The European Court of Human Rights
announced last week that
Protocol No. 16 to the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (
full text) has come into force after France became the tenth nation to ratify it. The Protocol allows courts in each European nation to request advisory opinions on the interpretation or application of the
European Convention on Human Rights. Requests for advisory opinions are limited to cases pending before the national court when the request is made.