What main role does the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) play?

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) primarily serves as a judicial body that ensures the protection of human rights as outlined in the European Convention on Human Rights. Its main role involves providing a platform where individuals can bring claims against member states for alleged violations of their rights guaranteed by the Convention.

As a final appeal court for human rights cases outside of the European Union's jurisdiction, the ECHR has the authority to assess whether a member state has acted in accordance with the obligations set forth in the Convention. This emphasizes the court's function in upholding human rights standards at the international level, beyond merely advising or enforcing national laws.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately represent the core focus of the ECHR. The court is not involved in enforcing UK laws directly; that responsibility lies with national courts and legal systems. It also does not act as an advisory body to governments on legal matters; rather, it interprets and applies the law based on the cases presented to it. Lastly, the ECHR does not set EU treaties; that is the role of the European Union institutions. Therefore, the primary function of the ECHR aligns with serving as a final appeal court for human rights cases, confirming that option C is indeed the correct answer