Effizienterer Menschenrechtsschutz durch Vorabbefassung des Europäischen Gerichtshofs für Menschenrechte?

Protocol No. 16 to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which came into force in August 2018, enables the member States to request the European Court of Human Rights to give advisory opinions on questions of principle relating to the interpretation and application of the rights and freedoms defined in the Convention and the Protocols thereto. The German Government does not consider it necessary to sign and ratify Protocol No. 16 at the moment referring to the well-developed constitutional protection of Human rights in Germany. This article critically assesses this view and argues that the possibility to apply to the Court for advisory opinions can contribute to making Human rights protection in Germany more effective.