Hudoc reference
REF00000496 Document type Judgment (Merits and just satisfaction) Title CASE OF HOKKANEN v. FINLAND Application number 00019823/92 Date 23/09/1994 Respondent Finland Conclusion Violation of Art. 8 ; No violation of Art. 6-1 ; Not necessary to examine Art. 13 ; Not necessary to examine P7-5 ; Non-pecuniary damage - financial award ; Costs and expenses partial award - domestic proceedings Published in A299-A Keywords Respect for family life ; Reasonable time ; Just satisfaction
EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS
In the case of Hokkanen v. Finland*,
The European Court of Human Rights, sitting, in accordance
with Article 43 (art. 43) of the Convention for the Protection of Human
Rights and Fundamental Freedoms ("the Convention") and the relevant
provisions of the Rules of Court, as a Chamber composed of the
following judges:
Mr R. Ryssdal, President,
Mr Thór Vilhjálmsson,
Mr C. Russo,
Mr J. De Meyer,
Mr I. Foighel,
Mr R. Pekkanen,
Mr J.M. Morenilla,
Mr J. Makarczyk,
Mr K. Jungwiert,
and also of Mr M.-A. Eissen, Registrar, and Mr H. Petzold, Deputy
Registrar,
Having deliberated in private on 25 March and on
24 August 1994,
Delivers the following judgment, which was adopted on the
last-mentioned date:
_______________
* Note by the Registrar. The case is numbered 50/1993/445/524. The
first number is the case's position on the list of cases referred to
the Court in the relevant year (second number). The last two numbers
indicate the case's position on the list of cases referred to the Court
since its creation and on the list of the corresponding originating
applications to the Commission.
_______________
PROCEDURE
1. The case was referred to the Court by the European Commission
of Human Rights ("the Commission") on 9 December 1993, within the
three-month period laid down by Article 32 para. 1 and Article 47
(art. 32-1, art. 47) of the Convention. It originated in an
application (no. 19823/92) against the Republic of Finland lodged with
the Commission under Article 25 (art. 25) by Mr Teuvo Hokkanen, a
Finnish national, on his own behalf and on that of his daughter,
Ms Sini Hokkanen, also a Finnish national, on 10 April 1992. The
application was however declared inadmissible in respect of Sini (see
paragraph 50 below).
The Commission's request referred to Articles 44 and 48
(art. 44, art. 48) and to the declaration whereby Finland recognised
the compulsory jurisdiction of the Court (Article 46) (art. 46)**. The
object of the request was to obtain a decision as to whether the facts
of the case disclosed a breach by the respondent State of its
obligations under Articles 6 para. 1, 8 and 13 (art. 6-1, art. 8,
art. 13) of the Convention as well as Article 5 of Protocol No. 7
(P7-5).
_______________
** Note by the Registrar. The declaration dates from 10 May 1990,
which is also the date of ratification by Finland of the Convention.
_______________
2. In response to the enquiry made in accordance with
Rule 33 para. 3 (d) of the Rules of Court, the applicant stated that
he wished to take part in the proceedings and designated the lawyer who
would represent him (Rule 30).
3. The Chamber to be constituted included ex officio
Mr R. Pekkanen, the elected judge of Finnish nationality (Article 43
of the Convention) (art. 43), and Mr R. Ryssdal, the President of the
Court (Rule 21 para. 3 (b)). On 7 January 1994, in the presence of the
Registrar, the President drew by lot the names of the other seven
members, namely Mr Thór Vilhjálmsson, Mr C. Russo, Mr J. De Meyer,
Mr I. Foighel, Mr J.M. Morenilla, Mr J. Makarczyk and Mr K. Jungwiert
(Article 43 in fine of the Convention and Rule 21 para. 4) (art. 43).
4. As President of the Chamber (Rule 21 para. 5), Mr Ryssdal,
acting through the Registrar, consulted the Agent of the Finnish
Government ("the Government"), the applicant's lawyer and the Delegate
of the Commission on the organisation of the proceedings
(Rules 37 para. 1 and 38). Pursuant to the order made in consequence
on 26 January 1994, the Registrar received the applicant's and the
Government's memorials on 21 February 1994. On 18 March the Secretary
to the Commission indicated that the Delegate did not wish to file a
memorial in reply.
5. On 22 February 1994, following a request from Sini Hokkanen
and her maternal grandparents, Mr Reino and Mrs Sinikka Nick, the
President, having consulted the Chamber on the same date, granted
Mr and Mrs Nick, but not Sini Hokkanen, leave to submit written
observations (Rule 37 para. 2) on any facts which they considered had
been dealt with inaccurately in the Commission's report of
22 October 1993. On 8 March the Registrar received their observations.
6. On various dates between 17 February and 16 March 1994 the
Commission produced a number of documents, which the Registrar had
requested from it on the President's instructions.
