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ETS 177 – Convention for the Protection of Human Rights (Protocol No. 12), 4.XI.2000
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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such declaration, be withdrawn or modified by a notification addressed to the Secretary General of the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, non-governmental
organisations or groups of individuals as provided by Article 34 of the Convention in respect of