Articles 2, 3, 5 and 6 Flashcards
What does Art 2 give the right to?
Life
What obligations does Article 2 contain on the state?
- Prohibits state from taking a life; and
- Places the state a positive duty to protect life
Is the death penalty allowed under Art 2?
Yes - has provision for the execution of a sentence of a court following conviction for crim for which execution is provided by law
But all signatory states have abolished
Is derogation allowed from Article 2?
Only in respect to deaths resulting from lawful acts of war
When will deprivation of life not be in contravention of Art 2?
If it results from the use of force which is no more than absolutely necessary:
- In defence of person from unlawful violence
- In order to effect a lawful arrest/prevent escape of lawfully detained person
- In action taken lawfully for purpose of quelling a riot or insurrection
Is Art 2 an absolute right?
(Rights that cannot be legitimately interfered with by the state)
No! Art 2 includes limits on the right to life (life can be taken for exceptional law enforcement purposes)
What must the state demonstrate if it takes a life?
That the use of force was no more than absolutely necessary; was proportionate
What is meant by ‘investigative duty’ re Art 2?
Art 2 also imposes on a state the duty to investigate all situations in which the state directly takes a life
* If proper investigation carried out = no need to invoke the article
Rationale: is primarily responsibility of state to investigate and remedy HR breaches
What developments have been made to the investigative duty by further case law?
- Investigation/inquest must be fair to not violate Art 6 (right to fair legal process)
- Extends extra-territorially (investigate deaths of Iraqi civillians by British soldiers where UK military had sufficient control at time of deaths)
Is an investigation does not lead to the prosecution of an individual, does that mean the investigative duty has not been fulfilled?
No - can still be a thorough investigation without a prosecution
Whether because of insufficient evidence re liability
Does the investigative duty apply in situations where a death is caused by a third party rather than by state agents?
Yes
Owing to state’s duty to protect life (esp those in custody!)
R (Amin) - state agent had placed inmate in a cell with a known violent racist who killed the inmate - investigation still had to happen (despite refusal of Home Office)
What does it mean for Art 2 to impose a positive obligation on the state to protect/preserve life?
- Criminal justice systems that punish and deter homicide
- Operational obligation to take preventative measures to protect individuals when life at risk from other individuals or from suicide
When will the operational obligation to take preventative measures apply?
Only if state authorities knew, or ought to have known, that there was a real and immediate risk to life but failed to take appropriate measures
Not very broad
Does the right to life apply re withdrawal of treatment?
I.e. does the withdrawal of treatment constitute a breach of Art 2?
No - state not considered to be under obligation to prolong life where the prognosis is so poor
What must courts balance in cases of assisted suicide re their positive obligation?
- The wishes of the person not to have to die in ‘inhuman/degrading’ circumstances and
- State’s obligation to do what is reasonable to preserve life
Is a blanket ban on assisted suicide proportionate to Article 8
Yes
Is the NHS in breach of Art 2 for negligent treatment leading to the death of a patient - specifically the suicide of someone released from psychiatric hospital?
Rabone
Yes - if the trust assumes responsibility and control over patient and there is a real risk they would take their life when allowed home
= failure to take reasonable steps to prevent real risk of suicide
What is position of embryos/feotuses wrt Art 2?
Article 2 does not protect embryos when one party withdraws his/her consent to implantation
Essentially embryos and feotuses have no right to life
Is Art 3 - the prohibition of torture - an absolute right?
Yes - no derogation permitted
What is the negative duty under Art 3?
No one shall be subject to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
What is the threshold for ‘inhuman and degrading treatment’?
High level - only serious ill-treatment and neglect falls within the scope
Depends on circumstances of the case
Relevant factors = nature and context of treatment, manner of execution, duration, physical and mental effects
How have torture and inhuman or degrading treatment been defined?
Ireland v UK
- Torture = deliberate inhuman treatment causing serious and cruel suffering
- Inhuman treatement = treatment or punishment likely to cause actual bodily injury or intense physical and mental suffering
Is the threshold for ‘torture’ higher than inhuman or degrading treatment?
Yes
Will psychological techniques classify as ‘torture’?
Ireland v UK - wall-standing, sleep deprivation, intense noise, hooding, withholding food
Will more likely classify as inhuman or degrading treatment (Ireland v UK)
Want to preserve the stigma of torture
Will physical abuse classify as torture?
Aksoy v Turkey - stripped naked, arms tied, electrodes attached to genitals, beaten at 2.5 hour intervals for 4 days
Yes
I.e. inhuman or degrading treatment is ‘lesser’ than torture
Can bad prison conditions amount to inhuman or degrading treatment?
E.g. Napier - detained applicant complained about lack of toilet facilities and small size of cell which exacerbated his facial eczema
Conditions of detention and effect on physical health can amount to degrading treatment and thus a brech of Art 3 (even on individual basis)
Napire - was impractical to move him and other prisoners endured similar conditions, but entitled for removal on individual basis (for eczema)
Will a state not giving compassionate leave to a cancer patient (to the effect of intefering with attendance for chemotherapy) amount to a breach of Art 3?
R (Spinks)
No - conduct on part of state must be of a serious and wholly unacceptable kind
Does the state have an obligation to ensure non-state actors (parents/guardians) do not punish children to a level where Art 3 will be invoked?
Yes
What is the positive obligation under Art 3?
To prevent individuals being subjected to torture and/or inhuman and degrading treatment/punishment at the hands of others
Is the positive duty under Art 3 absolute?
No - authorities must have known or ought to have known particular circumstances likely to expose individual to Art 3 ill-treatment