Any High Contracting Party may at the time of signature or ratification or at any time thereafter communicate to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe a declaration stating the extent to which it undertakes that the provisions of the present Protocol shall apply to such of the territories for the international relations of which it is responsible as are named therein.

Any High Contracting Party which has communicated a declaration in virtue of the preceding paragraph may from time to time communicate a further declaration modifying the terms of any former declaration or terminating the application of the provisions of this Protocol in respect of any territory.

A declaration made in accordance with this article shall be deemed to have been made in accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 56 of the Convention.

Article 5 . Relationship to the Convention
As between the High Contracting Parties the provisions of Articles 1, 2, 3 and 4 of this Protocol shall be regarded as additional articles to the Convention and all the provisions of the Convention shall apply accordingly.

Article 6 . Signature and ratification
This Protocol shall be open for signature by the members of the Council of Europe, who are the signatories of the Convention; it shall be ratified at the same time as or after the ratification of the Convention. It shall enter into force after the deposit of ten instruments of ratification. As regards any signatory ratifying subsequently, the Protocol shall enter into force at the date of the deposit of its instrument of ratification.

The instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, who will notify all members of the names of those who have ratified.

Done at Paris on the 20th day of March 1952, in English and French, both texts being equally authentic, in a single copy which shall remain deposited in the archives of the Council of Europe. The Secretary General shall transmit certified copies to each of the signatory governments.

**

Protocol No. 4
to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms securing certain rights and freedoms other than those already included in the Convention and in the first Protocol thereto
Strasbourg, 16.IX.1963

The governments signatory hereto, being members of the Council of Europe, Being resolved to take steps to ensure the collective enforcement of certain rights and freedoms other than those already included in Section I of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms signed at Rome on 4th November 1950 (hereinafter referred to as "The Convention") and in Articles 1 to 3 of the First Protocol to the Convention, signed at Paris on 20th March 1952,

Have agreed as follows:

Article 1 . Prohibition of imprisonment for debt
No one shall be deprived of his liberty merely on the ground of inability to fulfil a contractual obligation.

Article 2 . Freedom of movement
1 Everyone lawfully within the territory of a State shall, within that territory, have the right to liberty of movement and freedom to choose his residence.

2 Everyone shall be free to leave any country, including his own.

3 No restrictions shall be placed on the exercise of these rights other than such as are in accordance with law and are necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security or public safety, for the maintenance of public order, for the prevention of crime, for the protection of health or morals, or for the protection of the rights and freedoms of others.

4 The rights set forth in paragraph 1 may also be subject, in particular areas, to restrictions imposed in accordance with law and justified by the public interest in a democratic society.

Article 3 . Prohibition of expulsion of nationals
1 No one shall be expelled, by means either of an individual or of a collective measure, from the territory of the State of which he is a national.

2 No one shall be deprived of the right to enter the territory of the state of which he is a national.

Article 4 . Prohibition of collective expulsion of aliens
Collective expulsion of aliens is prohibited.

Article 5 . Territorial application
1 Any High Contracting Party may, at the time of signature or ratification of this Protocol, or at any time thereafter, communicate to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe a declaration stating the extent to which it undertakes that the provisions of this Protocol shall apply to such of the territories for the international relations of which it is responsible as are named therein.

2 Any High Contracting Party which has communicated a declaration in virtue of the preceding paragraph may, from time to time, communicate a further declaration modifying the terms of any former declaration or terminating the application of the provisions of this Protocol in respect of any territory.

3 A declaration made in accordance with this article shall be deemed to have been made in accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 56 of the Convention.

4 The territory of any State to which this Protocol applies by virtue of ratification or acceptance by that State, and each territory to which this Protocol is applied by virtue of a declaration by that State under this article, shall be treated as separate territories for the purpose of the references in Articles 2 and 3 to the territory of a State.

5 Any State which has made a declaration in accordance with paragraph 1 or 2 of this Article may at any time thereafter declare on behalf of one or more of the territories to which the declaration relates that it accepts the competence of the Court to receive applications from individuals, nongovernmental organisations or groups of individuals as provided in Article 34 of the Convention in respect of all or any of Articles 1 to 4 of this Protocol..

Article 6 . Relationship to the Convention
As between the High Contracting Parties the provisions of Articles 1 to 5 of this Protocol shall be regarded as additional Articles to the Convention, and all the provisions of the Convention shall apply accordingly.

Article 7 . Signature and ratification
1 This Protocol shall be open for signature by the members of the Council of Europe who are the signatories of the Convention; it shall be ratified at the same time as or after the ratification of the Convention. It shall enter into force after the deposit of five instruments of ratification. As regards any signatory ratifying subsequently, the Protocol shall enter into force at the date of the deposit of its instrument of ratification.

