The European Convention of Human Rights and migration – where are we now?

Wednesday, 27 May 2026, 5pm to 6pm

Sir Tim, former judge in respect of the United Kingdom on the European Court of Human Rights (2016-2025), will reflect on the Court’s recent case-law on and its overall approach to the situation of refugees, and migrants more generally, as he experienced it during his time at the Court, including during his four years as a duty judge deciding on application for interim measures. He will situate these reflections in the increasing criticism – whether well-founded or not – and calls for “reform” of the Court’s approach – in particular to Articles 3 and 8 ECHR - “in the context of the contemporary challenges posed both by irregular migration and by the situation of foreigners convicted of serious offences, taking duly into account in particular governments’ fundamental responsibility to ensure national security and public safety”. This is particularly timely as, by the time of this event, these calls will most likely have culminated (at least for the time being) in the adoption of a political declaration on this topic at a Ministerial conference, representing all 46 States Parties to the Convention, to be held in Chișinău on14-15 May 2026.

Speaker(s): Sir Tim Eicke KC

Series: Refugee Studies Centre Events

Venue: Queen Elizabeth House - Seminar Room 1 - Seminar Room 1 Queen Elizabeth House 4 Mansfield Road Oxford Oxfordshire OX1 3TB United Kingdom

Department: International Development (Department)

Host: Refugee Studies Centre

More info: