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ECtHR - Yoh-Ekale Mwanje v. Belgium, Application No. 10486/10, 20 December 2011
Country of applicant: Cameroon

The case relates to the detention and proposed deportation from Belgium of an irregularly present Cameroonian national suffering from HIV.

The Court unanimously found that her deportation to Cameroon would not violate Article 2 or Article 3 ECHR. However, she had not been able to effectively challenge the deportation decision, in violation of Article 13.

The Court found a violation of Article 3 based on the lack of appropriate treatment while she was detained. Further, the additional period of detention following interim measures by the Court preventing her removal, was unlawful and violated Article 5(1)f).  

Date of decision: 20-12-2011
Relevant International and European Legislation: EN - Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,Article 2,Article 3,Article 5,Article 13,Art 5.1
Austria - Administrative Court, 15 December 2011, 2011/21/0237
Country of applicant: Kosovo

Contrary to the wording of the corresponding Austrian legislation, an entry ban of at least 18 months which must be issued in every case together with a ban on readmission is not compatible with the Returns Directive without a prior examination on a case-by-case basis. 

Date of decision: 15-12-2011
Relevant International and European Legislation: Article 7,Article 6,Article 7,Article 11,Article 8
Austria - Constitutional Court, 15 December 2011, U760/11
Country of applicant: Armenia

After six and a half years of single asylum proceedings, the Applicants, a family with three children who were well-integrated in Austria, , were expelled by the Asylum Court to Armenia. The Constitutional Court revoked this decision on the grounds of a violation of Art 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The reasons for this were primarily that the integration of the children was given insufficient weight.

Date of decision: 15-12-2011
Relevant International and European Legislation: Article 7,Article 8
Austria- Constitutional Court, 13 December 2011, U1907/10
Country of applicant: Russia

As a result of six convictions owing to trivial offences against property, subsidiary protection was withdrawn from the Applicant, as he would represent a danger to the general public. The Constitutional Court revoked this decision as unconstitutional: the Asylum Court had not interpreted the corresponding national stipulation in accordance with the Directives as the crimes committed were not of the seriousness required in Art 17 Qualification Directive.

Date of decision: 13-12-2011
Relevant International and European Legislation: Art 17,Art 1F,Art 19,Art 6,Art 13,Article 2,Article 3
Finland - Supreme Administrative Court, 7 December 2011, KHO:2011:98
Country of applicant: Russia

According to the residence permit application, the Applicant, born in 1935, has various ailments and he is fully dependent on his daughter who lives in Finland and is a Finnish citizen.  In an interim order, the Administrative Court turned down the Applicant’s non-refoulement argument  and held that judgment would be made on the substantive issue at a later date.  While the substantive issue was still pending at the Administrative Court seeking a stay on the execution of the interim order so that he would not to be deported while the Administrative Court decided on the substantive issue (a ‘repeal’ application).  As according to national legal provisions, a repeal application can only be made on a judgment  which has entered into force, the repeal application was inadmissible. Administrative Court, the Applicant applied to the Supreme

Because the failure to accept the non-refoulement argument might render the appeal on the substantive issue de facto ineffective, in order to guarantee the Applicant’s legal protection, in exceptional circumstances there was reason to carry out a review to determine whether his appeal should be handled  by the Supreme Administrative Court without it being detrimental to the final decision under Section 58 of the Administrative Procedure Act and Section 199 Article 2 of the Aliens Act. 

Date of decision: 07-12-2011
Relevant International and European Legislation: Art 39,Article 47,Article 3,Article 13
Austria – Asylum Court, 6 December 2011, S16 422.756-1/2011-5E; S16 422.757-1/2011-5E; S16 422.758-1/2011-5E; S16 422.759-1/2011-5E; S16 422.760-1/2011-5E
Country of applicant: Afghanistan

The Asylum Court allowed an appeal against the decision to transfer the applicants, a family with both physical and psychological medical conditions, to Italy. Given the applicants’ exceptional circumstances and the problems Italy has with capacity, the lack of reliable assurances from the Italian authorities in relation to medical treatment and accommodation gave rise to a risk of a violation of Art 3 ECHR.

Date of decision: 06-12-2011
Relevant International and European Legislation: Article 13,Article 15,Article 17,2.,1.,Article 20,Article 3
UK - High Court, 6 December 2011, ABC (a Minor) (Afghanistan), R (on the Application of the Secretary of State for the Home Department) [2011] EWHC 2937
Country of applicant: Afghanistan

In considering the possible exclusion under Art 1F, careful consideration must be given to culpability. Domestic law including any defences must be accurately cited. When the applicant is a child, consideration of her age and understanding; together with consideration of her welfare must form part of the overall analysis. If a child is found to be excluded from asylum or humanitarian protection the welfare of the child should be considered when arrangements for other leave to remain are considered.

Date of decision: 06-12-2011
Relevant International and European Legislation: 1951 Refugee Convention,Art 1F(b),Art 12.2,EN - Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,Article 3
UK - Upper Tribunal, 2 December 2011, Entry Clearance Officer (Chennai) v Erandathi Lakmini Chandrasena Aswatte, [2011] UKUT 0476
Country of applicant: Sri Lanka

In this case the Tribunal considered the situation of refugee’s fiancé(e)s, who are not covered by the provisions relating to spouses and children. In general their exclusion is unlikely to be proportionate and their claim should succeed under Art 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).

Date of decision: 02-12-2011
Relevant International and European Legislation: EN - Qualification Directive, Directive 2004/83/EC of 29 April 2004,Art 2 (h),EN - Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms,Article 8,Article 12
Slovakia - Supreme Court of the Slovak Republic, 30 November 2012, M.L.B. v Ministry of Interior of the Slovak Republic, 10Sža/56/2011
Country of applicant: Guinea
Date of decision: 30-11-2011
Relevant International and European Legislation: Article 13
ECtHR - Diallo v Czech Republic, Application No. 20493/07
Country of applicant: Guinea

This case concerned access to an effective remedy in the context of expulsion proceedings from the Czech Republic. It deals with access to an effective remedy and the reliance on Art. 13 ECHR for arguable claims under Article 3 ECHR on the basis that the Appellants would be ill-treated if returned to Guinea. The Court held that there was a violation of Article 13 of the Convention in conjunction with Article 3.

Date of decision: 28-11-2011
Relevant International and European Legislation: EN - Dublin II Regulation, Council Regulation (EC) No 343/2003 of 18 February 2003,Article 3,Article 13,Article 34,Article 35,Article 37