Reproductive Rights and Freedom of Choice in the Case Law of the European Court of Human Rights

Solomiia Tsebenko

The article examines the issue of ensuring reproductive rights of individuals in European countries, exploring the relevance of this topic in the legal context of the European Court of Human Rights. The main purpose of the article is a comprehensive analysis of the ECHR judgments on reproductive rights and the establishment of their status and specifics of their implementation in different European countries. The issue of reproductive rights are examined through the prism of Article 8 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, which enshrines the right to respect for private and family life. In this context, the article examines a number of ECHR judgments relating to aspects of reproductive rights, such as the right to abortion, the right to choose a place of childbirth, sterilization, etc. Separate information was provided on the specifics of abortion regulation in Slovakia and Poland, which reflects different approaches to reproductive rights in European countries. Importantly, the article analyzes in detail the legal positions of the ECHR, where the Court provides clarifications on the content of the concept of “private life”, in particular it’s meaning in matters of reproductive rights. The authors have established that at the present stage, the consolidation of reproductive human rights in European countries is insufficient, has numerous legal gaps, which sometimes leads to violations of fundamental human rights. At the same time, ECHR judgments aimed at overcoming imperfections in national legal systems play an important role in the gradual consolidation and development of reproductive rights at the legislative level.

Based on the analysis of the ECHR judgments, the author draws conclusions about the need for further improvement of legal regulation and consolidation of reproductive rights at both the international and national levels. It was noted that reproductive rights are an integral part of general human rights, and their realization should be clearly enshrined in both international documents and national laws, ensuring reliable protection of these rights in the legal framework of each European country.

Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms

ECHR

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