Resumen de Europe v. USA: Different Standards and Procedures in Human Rights Protection

Stephan Breitenmoser, Chiara Piras

• This contribution shows the important role of regional law and institutions in the development and rise of international huma rights standards. By analyzing two main areas of human rights law- the prohibition of the death penalty and data protection- this article outlines how the level of protection guaranteed by the European states is far more advanced than equivalent on a universal level or in other regions of the world. The examples discussed also confirm that human rights are further developed and strengthened on the European level where treaties and procedures ensure a more efficient implementations of the relevant norms and, finally, that a sharp divide gradually opens up between Europe and the United States.