Abstract
The recent judgment of the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in Vinter and others v United Kingdom provides a much needed clarification of the parameters of the prohibition on inhuman and degrading punishment under Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) as it applies to whole life orders of imprisonment under mandatory life sentences – essentially, life imprisonment without parole. The Grand Chamber's judgment refines Strasbourg doctrine on life imprisonment and the prospect of release and illuminates key principles concerning inhuman and degrading punishment under Article 3 of the ECHR. This article considers the judgment's profound significance in relation to both human rights and penology.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 292–307 |
Journal | Modern Law Review |
Volume | 77 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 3 Mar 2014 |
Keywords
- Article 3 ECHR
- inhuman and degrading punishment
- human dignity
- retribution
- Vinter v UK
- whole life imprisonment without parole
- human rights
- penology
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Law