Resolution CM/ResDH(2023)486
Execution of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights
Hernehult against Norway
(Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 7 December 2023
at the 1483rd meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies)
Application
Case
Judgment of
Final on
14652/16
HERNEHULT
10/03/2020
07/09/2020
The Committee of Ministers, under the terms of Article 46, paragraph 2, of the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, which provides that the Committee supervises the execution of final judgments of the European Court of Human Rights (hereinafter “the Convention” and “the Court”,
Having regard to the final judgment transmitted by the Court to the Committee in this case and to the violation established on account of the biological father’s right to family life due to shortcomings in the decision-making processes by the Norwegian child welfare authorities and courts concerning a care order in respect of his children and overly restrictive contact rights (violation of Article 8);
Recalling the respondent State’s obligation, under Article 46, paragraph 1, of the Convention, to abide by all final judgments in cases to which it has been a party and that this obligation entails, over and above the payment of any sums awarded by the Court, the adoption by the authorities of the respondent State, where required:
- of individual measures to put an end to violations established and erase their consequences so as to achieve as far as possible restitutio in integrum; and
- of general measures preventing similar violations;
Having invited the government of the respondent State to inform the Committee of the measures taken to comply with the above-mentioned obligation;
Having examined the information provided by the government indicating the individual measures adopted to give effect to the judgment including the information provided regarding the payment of the just satisfaction awarded by the Court (see document DH-DD(2023)1210);
Considering that the question of individual measures was resolved, given that the applicant’s request to revoke the care order was carefully considered and ultimately rejected by the domestic courts in duly substantiated decisions with reference to the Convention and the best interests of the children;
Recalling that the question of general measures required in response to the shortcomings found by the Court in this judgment continues to be examined within the framework of the Strand Lobben and Others group of cases also in the light of the Court’s findings in this case, and that the closure of this case therefore in no way prejudges the Committee’s evaluation of the general measures in relation to the decision-making processes in child welfare proceedings in Norway;
DECLARES that it has exercised its functions under Article 46, paragraph 2, of the Convention in this case;
CONCLUDES that the necessary individual measures have been adopted;
DECIDES to continue to supervise the adoption of the necessary general measures concerning various shortcomings in the decision-making processes in child welfare proceedings in Norway in the Strand Lobben and Others group of cases;
DECIDES to close the examination of this case.