PIL Discussion Group: Equivalent Protection and Participatory Protection in European Human Rights Law

The Public International Law (PIL) Discussion Group at the University of Oxford is hosting a seminar titled "Equivalent Protection and Participatory Protection in European Human Rights Law." This event is scheduled for 22 January 2026, from 12:45 to 14:00, and will take place in the Old Library at All Souls College. The seminar will feature Professor Mads Andenas KC and Professor Johann Ruben Leiss, both from the University of Oslo, as the main speakers.

The seminar will focus on the 'equivalent protection test,' a concept introduced by the German Federal Constitutional Court in its 1974 Solange I decision. This test assesses whether the level of human rights protection in another legal regime is equivalent to that of the adjudicating body's legal system. The discussion will explore the test's development, its role in harmonizing European human rights law, and its impact on the autonomy and integration of various legal orders. The speakers will also examine the test's broader applications beyond EU law and the European Convention on Human Rights, and consider its future in European and international human rights law.

Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with leading experts in the field and participate in discussions on the complexities of human rights protection across different legal systems. A light sandwich lunch will be provided in the Wharton Room from 12:15 pm onwards, offering a chance for informal networking before the seminar begins.

This seminar is particularly relevant for legal scholars, practitioners, and students interested in European human rights law and the interplay between national and international legal systems. It provides a platform to deepen understanding of the mechanisms that ensure consistent human rights protection across jurisdictions and to discuss the challenges and future directions in this area.