Maria da Penha Maia Fernandes v. Brazil
Country: BrazilYear: 2001
Court: Inter-American Commission on Human Rights
Citation: Maria da Penha Maia Fernandes v. Brazil, Case 12.051, Inter-Am. Comm’n H.R., Report No. 54/01, OEA/Ser./L/V/II.111 doc. 20 rev. (2001).
Health Topics: Mental health, Violence
Human Rights: Freedom from discrimination, Right to bodily integrity, Right to due process/fair trial, Right to life
Maria da Penha Maia Fernandes was physically abused by her husband, Mr. Heredia Viveiros, for many years. In May 1983, he shot her while she was sleeping in an attempt to murder her. She survived but sustained serious injuries and became paraplegic. Two weeks after the shooting, he attacked her again and at that moment …Read more
R. v. Godoy
Country: CanadaYear: 1999
Court: Supreme Court
Citation: [1999] 1 R.C.S. 311
Health Topics: Violence
Human Rights: Right to life, Right to privacy
In June 1992 four police officers attended an apartment from which an unknown trouble call to the police had originated. An unknown trouble call is an emergency call to the police in which the line is disconnected before the caller speaks. Such calls are deemed by police policy to be the second highest priority distress …Read more
Johansen v. Norway
Country: NorwayYear: 1996
Court: European Court of Human Rights
Citation: Case No. 24/1995/530/616, August 7, 1996
Health Topics: Child and adolescent health, Controlled substances, Mental health, Violence
Human Rights: Right to due process/fair trial, Right to family life
Johansen (J) gave birth to a son, C, in 1977 when she was seventeen years old and they became dependent on social assistance. From 1980 onwards she cohabited with a man who was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for drug offences in 1983 and who mistreated her and C. The welfare authorities assisted J on …Read more
Piperno, María Ana v. Argentina
Country: ArgentinaYear: 1991
Court: Federal Criminal and Correctional Court of Appeals [Cámara Nacional de Apelaciones en lo Criminal y Correccional Federal]
Citation: Cámara Nacional de Apelaciones en lo Criminal y Correccional Federal, Sala IV [Cám. Crim. Corr. Fed., Sala IV] [Federal Criminal and Correctional Court of Appeals], 4/18/1991, Caso n° 38.759/91 (Arg.).
Health Topics: Mental health, Sexual and reproductive health, Violence
Human Rights: Freedom from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment
A woman consecutively shot her partner three times. She was charged with aggravated homicide. She claimed self-defense, alleging to have been subjected to continuous domestic violence and abuse. The ruling of the Court of First Instance justified her action and she was acquitted. The prosecutor appealed the decision on grounds that the woman’s response was …Read more