2 The instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, who will notify all members of the names of those who have ratified. In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Protocol.

Done at Strasbourg, this 16th day of September 1963, in English and in French, both texts being equally authoritative, in a single copy which shall remain deposited in the archives of the Council of Europe. The Secretary General shall transmit certified copies to each of the signatory states.

**

Protocol No. 6
to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms concerning the abolition of the death penalty
Strasbourg, 28.IV.1983

The member States of the Council of Europe, signatory to this Protocol to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, signed at Rome on 4 November 1950 (hereinafter referred to as "The Convention"),

Considering that the evolution that has occurred in several member States of the Council of Europe expresses a general tendency in favour of abolition of the death penalty;

Have agreed as follows:

Article 1 . Abolition of the death penalty
The death penalty shall be abolished. No-one shall be condemned to such penalty or executed.

Article 2 . Death penalty in time of war
A State may make provision in its law for the death penalty in respect of acts committed in time of war or of imminent threat of war; such penalty shall be applied only in the instances laid down in the law and in accordance with its provisions. The State shall communicate to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe the relevant provisions of that law.

Article 3 . Prohibition of derogations
No derogation from the provisions of this Protocol shall be made under Article 15 of the Convention.

Article 4 . Prohibition of reservations
No reservation may be made under Article 57 of the Convention in respect of the provisions of this Protocol.

Article 5 . Territorial application
1 Any State may at the time of signature or when depositing its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval, specify the territory or territories to which this Protocol shall apply.

2 Any State may at any later date, by a declaration addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, extend the application of this Protocol to any other territory specified in the declaration. In respect of such territory the Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the date of receipt of such declaration by the Secretary General.

3 Any declaration made under the two preceding paragraphs may, in respect of any territory specified in such declaration, be withdrawn by a notification addressed to the Secretary General. The withdrawal shall become effective on the first day of the month following the date of receipt of such notification by the Secretary General.

Article 6 . Relationship to the Convention
As between the States Parties the provisions of Articles 1 and 5 of this Protocol shall be regarded as additional articles to the Convention and all the provisions of the Convention shall apply accordingly.

Article 7 . Signature and ratification
The Protocol shall be open for signature by the member States of the Council of Europe, signatories to the Convention. It shall be subject to ratification, acceptance or approval. A member State of the Council of Europe may not ratify, accept or approve this Protocol unless it has, simultaneously or previously, ratified the Convention. Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

Article 8 . Entry into force
1 This Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the date on which five member States of the Council of Europe have expressed their consent to be bound by the Protocol in accordance with the provisions of Article 7.

2 In respect of any member State which subsequently expresses its consent to be bound by it, the Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the date of the deposit of the instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval.

Article 9 . Depositary functions
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall notify the member States of the Council of:

a any signature;
b the deposit of any instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval;
c any date of entry into force of this Protocol in accordance with articles 5 and 8;
d any other act, notification or communication relating to this Protocol.

In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Protocol.
Done at Strasbourg, this 28th day of April 1983, in English and in French, both texts being equally authentic, in a single copy which shall be deposited in the archives of the Council of Europe. The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall transmit certified copies to each member State of the Council of Europe.

**

Protocol No. 7
to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
Strasbourg, 22.XI.1984

The member States of the Council of Europe signatory hereto, Being resolved to take further steps to ensure the collective enforcement of certain rights and freedoms by means of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms signed at Rome on 4 November 1950 (hereinafter referred to as "The Convention"),


Have agreed as follows:

Article 1 . Procedural safeguards relating to expulsion of aliens
1 An alien lawfully resident in the territory of a State shall not be expelled therefrom except in pursuance of a decision reached in accordance with law and shall be allowed:

a to submit reasons against his expulsion,
b to have his case reviewed, and
c to be represented for these purposes before the competent authority or a person or persons designated by that authority.

2 An alien may be expelled before the exercise of his rights under paragraph 1.a, b and c of this Article, when such expulsion is necessary in the interests of public order or is grounded on reasons of national security.

Article 2 . Right of appeal in criminal matters
1 Everyone convicted of a criminal offence by a tribunal shall have the right to have his conviction or sentence reviewed by a higher tribunal. The exercise of this right, including the grounds on which it may be exercised, shall be governed by law.

2 This right may be subject to exceptions in regard to offences of a minor character, as prescribed by law, or in cases in which the person concerned was tried in the first instance by the highest tribunal or was convicted following an appeal against acquittal.

Article 3 . Compensation for wrongful conviction
When a person has by a final decision been convicted of a criminal offence and when subsequently his conviction has been reversed, or he has been pardoned, on the ground that a new or newly discovered fact shows conclusively that there has been a miscarriage of justice, the person who has suffered punishment as a result of such conviction shall be compensated according to the law or the practice of the State concerned, unless it is proved that the non-disclosure of the unknown fact in time is wholly or partly attributable to him.

