Sarban v Republic of Moldova: violations of the applicant's rights to liberty and security

/
Sarban v Republic of Moldova: violations of the applicant's rights to liberty and security

Mr. Sarban was detained in the remand centre of the Centre for Fighting Economic Crime and Corruption (CFECC) between 12th November 2004 and 19th January 2005 for alleged abuse of power in relation to a purchase of 40 ambulances by the Chişinău Mayoralty. A CFECC officer later stated that the case against the applicant had been fabricated for political reasons. Mr. Sarban made numerous appeals for release based on his bad state of health, his irreproachable conduct during the investigation and the unlikelihood of his leaving the country. They were all refused by the courts.

Read More

Access to Legal Abortion: P. and S. v. Poland 

/

The Court found that, even though abortion was legal under Polish law, the victim’s access to abortion was hampered because the authorities did not comply with their obligations to enforce it in practical terms.

It has been 7 years since the judgment was made final and practical, as well as legal, deficits remain outstanding as made clear by NGOs closely following the status of implementation.

Despite a CM decision dating back to September 2018 that calls on the authorities to adopt a viable system for effective access to legal abortion, authorities are yet to put in place tangible measures to address systemic barriers and the lack of remedial and enforcement mechanisms in case of a lack of access to legal reproductive health services.

Read More

Degrading Treatment of Migrants in Detention: M.S.S. v. Greece

/
Degrading Treatment of Migrants in Detention: M.S.S. v. Greece

Mr M.S.S, an Afghan national, fled war-torn Kabul in early 2008 fearing for his life due to his service as an interpreter for international air force troops based in Kabul.

Upon his arrival to Greece, the authorities detained him in a limited-occupancy building where he could use the toilets only when allowed by the guards, was provided very little to eat, and slept on a dirty mattress or on the floor.

The European Court of Human Rights held that harsh detention conditions in Greece - such as overcrowding, insufficient ventilation, lack of regular access to toilets or sanitary facilities, and inadequate food - had been inhuman and degrading.

Read More

Unlawful Detention of Asylum Seekers and Irregular Migrants: S.D. v. Greece

/
Unlawful Detention of Asylum Seekers and Irregular Migrants: S.D. v. Greece

S.D. is a Turkish national who had been arrested and tortured by the Turkish authorities due to his journalistic activities and political views, before fleeing the country and entering Greece irregularly.

The Court found that S.D.’s treatment in detention had been inhuman and degrading.

The Committee of Ministers examines S.D. v. Greece along with no fewer than 30 judgments brought against Greece which concern the wrongful detention of asylum seekers, failure to provide clear information, the possibility of challenging the legality of detention itself and conditions of detention.

Read More

Rasul Jafarov and the persecution of human rights defenders in Azerbaijan

/
Rasul Jafarov and the persecution of human rights defenders in Azerbaijan

Rasul Jafarov is an Azerbaijani lawyer, human rights activist and chairman of the Human Rights Club. In 2014, he was arrested and placed in detention because of his human rights activities. This was part of a wider crackdown on independent civil society.

On the same day that the European Court of Human Rights ruled in his favour in 2016, Mr Jafarov was freed from jail. In April 2020 Mr Jafarov was issued with a full acquittal by the Azerbaijan Supreme Court, with an award of compensation. This removed the bar on him working as a lawyer and restored his right to run in elections.

Mr Jaforov is one of many ongoing victims of the persecution of human rights defenders in Azerbaijan.

Read More