Editing European Court of Human Rights (section)

===Applications by individuals===
Applications by individuals against contracting states, alleging that the state violated their rights under the [[European Convention on Human Rights]], can be made by any person, [[non-governmental organisation]], or group of individuals. Although the official languages of the court are English and French, applications may be submitted in any one of the official languages of the contracting states. An application has to be made in writing and signed by the applicant or by the applicant's representative.<ref>Rule 45 of the Rules of Court.</ref>

Once registered with the court, the case is assigned to a [[Judge Rapporteur]], who can make a final decision on whether the case is inadmissible. A case may be inadmissible when it is incompatible with the requirements of ''ratione materiae'', ''ratione temporis'' or ''ratione personae'', or if the case cannot be proceeded with on formal grounds, such as non-exhaustion of domestic remedies, lapse of the four months from the last internal decision complained of, anonymity, substantial identity with a matter already submitted to the court, or with another procedure of international investigation.

If the Judge Rapporteur decides that the case can proceed, the case is then referred to a chamber of the court which, unless it decides that the application is inadmissible, communicates the case to the government of the state against which the application is made, asking the government to present its observations on the case.

The chamber of the court then deliberates and judges the case on its admissibility and its merits. Cases that raise serious questions of interpretation and application of the European Convention on Human Rights, a serious issue of general importance, or which may depart from previous [[case law]] can be heard in the Grand Chamber if all parties to the case agree to the chamber of the court relinquishing jurisdiction to the Grand Chamber. A panel of five judges decides whether the Grand Chamber accepts the referral.<ref name="essentials" /><ref name="proto14" />