John Brand: Sixty years on, vigilance still vital to protect rights

Good news may be hard to find this glum autumn, but today there is one anniversary worth celebrating. The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) the most important human rights agreement of modern times, was opened for signature 60 years ago, on 4 November, 1950. Britain played an influential part in preparing the text, and was among the first countries to sign up.

The ECHR was one of the earliest achievements of the Council of Europe, which was created to heal the divisions left in Europe by two terrible wars. At the first meeting of the Council in Strasbourg on 12 August, 1949, Winston Churchill, whose vision of a united Europe was as strong as his patriotism, opened his speech by saying: "In this ancient city still scarred by the wounds of war we are meeting to set up an assembly which we hope will one day be the parliament of Europe."

Today 47 countries are members of the Council, nearly twice as many as belong to the European Union. Thanks to the ECHR the rights of their populations to life, security and liberty, to freedom of thought, expression and religion, to fair trial, to respect for family and private life and to ownership of property are all enshrined in national and international law. Torture, the death penalty, discrimination and slavery are all banned.

Compliance with the ECHR is monitored by the European Court of Human Rights, to which all citizens have the right of ultimate appeal. Its judgements are sometimes uncomfortable for governments, but in hindsight often stand out as milestones on the road to a better society.

In the first half of the 20th century, Europeans learnt the hard way about the importance of protecting human rights, and there have been periodic reminders since. Sixty years ago political leaders from victorious and defeated countries were determined that Europe should never again tear itself apart in war. Their vision has given us the opportunity to go forward without having to learn these terrible lessons again – but we should never relax our vigilance.

• John Brand is chairman of campaign group the European Movement in Scotland