Going to court can be an intimidating process, especially when you do not know your rights and obligations. This guide explains your human rights in court, and how they should be guaranteed.

There may be different situations where it is necessary to go to a court. For example, to settle a financial disagreement with another person or regarding a complaint about the decision of a governmental institution. In addition, you may also be the accused, the victim or a witness at a criminal trial.

Right to a fair trial

Every trial has to follow a fair and equal procedure for all parties, regardless of whether the judge’s decision and the outcome of the court case is favourable to them or not. In human rights, this set of rights is called the right to a fair trial. The basic rights, guarantees and duties you have in court are outlined within this set of rights. Read more about the right to a fair trial.

About this Guide

This Guide explains human rights within different types of court proceedings. Learning about the rights and duties that guarantee you a fair trial can help you to prepare for an upcoming trial or to evaluate the process in which you are currently involved. It can make you aware of potential violations of your human rights and help you to understand how to protect them where you think your rights have been violated.

Access your knowledge

If you wish to use the Guide for learning purposes, the Guide offers you a possibility to assess your knowledge in human rights before or after studying, by completing tests about different themes included in the Guide.

Human Rights Guide

A European platform for human rights education