Article 4 . Right not to be tried or punished twice
1 No one shall be liable to be tried or punished again in criminal proceedings under the jurisdiction of the same State for an offence for which he has already been finally acquitted or convicted in accordance with the law and penal procedure of that State.

2 The provisions of the preceding paragraph shall not prevent the reopening of the case in accordance with the law and penal procedure of the State concerned, if there is evidence of new or newly discovered facts, or if there has been a fundamental defect in the previous proceedings, which could affect the outcome of the case.

3 No derogation from this Article shall be made under Article 15 of the Convention.

Article 5 . Equality between spouses
Spouses shall enjoy equality of rights and responsibilities of a private law character between them, and in their relations with their children, as to marriage, during marriage and in the event of its dissolution. This Article shall not prevent States from taking such measures as are necessary in the interests of the children.

Article 6 . Territorial application
1 Any State may at the time of signature or when depositing its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval, specify the territory or territories to which the Protocol shall apply and state the extent to which it undertakes that the provisions of this Protocol shall apply to such territory or territories.

2 Any State may at any later date, by a declaration addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, extend the application of this Protocol to any other territory specified in the declaration. In respect of such territory the Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of two months after the date of receipt by the Secretary General of such declaration.

3 Any declaration made under the two preceding paragraphs may, in respect of any territory specified in such declaration, be withdrawn or modified by a notification addressed to the Secretary General. The withdrawal or modification shall become effective on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of two months after the date of receipt of such notification by the Secretary General.

4 A declaration made in accordance with this Article shall be deemed to have been made in accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 56 of the Convention.

5 The territory of any State to which this Protocol applies by virtue of ratification, acceptance or approval by that State, and each territory to which this Protocol is applied by virtue of a declaration by that State under this Article, may be treated as separate territories for the purpose of the reference in Article 1 to the territory of a State.

6 Any State which has made a declaration in accordance with paragraph 1 or 2 of this Article may at any time thereafter declare on behalf of one or more of the territories to which the declaration relates that it accepts the competence of the Court to receive applications from individuals, nongovernmental organisations or groups of individuals as provided in Article 34 of the Convention in respect of Articles 1 to 5 of this Protocol.

Article 7 . Relationship to the Convention
As between the States Parties, the provisions of Article 1 to 6 of this Protocol shall be regarded as additional Articles to the Convention, and all the provisions of the Convention shall apply accordingly.

Article 8 . Signature and ratification
This Protocol shall be open for signature by member States of the Council of Europe which have signed the Convention. It is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval. A member State of the Council of Europe may not ratify, accept or approve this Protocol without previously or simultaneously ratifying the Convention. Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

Article 9 . Entry into force
1 This Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of two months after the date on which seven member States of the Council of Europe have expressed their consent to be bound by the Protocol in accordance with the provisions of Article 8.

2 In respect of any member State which subsequently expresses its consent to be bound by it, the Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of two months after the date of the deposit of the instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval.

Article 10 . Depositary functions
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall notify all the member States of the Council of Europe of:

a any signature;
b the deposit of any instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval;
c any date of entry into force of this Protocol in accordance with Articles 6 and 9;
d any other act, notification or declaration relating to this Protocol.

In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Protocol.
Done at Strasbourg, this 22nd day of November 1984, in English and French, both texts being equally authentic, in a single copy which shall be deposited in the archives of the Council of Europe. The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall transmit certified copies to each member State of the Council of Europe.

**

Protocol No. 12
to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms
Rome, 4.XI.2000

The member States of the Council of Europe signatory hereto,

Having regard to the fundamental principle according to which all persons are equal before the law and are entitled to the equal protection of the law;

Being resolved to take further steps to promote the equality of all persons through the collective enforcement of a general prohibition of discrimination by means of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms signed at Rome on 4 November 1950 (hereinafter referred to as "The Convention");

Reaffirming that the principle of non-discrimination does not prevent States Parties from taking measures in order to promote full and effective equality, provided that there is an objective and reasonable justification for those measures,

Have agreed as follows:

Article 1 . General prohibition of discrimination
1 The enjoyment of any right set forth by law shall be secured without discrimination on any ground such as sex, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth or other status.

2 No one shall be discriminated against by any public authority on any ground such as those mentioned in paragraph 1.

Article 2 . Territorial application

1 Any State may, at the time of signature or when depositing its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval, specify the territory or territories to which this Protocol shall apply.

2 Any State may at any later date, by a declaration addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, extend the application of this Protocol to any other territory specified in the declaration. In respect of such territory the Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three months after the date of receipt by the Secretary General of such declaration.

3 Any declaration made under the two preceding paragraphs may, in respect of any territory specified in such declaration, be withdrawn or modified by a notification addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe. The withdrawal or modification shall become effective on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three months after the date of receipt of such notification by the Secretary General.

