Chavunduka, et al. v The Commissioner of Police, et al.
Country: ZimbabweYear: 2000
Court: Supreme Court
Citation: [2000] ZLR 418
Health Topics: Prisons
Human Rights: Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Right to due process/fair trial
In January 1999 the Standard, a weekly newspaper, published an article alleging a failed coup by senior members of the army. Several reasons for the coup were given including mismanagement of the economy and involvement in the war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The first applicant, the editor of the Standard, was arrested …Read more
Huri-Laws v. Nigeria
Country: NigeriaYear: 2000
Court: African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights
Citation: Comm. No. 225/98 (2000).
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Mental health, Prisons
Human Rights: Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Freedom of association, Right of access to information, Right to due process/fair trial, Right to liberty and security of person, Right to property
Huri-Laws, a non-governmental organization registered in Nigeria, filed on behalf of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO), another Nigerian organization based in Lagos, a complaint claiming that the Federal Military Government of Nigeria harassed and persecuted the latter’s legal staff in various forms that violated provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Charter). …Read more
Kazeem Aminu v. Nigeria
Country: NigeriaYear: 2000
Court: African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights
Citation: Comm. No. 205/97 (2000).
Health Topics: Medicines, Prisons
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Freedom of association, Right to bodily integrity, Right to due process/fair trial, Right to liberty and security of person, Right to life
The complainant alleged that Nigerian security agents arbitrarily arrested his client, Mr. Ayodele Ameen, as a result of Mr. Ameen’s political activism in support of validating the country’s 12 June 1994 elections, which the Nigerian military government had previously annulled. While in prison, the complainant claimed that Nigerian security officials tortured Mr. Ameen, subjected him …Read more
Kudla v. Poland
Country: PolandYear: 2000
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: App. No. 30210/96, 35 Eur. H.R. Rep. 198 (2000).
Health Topics: Health care and health services, Mental health, Prisons
Human Rights: Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Right to bodily integrity, Right to due process/fair trial
Applicant, a Polish national suffering from chronic depression, alleged violations of Articles 3 (prohibition of torture), 5.3 (trial within a reasonable time), 6.1 (unreasonably long proceedings), and 13 (effective remedy) of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The applicant was in detention for fraud charges. While in prison, he attempted suicide twice and went …Read more
Labita v. Italy
Country: ItalyYear: 2000
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: Application No. 26772/95
Health Topics: Prisons
Human Rights: Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment
The plaintiff applied to the European Court of Human Rights alleging that the conditions in the Italian prison Pianosa violated Article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights, which prohibits torture and inhuman or degrading treatment. The plaintiff was arrested on suspicion of involvement in a mafia-type organization, and transferred to Pianosa Prison. The …Read more
Malawi African Association, et al. v. Mauritania
Country: MauritaniaYear: 2000
Court: African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights
Citation: (2000) AHRLR 149 (ACHPR 2000); Communications 54/91, 61/91, 98/93, 164-196/97 and 210/98
Health Topics: Diet and nutrition, Disasters and emergencies, Health care and health services, Prisons, Violence, Water, sanitation and hygiene
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Freedom of association, Freedom of expression, Freedom of movement and residence, Right to due process/fair trial, Right to family life, Right to favorable working conditions, Right to food, Right to health, Right to liberty and security of person, Right to life, Right to property, Right to work, Rights to the benefits of culture
Six communications jointly alleged that the Mauritanian state committed numerous human rights violations from 1986 to 1992. Specifically, the communications alleged that the State violated articles 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 19, and 26 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (“the Charter”), which came into …Read more
Weerawansa v. Attorney General, et al.
Country: Sri LankaYear: 2000
Court: Supreme Court
Citation: [2000] 1 LRC 407; (2000) 3 CHRLD 211
Health Topics: Prisons
Human Rights: Right to due process/fair trial, Right to liberty and security of person
W, an Assistant Superintendent of Customs, was arrested on 30 April 1996 by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) acting on the second respondent’s (DIG Sumanasekera) instructions on suspicion of aiding and abetting the smuggling of illegal weapons. They purported to act under s 6(1) of the Prevention of Terrorism (Temporary Provisions) Act, No 48 of …Read more
A v. New Zealand
Country: New ZealandYear: 1999
Court: United Nations Human Rights Committee
Citation: CCPR/C/66/D/754/1997
The applicant, “A” (name withheld in decision), was born in December 1955. “A” had one prior criminal conviction for threatening to damage property of Television New Zealand and was sentenced in October 1982 to one year probation. He was arrested again in October 1983 for harassing a young woman (B, name withheld) whom he had …Read more
Amnesty International, et al. v. Sudan
Country: SudanYear: 1999
Court: African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights
Citation: Comm. Nos. 48/90-50/91-52/91-89/93 (1999).
Health Topics: Prisons
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Freedom of association, Freedom of expression, Freedom of religion, Right to due process/fair trial, Right to liberty and security of person
Amnesty International and three other international human rights organizations filed a series of four complaints (Communications 48/90, 50/91, 52/91, and 89/93) on behalf of hundreds of prisoners, whom the organizations believed suffered detainment without trial, as well as various forms of torture and cruel and inhuman treatment in prison, following a coup d’état in Sudan …Read more
Bennett v. Jamaica
Country: JamaicaYear: 1999
Court: United Nations Human Rights Committee
Citation: Communication Nº 590/1994*
Health Topics: Prisons
Human Rights: Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, Right to due process/fair trial
Trevor Bennett (“author”) at the time of submission of the communication was awaiting execution at a prison. He had been convicted of murder and sentenced to death. His appeals to the Court of Appeal and Judicial Committee of the Privy Council were dismissed. He claimed violations of articles 6, 7, 9, 10, and 14 of …Read more