... lesbian women have been rejected by their national courts, they often turn, as a last resort, to the European Court of Human Rights. It is in this court, that they can invoke their rights under the European Convention on Human Rights. These equality claims are generally based on the following articles; Article 8 provides that 'everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence' and Article 12 provides that 'men and women of a marriageable age have the right to marry and found a family, according to the national laws governing the exercise of this right'. Furthermore, they can invoke their rights under Article 14 which guarantees the convention rights and freedoms 'without discrimination on any such ground such as sex, race......or other status'2 So far the European Commission on Human Rights has not recognised that the relationship of a same-sex couple as ...

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