Un case summaries

UN Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women - Z.E. and A.E. v. Switzerland, 171/2021, 4 July 2025
Country of applicant: Afghanistan

The Committee, invoking the principle of non-refoulement and recognising gender-based violence as discrimination under Article 1 of the Convention, determined that removing the author to Greece would violate Articles 2 (c)-(f), 3, and 12 of the Convention due to the state party's failure to conduct an individualized, gender-sensitive, and trauma-informed assessment of the real and foreseeable risks the author faces as a woman experiencing gender-based violence.

Date of decision: 04-07-2025
M.I. et al. v. Australia
Country of applicant: Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Sri Lanka

The Human Rights Committee ruled that their treatment of asylum seekers detained on Christmas Island and later transferred to Nauru under Australia's offshore processing policy violated the ICCPR, due to arbitrary detention and cruel treatment. Australia was ordered to compensate the victims and reform its migration policies.

Date of decision: 23-01-2025
UN Committee against Torture - A.Y. v. Switzerland, CAT/C/74/D/887/2018, 30/01/2023
Country of applicant: Eritrea
Keywords: Torture, Real risk

The Committee found a violation of Article 3 of the Convention against Torture (non-refoulement), considering that the State party failed to address the individual circumstances and risk profile of the complainant, namely the fact that she was a woman of conscription age and a “failed asylum seeker”, when ascertaining whether her return to Eritrea would pose a risk of torture and inhuman and degrading treatment. Also, it observed that the State disregarded her asylum claim relying on the report’s findings, which did not meet the impartiality required as evidentiary proof.

Date of decision: 30-01-2023