Avenue de l'Europe
Kadiķis v. Latvia (No. 2) 
| 2006
The treatment inflicted on the applicant constituted “degrading treatment” within the meaning of Article 3
Judgment of the European Court of Human Rights, 4th May 2006 - © Photo Arnis Kadiķis
Arnis Kadiķis was sentenced to 15 days’ detention for a minor offence. He served his sentence with four other detainees in a cell measuring only 6m2. There was no window in the cell, no ventilation and he was not allowed out. As a result, Mr Kadiķis saw no daylight and had no access to fresh air for 15 days. There was also no mattress, blanket or bedding of any kind. He was given only one meal per day.
The court ruled that these conditions amounted to degrading treatment, violating Mr Kadiķis’ rights.
New legislation introduced minimum standards for detention conditions. These include a minimum amount of living space, as well as a requirement that detainees have access to natural light and a bed. New detention centres were opened and old ones were renovated in order to meet these standards.
Mentally handicapped Miss Y. was sexually abused the night after her sixteenth birthday. Y.’s father tried to bring a criminal prosecution against the attacker, but Dutch law stated that only the victim could start such a prosecution. Y.’s condition meant she could not do this, so her attacker was not brought to justice. The European court ruled that this violated her basic rights.
Aged 24, Hoda Jabari was suspected of adultery in Iran. The crime could be punished by stoning to death. Hoda fled to Istanbul. However, the Turkish authorities decided to send her back. The European court prevented her from being returned to face a possible stoning. Hoda was allowed to stay in Turkey and eventually leave to seek a new life in Canada.
From the age of 14, Henriette Akofa Siliadin was kept in domestic servitude. She worked all day, 7 days a week for over 4 years, for no pay. The people responsible could not be properly brought to justice, because French law had not criminalised their actions. The case helped bring about legal reforms to combat human trafficking.
Latvia
Netherlands
Türkiye
France