Superior Courts Network

The Network

Launched in 2015 and operational since 2016, the Superior Courts Network (SCN) now boasts a membership of 111 superior courts from all 46 States and 4 observer courts.

The overall aim of the SCN is to enrich dialogue and the implementation of the Convention.

The more concrete operational objective is to create a practical and useful means of exchanging relevant information on Convention case-law and related matters.

The President of the ECHR has entrusted the management of the SCN to the Jurisconsult of the ECHR.

The SCN is supported by the joint project Enhancing Subsidiarity: Support to the ECHR Knowledge-sharing and Superior Courts Dialogue (Subsidiarity Project) which is a collaboration between the Registry of the European Court of Human Rights and the Directorate General of Human Rights and Rule of Law of the Council of Europe.

  • Introduction to the SCN to know more about the origin and activities of the Network.
  • The guiding principles of the SCN are set out in its Charter. The Operational Rules describe the functioning of the Network. They evolve in consultation with the member courts.
  • Any further questions: Request Form

Introduction to SCN

SCN_video-promo_play
23/07/2024
The Superior Courts Network was set up in 2015 as a tool to facilitate dialogue between the Court and national superior courts, an exchange which is considered central to the functioning of the Convention system based, as it is, on shared responsibility for safeguarding human rights.
 
​​​​​​ ​Introduction to SCN video

Message from President Marko Bošnjak

17/07/2024
''The Superior Courts Network (SCN) is our unique model for judicial dialogue, set up by the European Court of Human Rights in 2015 and managed by its Directorate of the Jurisconsult. [...] ''
 
 

Events

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SCN Focal Points Forum 2024

The 7th SCN Forum took place on Thursday and Friday 6-7 June 2024, in a hybrid format. Attended by 96 representatives from 75 member courts, the Forum included a substantive session on the topic of National courts and the challenge of climate change litigation as well as a know-how session (working groups) on the topic of Judicial communication strategies: contemporary challenges.

 Agenda
 List of Participants
 Speech by President O’Leary (in French only) 
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SCN Focal Points Forum 2023

The 6th SCN Forum took place on Thursday and Friday 8-9 June 2023, in a hybrid format. Attended by 84 representatives from 76 member courts, the Forum included two case-law sessions on the topic of Independence of the Judiciary as well as a know-how session (working groups) on the topic of Knowledge management, legal research and the role of the Jurisconsult.

 Agenda
 List of Participants
 Speech by President O’Leary (in French only) 
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Membership

 Member Courts   Observer Courts

Any court wishing to join the Network should write a letter to that effect to the President of the ECHR.

News

Human Rights building

New member SCN

03/03/25

The SCN welcomes a new member: the Federal Supreme Court of Switzerland, which brings the membership of the Network to 111 courts from all 46 States.

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Useful Links

 Launch of the SCN