KURT JUDGMENT OF 25 MAY 1998
iii
extra-judicial killing of detainees corroborate allegation of unlawful killing – in view of
Court, applicant’s assertion that authorities failed to protect son’s life falls to be assessed
under Article 5.
Conclusion: not necessary to decide on complaint (unanimously).
C. Article 3 in respect of the applicant’s son
As with Article 2 complaint, no evidence adduced to substantiate allegation of illtreatment of applicant’s son in custody – complaint falls to be considered from angle of
Article 5.
Conclusion: not necessary to decide on complaint (unanimously).
D. Article 5
Reiteration of Court’s case-law on fundamental importance of Article 5 guarantees for
protection of physical liberty and personal security of individuals.
Unacknowledged detention of an individual must be considered a negation of these
guarantees – assumption by authorities of control over individual requires them to account
for individual’s whereabouts – Article 5 requires that authorities take effective measures to
safeguard against risk of disappearance and to conduct prompt effective investigation into
arguable claim that an individual has not been seen since being taken into custody.
In instant case, no record kept of son’s detention in village – moreover, authorities
failed to carry out any meaningful investigation into applicant’s allegation – applicant
never interviewed – authorities must be considered in circumstances to have failed to
discharge their responsibility to account for whereabouts of applicant’s son – can be
concluded that son held in unacknowledged detention without protection of safeguards
guaranteed by Article 5 – in view of Court, this gives rise to particularly grave violation of
that Article.
Conclusion: violation (six votes to three).
III. ARTICLE 3 OF THE CONVENTION IN RESPECT OF THE APPLICANT
HERSELF
No serious consideration given by authorities to applicant’s complaint – applicant a
victim of authorities’ complacency in face of her anguish and distress – suffering endured
over prolonged period of time and must in circumstances be considered ill-treatment within
scope of Article 3.
Conclusion: violation (six votes to three).
IV. ARTICLE 13 OF THE CONVENTION
Reiteration of Court’s case-law on nature of an effective remedy in cases of alleged
serious violations of Convention rights.