Resolution CM/ResDH(2023)451
Execution of the judgments of the European Court of Human Rights
Four cases against Spain
(Adopted by the Committee of Ministers on 13 December 2023
at the 1484th meeting of the Ministers’ Deputies)
Application No.
Case
Judgment of
Final on
48074/10
RODRIGUEZ RAVELO
12/01/2016
12/04/2016
53421/10
JIMÉNEZ LOSANTOS
14/06/2016
14/09/2016
26922/14
TORANZO GOMEZ
20/11/2018
20/02/2019
36537/15+
BENITEZ MORIANA AND IÑIGO FERNANDEZ
09/03/2021
09/06/2021
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 judgments transmitted by the Court to the Committee in these cases and to the violations of Article 10 established due to the applicants’ criminal convictions and fines imposed on them, with default imprisonment in case of non-payment, for slander and insults (Articles 205 and 208 of the Criminal Code) on account of statements and comments made by them in different contexts;
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 action report and additional information provided by the government indicating the measures adopted to give effect to the judgments including the information regarding the payment of the just satisfaction where awarded by the Court (see documents DH-DD(2023)533 and DH-DD(2023)1020);
Having considered the submission received from civil society and the authorities’ response (see document DH-DD(2023)1399-rev);
Noting as regards individual measures that the just satisfaction was paid; that the applicants who requested the reopening of the proceedings at issue have obtained the quashing of the criminal convictions against them, with final effect; and that none of the applicants presently has a criminal record;
As regards general measures, noting with satisfaction the information, assessments and statistical data provided by the authorities on the awareness-raising measures adopted and their impact as regards the incorporation in the domestic case-law of the Convention requirements, set out in these and in other relevant judgments of the Court, when it comes to applying the above-mentioned provisions of the Criminal Code;
Recalling that the questions related to the application of the provisions of the Criminal Code on insulting the Crown (Article 490), condoning terrorism (Articles 578 and 579) and insulting Spain (Article 543) are examined separately by the Committee, within the framework of the cases of Stern Taulats and Roura Capellera, Erkizia Almandoz and Fragoso da Costa, respectively;
Having satisfied itself that all the measures required by Article 46, paragraph 1, have been adopted,
DECLARES that it has exercised its functions under Article 46, paragraph 2, of the Convention in these cases and
DECIDES to close the examination thereof.