4 A declaration made in accordance with this article shall be deemed to have been made in accordance with paragraph 1 of Article 56 of the Convention.

5 Any State which has made a declaration in accordance with paragraph 1 or 2 of this article may at any time thereafter declare on behalf of one or more of the territories to which the declaration relates that it accepts the competence of the Court to receive applications from individuals, nongovernmental organisations or groups of individuals as provided by Article 34 of the Convention in respect of Article 1 of this Protocol.

Article 3 . Relationship to the Convention
As between the States Parties, the provisions of Articles 1 and 2 of this Protocol shall be regarded as additional articles to the Convention, and all the provisions of the Convention shall apply accordingly.

Article 4 . Signature and ratification
This Protocol shall be open for signature by member States of the Council of Europe which have signed the Convention. It is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval. A member State of the Council of Europe may not ratify, accept or approve this Protocol without previously or simultaneously ratifying the Convention. Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

Article 5 . Entry into force
1 This Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three months after the date on which ten member States of the Council of Europe have expressed their consent to be bound by the Protocol in accordance with the provisions of Article 4.

2 In respect of any member State which subsequently expresses its consent to be bound by it, the Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three months after the date of the deposit of the instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval.

Article 6 . Depositary functions
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall notify all the member States of the Council of Europe of:

a any signature;
b the deposit of any instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval;
c any date of entry into force of this Protocol in accordance with Articles 2 and 5;
d any other act, notification or communication relating to this Protocol.

In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Protocol.
Done at Rome, this 4th day of November 2000, in English and in French, both texts being equally authentic, in a single copy which shall be deposited in the archives of the Council of Europe. The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall transmit certified copies to each member State of the Council of Europe.

**

Protocol No. 13
to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms Concerning the abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances
Vilnius, 3.V.2002

The member States of the Council of Europe signatory hereto, Convinced that everyone.s right to life is a basic value in a democratic society and that the abolition of the death penalty is essential for the protection of this right and for the full recognition of the inherent dignity of all human beings;

Wishing to strengthen the protection of the right to life guaranteed by the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms signed at Rome on 4 November 1950 (hereinafter referred to as "The Convention");

Noting that Protocol No. 6 to the Convention, concerning the Abolition of the Death Penalty, signed at Strasbourg on 28 April 1983, does not exclude the death penalty in respect of acts committed in time of war or of imminent threat of war;

Being resolved to take the final step in order to abolish the death penalty in all circumstances,

Have agreed as follows:

Article 1 . Abolition of the death penalty
The death penalty shall be abolished. No one shall be condemned to such penalty or executed.

Article 2 . Prohibitions of derogations
No derogation from the provisions of this Protocol shall be made under Article 15 of the Convention.

Article 3 . Prohibitions of reservations
No reservation may be made under Article 57 of the Convention in respect of the provisions of this Protocol.

Article 4 . Territorial application
1 Any state may, at the time of signature or when depositing its instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval, specify the territory or territories to which this Protocol shall apply.

2 Any state may at any later date, by a declaration addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, extend the application of this Protocol to any other territory specified in the declaration. In respect of such territory the Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three months after the date of receipt by the Secretary General of such declaration.

3 Any declaration made under the two preceding paragraphs may, in respect of any territory specified in such declaration, be withdrawn or modified by a notification addressed to the Secretary General. The withdrawal or modification shall become effective on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three months after the date of receipt of such notification by the Secretary General.

Article 5 . Relationship to the Convention
As between the states Parties the provisions of Articles 1 to 4 of this Protocol shall be regarded as additional articles to the Convention, and all the provisions of the Convention shall apply accordingly.

Article 6 . Signature and ratification
This Protocol shall be open for signature by member states of the Council of Europe which have signed the Convention. It is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval. A member state of the Council of Europe may not ratify, accept or approve this Protocol without previously or simultaneously ratifying the Convention. Instruments of ratification, acceptance or approval shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

Article 7 . Entry into force
1 This Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three months after the date on which ten member states of the Council of Europe have expressed their consent to be bound by the Protocol in accordance with the provisions of Article 6.

2 In respect of any member state which subsequently expresses its consent to be bound by it, the Protocol shall enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three months after the date of the deposit of the instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval.

Article 8 . Depositary functions
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall notify all the member states of the Council of Europe of:

a any signature;
b the deposit of any instrument of ratification, acceptance or approval;
c any date of entry into force of this Protocol in accordance with Articles 4 and 7;
d any other act, notification or communication relating to this Protocol;

In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Protocol.
Done at Vilnius, this 3rd day of May 2002, in English and in French, both texts being equally authentic, in a single copy which shall be deposited in the archives of the Council of Europe. The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall transmit certified copies to each member state of the Council of Europe.