7. In accordance with the President's decision, the hearing took
place in public in the Human Rights Building, Strasbourg, on
21 March 1994. The Court had held a preparatory meeting beforehand.
There appeared before the Court:
(a) for the Government
Mr T. Grönberg, Ambassador, Director General
for Legal Affairs, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Agent,
Mr A. Kosonen, Legal Adviser, Ministry for
Foreign Affairs, Co-Agent,
Mr M. Helin, Adviser on Legislation,
Ministry of Justice, Adviser;
(b) for the Commission
Mrs J. Liddy, Delegate;
(c) for the applicant
Mr H. Salo, Lawyer, Counsel,
Mr J. Kortteinen, Lawyer,
Mr A. Rosas, Law Professor at Åbo Akademi, Advisers.
The Court heard addresses by Mrs Liddy, Mr Salo, Mr Rosas and
Mr Grönberg, and also replies to its questions.
AS TO THE FACTS
I. Particular circumstances of the case
A. Events leading to the first set of custody proceedings
8. Mr Hokkanen, a Finnish citizen, was born in 1953. He lives
at Tuusula.
He has a daughter, Sini, who was born in September 1983.
Following the death in April 1985 of Mrs Tuula Hokkanen (the child's
mother, to whom the applicant had been married since 11 June 1983),
Sini was looked after by her maternal grandparents, Mr Reino and
Mrs Sinikka Nick (hereinafter referred to as "the grandparents").
According to the applicant, he had agreed to this as a provisional
arrangement so that he could deal with various problems caused by his
wife's death, including the reorganisation of his farming activities.
In late 1985 the grandparents informed the applicant that they
did not intend to restore Sini to him. Efforts, involving the Social
Welfare Board (sosiaalilautakunta, socialnämnden) of Tuusula, were made
to achieve reconciliation between the applicant and the grandparents,
but to no avail.
9. On 2 May 1986 the County Administrative Board (lääninhallitus,
länsstyrelsen) of Uusimaa as the competent Chief Bailiff
(ulosotonhaltija, överexekutor; see paragraph 44 below) rejected a
request by the applicant to have Sini returned in accordance with
section 8(2) of the 1975 Act on the Enforcement of Decisions concerning
Custody of and the Right of Access to Children (laki 523/75 lapsen
huollosta ja tapaamisoikeudesta annetun päätöksen täytäntöönpanosta,
lag 523/75 om verkställighet av beslut som gäller vårdnad om barn och
umgängesrätt - "the 1975 Act"). It observed that the applicant had
consented to the arrangement leaving Sini in the care of the
grandparents. In view of the time which had elapsed since she had
moved to them and of the little contact Sini had had with the
applicant, returning her could be contrary to her own interests; both
parties should therefore institute custody proceedings before the
District Court (kihlakunnanoikeus, häradsrätten) of Tuusula. They did
so.
B. First set of custody proceedings
1. Proceedings before the District Court
10. Following a hearing on 16 July 1986, the District Court
ordered provisionally that Sini should remain with her grandparents;
at the same time it granted the applicant access rights, according to
which Sini was to stay with him every fourth weekend and, from
8 August 1986, every fourth week.
11. On 30 September 1986 the County Administrative Board ordered
the grandparents to respect the applicant's visiting rights on pain of
an administrative fine (uhkasakko, vite) of 2,000 Finnish marks each.
However, they did not comply.
12. On 31 October 1986 the District Court held a further hearing.
It adjourned the case and again provisionally granted the applicant
access rights: as from 5 November he could visit his daughter at her
grandparents' home for two hours every Wednesday and six hours every
Sunday and, as from 1 December, she was to visit him at the same times
and for the same periods at his home. The grandparents refused to
comply with these arrangements.
13. On 21 January 1987 the County Administrative Board rejected
a request from the applicant asking it to enforce the right of access
granted to him by the District Court on 16 July 1986. It observed that
the District Court, in its decision of 31 October 1986, had varied his
right of access. The County Administrative Board was therefore of the
view that its decision of 30 September 1986 that the grandparents would
be liable to pay fines should they fail to comply with the access order
(see paragraph 11 above) no longer applied.
14. By judgment of 26 January 1987, the District Court confirmed
the applicant's custody and ordered that Sini be handed over to him.
It took into account, among other things, a report of 22 January 1987
by the Child Guidance Centre (kasvatusneuvola, uppfostrings-
rådgivningen - "the Centre") of Central Uusimaa.
15. On 10 March 1987 the County Administrative Board ordered the
grandparents to comply with the District Court's judgment of 26 January
on pain of a fine of 8,000 marks each should they fail to do so. The
grandparents persisted in not complying.
