issued by the Registrar of the Court  
ECHR 203 (2017)  
19.06.2017  
Substantive application has been lodged by Charlie Gard’s parents; and interim  
measure is maintained pending proceedings on the case  
This evening, the European Court of Human Rights has received a substantive application in the case  
Gard and Others v. the United Kingdom (no. 39793/17).  
Therefore, in accordance with its earlier decision of 13 June 2017, adopted under Rule 39 of the  
Rules of Court (continuing the decision of the Single Judge of 9 June 2017), the interim measure  
indicated to the United Kingdom Government must be maintained until such time as the European  
Court makes its decision on the substantive application. Under this interim measure, the United  
Kingdom Government has been requested, in the meantime, to ensure that Charlie Gard, a baby  
suffering from a rare genetic disease, is provided with such treatment and nursing care as may be  
appropriate to ensure that he suffers the least distress and retains the greatest dignity consistent,  
insofar as possible, with maintaining life.  
In light of the exceptional circumstances of this case, the Court has already accorded it priority and  
will treat the application with the utmost urgency. It is anticipated that as soon as the responsible  
Chamber of the Court is in a position to consider the application made on behalf of Charlie Gard and  
his parents an expedited timetable for the determination of this application will be established.  
What are interim measures?  
The Court may, under Rule 39 of its Rules of Court, indicate interim measures to any State party to  
the Convention. Interim measures are urgent measures which, according to the Court’s well-  
established practice, apply only where there is an imminent risk of irreparable harm. Such measures  
are decided in connection with proceedings before the Court, without prejudging any subsequent  
decisions on the admissibility or merits of the case in question. The Court grants such requests only  
on an exceptional basis, when the applicants would otherwise face a real risk of irreversible harm.  
For further information, see the Factsheet on interim measures.  
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The European Court of Human Rights was set up in Strasbourg by the Council of Europe Member  
States in 1959 to deal with alleged violations of the 1950 European Convention on Human Rights.