ABSTRACT
The European Court of Human Rights conveys its message in various forms, mainly through the texts of its judgments and decisions, with emphasis on “key” cases but also through case law notes, press releases and other material. Efforts have been made over the years to broaden its readership, especially in view of the language barrier, which is the result of having just two official languages (French and English) and limited resources for translation. Strasbourg judgments may also be criticised as “foreign”, unidiomatic or convoluted in style and not sufficiently accessible to the public. How is the Court’s “production” perceived by the wider audience (lawyers and laypersons), and does it convey its message effectively across 47 European States? This chapter looks at the way in which the Court disseminates its case law and considers how its language and style, while giving rise to criticism, are not necessarily barriers to effective reception or implementation.