2. Appeal by the grandparents to the Court of Appeal
and measures taken by the County Administrative
Board
16. On 6 May 1987, on an appeal by the grandparents, the Court of
Appeal (hovioikeus, hovrätten) of Helsinki upheld the District Court's
judgment of 26 January. On 23 June it dismissed their appeal against
the County Administrative Board's decision of 10 March.
17. On 7 May 1987 the County Administrative Board had again
ordered the grandparents to return Sini to the applicant within a week
and to pay 2,000 marks each of the fines imposed on them previously.
The Board further ordered that, in the event of the grandparents'
failure to return her, the Bailiff should use coercion to ensure that
she was so returned.
3. Appeal by the grandparents to the Supreme Court
18. On 30 July 1987 the Supreme Court (korkein oikeus, högsta
domstolen) granted the grandparents leave to appeal against the Court
of Appeal's judgments of 6 May and 23 June 1987. It ordered a stay,
or alternatively suspension, of both judgments (see paragraph 16
above).
The Supreme Court, in two separate judgments of 17 May 1988,
dismissed the appeal and lifted the two decisions staying execution.
19. The grandparents asked the local Social Welfare Board to
investigate whether execution of the Supreme Court's judgments would
be in Sini's interests. The Board referred the matter to the National
Social Welfare Board (sosiaalihallitus, socialstyrelsen).
At the same time, the grandparents requested the Supreme Court
to stay the execution of, and annul, its judgments of 17 May 1988,
which it refused to do on 13 September.
C. Requests by the applicant to the police and complaint to the
Chancellor of Justice
20. In the meantime, on 13 and 18 May 1987, the applicant had
asked the District Chief of Police of Järvenpää to execute the County
Administrative Board's decision of 7 May (see paragraph 17 above). On
28 May the authorities discovered that the grandparents had moved Sini
and that her whereabouts were unknown. The Järvenpää police then
contacted their counterpart in Mäntyharju, where the grandparents had
a summer home. Subsequently Sini was found to be with her grandparents
at their summer home. On 10 June the applicant requested the Chief of
Police of Mäntyharju to return her, but the latter official refused to
do so, finding it contrary to the child's interests to interrupt her
summer vacation.
21. On 29 May 1987 the applicant complained to the Chancellor of
Justice (oikeuskansleri, justitiekanslern), alleging that the
authorities had failed to take sufficient action to find and return
Sini. The Chancellor replied on 6 July 1988 that he did not consider
that any measures were called for in view of, firstly, the steps taken
to execute the County Administrative Board's decision of 7 May 1987;
secondly, the Supreme Court's subsequent decision to stay the execution
of the Court of Appeal's judgments of 6 May and 23 June 1987 (see
paragraphs 16 and 18 above) and, thirdly, the grandparents' request for
a stay and annulment in respect of the Supreme Court's judgments of
17 May 1988 (see paragraph 19 above).
D. Second set of custody proceedings
1. Administrative proceedings
22. On 30 May 1990 the National Social Welfare Board recommended
that the Social Welfare Board in Tuusula take steps to have custody of
Sini transferred from Mr Hokkanen to the grandparents, to obtain access
for the applicant and to have a person other than him appointed Sini's
guardian.
On 25 July 1990, at the Social Welfare Board's request, the
Guardianship Board (holhouslautakunta, förmyndarenämnden) of Tuusula
submitted an opinion on the above matter, stating that the applicant
had performed his duties as a guardian in a satisfactory manner. It
did not consider the transfer of custody and guardianship advisable and
concluded that he should continue as Sini's custodian and guardian.
2. Proceedings before the District Court and
applicant's requests for enforcement of his right of
access
23. On 13 August 1990 the Social Welfare Board of Tuusula asked
the District Court to transfer custody to the grandparents. The Board
noted that the applicant was a fit person to bring Sini up and was able
to offer her a good home environment. The Board placed emphasis on the
fact that since 1985 she had been living with the grandparents, with
whom she had close relations. In view of the fact that Sini had not
met her father for many years it was necessary for their meetings in
the autumn of 1990 to be well prepared and that they should take place
in a neutral environment. It also recommended that the applicant
remain Sini's guardian.
24. On 19 September 1990 the District Court held a hearing but
adjourned the case until 14 November after deciding to obtain an
opinion from the Guardianship Board. The Board submitted a report on
31 October, recommending that the applicant cease to be the child's
guardian.
