The Council of Europe’s Department for the Execution of Judgments of the European Court of Human Rights has published a new factsheet on cases concerning life imprisonment. 

The factsheet summarises steps taken by nine member states on this issue in response to 20 different judgments from the European Court of Human Rights. It covers a number of specific issues relating to life sentences, including review mechanisms, conditions of detention and the risk of irreducible life sentences in extradition cases.

This is the latest in a series of thematic factsheets on changes to national law, policy and practice across Europe linked to the implementation of the European Court’s judgments. Other factsheets cover issues including the environment, children’s rights, domestic violence, freedom of expression and data protection. 

Thematic factsheets