Situating Vulnerability Reasoning in a Broader Context

Abstract

Th e present chapter provides context for understanding the Court ' s approach to vulnerability. It does so in three main ways. First, it refers briefl y to trends in the work of other human rights bodies, showing that the Court is not alone in deploying this concept. Secondly, it looks at minority protection, showing that vulnerability reasoning evolved in parallel to key moments relating to the protection of minorities, and discusses how a turn to vulnerability fi ts into the Council of Europe ' s approach to minority rights. Th irdly, it looks at another key area in which the ECtHR applies vulnerability reasoning, namely its non-discrimination case law under Article 14 ECHR.