Universal-Womens-accesss-to-justice-Publications-Practitioners-Guide-Series-2016-ENG

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WOMEN’S ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE 323
the uniformity of the jurisprudence on this issue, other bodies
such as the CESCR, CERD and CEDAW, which have the power
to issue interim measures, are also likely to uphold their
binding nature.
2. European Court of Human Rights
Application: An application to the European Court of Human
Rights should normally be made by completing and sending the
application form that can be found on the Court’s website, to
be filled out in one of the official languages of the Court
(English or French), together with copies of any relevant
documents and in particular the decisions, whether judicial or
not, relating to the object of the application. 844 It is also
possible to first introduce the complaint through a letter
containing the subject matter of the application, including the
Convention articles claimed to be breached. 845 This letter will
stop the running of the six months time limit (see, supra). In
this case, or in the case of an incomplete application form, the
Court will request the provision of additional information within
eight weeks from the date of the information’s request. 846 On
receipt of the first communication setting out the subjectmatter
of the case, the Registry will open a file, whose number
must be mentioned in all subsequent correspondence.
Applicants will be informed of this by letter. They may also be
asked for further information or documents. 847
844
Application form may be found at
http://www.echr.coe.int/ECHR/EN/Header/Applicants/Apply+to+the+
Court/Application+pack/. See, Article 47.1, ECtHR Rules of Procedure.
845
Institution of Proceedings, Practice Direction, Issued by the
President of the Court in accordance with Rule 32 of the Rules of Court
on 1 November 2003 and amended on 22 September 2008 and on 24
June 2009, para. 3.
846
Ibid., para. 4.
847
Ibid., para. 7.