Information Note on the Court’s case-law No.
April 1993
Modinos v. Cyprus - 15070/89
Judgment 22.4.1993
Article 8
Article 8-1
Respect for private life
Prohibition of homosexual relations in private between consenting adults: violation
[This summary is extracted from the Court’s official reports (Series A or Reports of Judgments and Decisions). Its formatting and structure may therefore differ from the Case-Law Information Note summaries.]
I.ARTICLE 8 OF THE CONVENTION
A.Interference
Prohibition of male homosexual conduct in private between adults still remains on the statute book. Court cannot fail to take into account a statement by the Cypriot Supreme Court, whatever its status in domestic law, that the provisions of the Criminal Code violated neither the Convention nor the Constitution. The Attorney-General's policy of not bringing criminal proceedings in respect of private homosexual conduct on the basis that the law is a dead letter provides no guarantee that action will not be taken by a future Attorney‑General, particularly when regard is had to statements by Government ministers suggesting that the relevant provisions are still in force.
The existence of the prohibition continuously and directly affects the applicant's private life. There is thus an interference.
B.Justification under Article 8 § 2
In the light of the Government's submissions, which have not sought to justify the prohibition and having regard to the Court's case-law, a re-examination of this question is not called for.
Conclusion: violation (eight votes to one).
II.ARTICLE 50 OF THE CONVENTION
A.Damage: finding of a breach sufficient just satisfaction.
B.Costs and expenses: claim awarded in part.
Conclusion: Cyprus to pay specified sum in respect of costs and expenses (unanimously).
© Council of Europe/European Court of Human Rights
This summary by the Registry does not bind the Court.
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