European Court Considers Circumstances in which Prison Conditions Violate Right to Freedom from Cruel Treatment or Punishment
Andrey Frolov v Russia [2007] ECHR 205/02 (29 March 2007)
In a series of recent cases, the European Court of Human Rights has found conditions of
detention in prisons to be incompatible with the prohibition of torture and other cruel, inhuman or
degrading treatment or punishment enshrined in art 3 of the European Convention on Human
Rights.
A number of principles can be ascertained from the cases of Andrey Frolov v Russia (Application
No 205/02, 29 March 2007), Istratii and others v Moldova (Application No 8721/05, 27 March
2007) and Todor Todorov v Bulgaria (Application No 50765/99, 5 April 2007), including that:
• Ill-treatment must attain a minimum level of severity if it is to fall within the scope of art 3.
The assessment of this minimum level is relative; it depends on all the circumstances of the
case, such as the duration of the treatment, its physical and mental effects and, in some
cases, the sex, age and state of health of the victim.
• Both individually and collectively, the following conditions, among others, may violate art 3:
overcrowding, insufficient opportunity for outdoor exercise, inadequate lighting, inadequate
ventilation, insufficient or poor quality food, limited access to natural light and insufficient
sanitary conditions.
• Although the purpose of such treatment is a factor to be taken into account, in particular
whether it was intended to humiliate or debase the victim, the absence of any such purpose
does not inevitably lead to a finding that there has been no violation of art 3. It is not
necessary for a detainee alleging a violation to establish that the responsible authorities had
any intention to cause humiliation, debasement or distress; it is sufficient that the detainee is
forced to live in conditions which cause distress or hardship of an intensity exceeding that
which is a necessary incident of deprivation of liberty.
• Irrespective of the reasons for oppressive or unsanitary conditions of detention, it is
incumbent on the state to organise its penitentiary system in such a way as to ensure respect
for the dignity of detainees, regardless of financial or logistical difficulties.
• The state has a positive obligation to protect the physical well-being of persons deprived of
their liberty, for example by providing them with the requisite medical assistance. Failure to
provide adequate and necessary medical assistance may amount to a violation of art 3.
• All prisoners have a right to conditions of detention which are compatible with human dignity,
which do not subject them to distress or hardship of an intensity exceeding the unavoidable
level of suffering inherent in detention, and which adequately secure their health and wellbeing.
Detailed case note on the cases of Andrey Frolov v Russia (Application No 205/02, 29 March 2007), Istratii and others v Moldova (Application No 8721/05, 27 March 2007) and Todor Todorov v Bulgaria (Application No 50765/99, 5 April 2007).
Landmark decision ordering Shell to cut CO2 emissions from its global operations by 45% overturned by Hague Court of Appeal
On 12 November 2024, the Court of Appeal of the Hague overturned the landmark 2021 decision of the District Court of The Hague (District Court) in Milieudefensie et al v Royal Dutch Shell, which had ordered Shell to cut CO2 emissions from its global operations by 45% by the end of 2030.
Read more
Young campaigners landmark victory for children’s rights as new coal-fired power generation deemed unconstitutional in South Africa
The High Court of South Africa ruled that the government’s plans to add 1,500 megawatts of new coal-fired power stations were “unlawful and invalid”. In a youth-driven petition brought by three civil society organisations, the Court found that the plans failed to adequately consider the impacts of coal-fired power on children’s rights, particularly their constitutional right to a healthy environment.
Read more
Tribunal found Southern Restaurants imposed unreasonable conditions on a young breast-feeding mother leading to a finding of discrimination
A young breastfeeding mother was found to have been discriminated against by her employer and awarded $90,000 in compensation.
Read more
Acknowledgement of Country
The Human Rights Law Centre acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands across Australia, including the lands of the Wurundjeri, Boon Wurrung, Gadigal, Ngunnawal, Darug and Wadawurrung people where we work from.
We pay our respect to Elders past and present. This land always was, and always will be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander land. Sovereignty has never been ceded.
WARNING: This site contains images or names of people who have passed away.