The Committee of Ministers, under the terms of Article 54
(art. 54) of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and
Fundamental Freedoms (hereinafter referred to as "the Convention"),
Having regard to the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights
in the case of B. against the United Kingdom delivered on 8 July 1987
and 9 June 1988 and transmitted the same days to the Committee of
Ministers;
Recalling that the case originated in an application against the
United Kingdom lodged with the European Commission of Human Rights on
26 April 1982 under Article 25 (art. 25) of the Convention by a
British citizen, B., who complained of the procedures followed by a
local authority in reaching certain decisions concerning one of her
children, who was in the authority's care, and of the impossibility for
her to have the question of her access to her child determined in
proceedings that complied with Article 6, paragraph 1 (art. 6-1),
of the Convention;
Recalling that the case was brought before the Court by the Commission
on 28 January 1986;
Whereas in its judgment of 8 July 1987 the Court unanimously:
- held that there had been a violation of Article 8 (art. 8) of the
Convention;
- held that Article 6, paragraph 1 (art. 6-1), of the Convention
was applicable in the present case;
- held that Article 6, paragraph 1 (art. 6-1), of the Convention
had been violated;
- held that it was not necessary also to examine the case under
Article 13 (art. 13) of the Convention;
- held that the question of the application of Article 50 (art. 50)
was not ready for decision;
Whereas in its judgment of 9 June 1988 the Court unanimously:
- held that the United Kingdom was to pay to the applicant 12 000
pounds for non-pecuniary damage and 10 500 pounds plus value added tax
for costs and expenses;
- rejected the remainder of the claim for just satisfaction;
Having regard to the Rules adopted by the Committee of Ministers
concerning the application of Article 54 (art. 54) of the Convention;
Having invited the Government of the United Kingdom to inform it of
the measures which had been taken in consequence of the judgments,
having regard to its obligation under Article 53 (art. 53) of the
Convention to abide by them;
Whereas, during the examination of the case by the Committee of
Ministers, the Government of the United Kingdom gave the Committee
information about the measures taken in consequence of the judgments,
which information appears in the appendix to this resolution;
Having satisfied itself that the Government of the United Kingdom has
paid the applicant the sums provided for in the judgment of
9 June 1988,
Declares, after having taken note of the information supplied by the
Government of the United Kingdom, that it has exercised its functions
under Article 54 (art. 54) of the Convention in this case.
Appendix to Resolution DH (90) 4
Information provided by the Government of the United Kingdom during
the examination of the case of B. against the United Kingdom before
the Committee of Ministers
It is intended that the Children Act 1989, which received the Royal
Assent on 16 November 1989, will come into force as a whole in
October 1991. Section 34 of the Act contains a number of provisions
which henceforth confer inter alios on parents the possibility of
having all questions of contact with their children placed in local
authority care determined by a court in proceedings complying with
Article 6, paragraph 1 (art. 6-1), of the Convention.
Section 22 of the Act provides henceforth for greater involvement of
inter alios the parents in local authority decision making.