To mark the 75^th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights, the official edition of its “Preparatory Work” is now available as a fully searchable digital PDF. This has been made possible thanks to the publisher De Gruyter Brill, which digitised all eight volumes free of charge, in coordination with the Court’s Library.

This digital release ensures broad access for researchers and other interested users, supports the dissemination of knowledge about the Convention, and greatly facilitates the use of these materials by both internal and external stakeholders.

The publication is now available free of charge on the Court’s website, on the Court’s Knowledge-Sharing Platform, and on the publisher’s website. The original printed edition remains accessible in the Court’s Library.

The “Preparatory Work” includes the various documents produced during the drafting of the Convention and its first Protocol, including reports of discussions in the Consultative Assembly and its Committee on Legal and Administrative Questions. These foundational documents offer valuable insight into the intentions of the European political leaders who, in the aftermath of the war, sought to enshrine a shared commitment to human dignity, freedom, and justice. Understanding why the Convention was brought into being is essential to appreciating the values it continues to protect today.

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