At the hearing scheduled for 14 November 1990 the District
Court again adjourned the case, this time until 8 May 1991, pending an
opinion from the Child Guidance Centre of Central Uusimaa. On
7 May 1991 the Child and Family Guidance Centre (perhe- ja
kasvatusneuvola, familje - och uppfostringsrådgivningen) of Tuusula,
which had taken over the former's functions, confirmed the views
expressed by that Centre in its opinion of 22 January 1987 (see
paragraph 14 above). It observed that the grandparents had refused to
allow Sini to be subjected to an examination (requested by the National
Board of Social Welfare) and to participate in related interviews. It
also referred to a statement of 13 December 1989 by a working group of
the Lastenlinna Children's Hospital that, although Sini related to the
grandparents as her psychological parents, there were no psychological
obstacles as far as she was concerned to her meeting the applicant; on
the contrary, such meetings were in her interests.
25. During the proceedings before it the District Court had, on
14 November 1990, provisionally ordered that Sini remain with the
grandparents and granted the applicant certain rights of access: in
December 1990 and January 1991 he was to be permitted to meet his
daughter for six hours on the first Sunday of the month at a place
chosen by the Board and in the presence of one of its officials; as
from January they were in addition to meet from Saturday noon to Sunday
noon on the third weekend of the month and, as from February, also the
first weekend.
However, the grandparents would not allow the applicant to
meet the child outside their home. On 20 December 1990 he asked the
County Administrative Board to take enforcement measures. He renewed
this request on 31 January 1991.
26. On 28 March 1991 the Board ordered the grandparents to comply
with the District Court's provisional order of 14 November 1990 and
decided that failure to do so would make them liable to pay an
administrative fine of 5,000 marks each. The grandparents persisted
in their refusal to comply. The applicant did not request the
enforcement of the fines, such a request being a legal condition for
their imposition.
27. The District Court, by judgment of 8 May 1991, rejected the
Social Welfare Board's request to transfer custody and guardianship.
It moreover noted that its provisional access order of 14 November 1990
no longer applied.
3. Appeals to the Court of Appeal and refusal of leave
to appeal by the Supreme Court
28. On 24 July 1991, on separate appeals by the grandparents and
the Social Welfare Board, the Court of Appeal ordered a stay of
execution of the District Court's judgment of 8 May 1991 (see
paragraph 24 above).
29. By judgment of 25 September 1991 the Court of Appeal, by a
majority, held that the applicant should remain Sini's guardian but
transferred custody to the grandparents, finding that the fact that she
had lived with them since 30 April 1985 militated strongly in favour
of her remaining in their care. It referred to the above-mentioned
opinion of 13 December 1989 by the Children's Hospital (see
paragraph 24 above), according to which she had strong ties of
security, confidence and affection with her grandparents and perceived
their home as her own. No substantial changes should be made to this
situation. She should be able to meet the applicant and develop a
normal relationship with him. In view of her low age (eight at the
time) and the fact that she had not been in a position to form her
views independently, the Court of Appeal considered that no significant
importance could be attached to Sini's own wish not to see the
applicant, mentioned in the Child and Family Guidance Centre's opinion
of 7 May 1991 (see paragraph 24 above).
The judgment prescribed the following access arrangements:
during the first three months the applicant and his daughter were to
meet for four hours one Saturday each month, at a place chosen by the
Tuusula Social Welfare Office, in the presence of one of its officers
and, after that, every other weekend between Saturday noon and Sunday
noon. She was to spend Christmas with her grandparents and two weeks
of the following summer with the applicant; subsequently her stays
during holidays should alternate between the applicant and the
grandparents.
30. On 19 December 1991 the Court of Appeal quashed the County
Administrative Board's order of 28 March 1991 requiring the
grandparents to comply with the District Court's provisional order of
14 November 1990 regarding access (see paragraph 25 above). The Court
of Appeal had regard to the lower court's decision of 8 May 1991 (see
paragraph 27 above), which in effect revoked its decision of
14 November 1990.
31. On 21 January 1992 the Supreme Court refused the applicant
leave to appeal.
E. Further proceedings regarding access
1. Request for enforcement to the local Social Welfare
Board
32. On 25 June 1992 the Social Welfare Board of Järvenpää replied
to an enforcement request by the applicant. It observed that the Child
and Family Guidance Centre of Järvenpää had offered the grandparents
"an opportunity to obtain assistance and to discuss the matter
concerning visiting rights" but they had refused to contact the Centre.
The latter had, in a letter to the Board of 16 June 1992, stated that
in those circumstances "nothing else could be done by the Centre".
2. Request for enforcement to the County Administrative
Board and the ensuing court proceedings
33. In the meantime, on 22 June 1992 the applicant asked the
County Administrative Board to take steps to execute the Court of
Appeal's judgment of 25 September 1991 (see paragraph 29 above). He
referred to the fact that in 1991 all three meetings planned between
him and Sini had failed to take place, as the grandparents had refused
to bring her. They had moreover declined to respond to attempts to
arrange further meetings.
34. On 23 June 1992 the County Administrative Board gave an
interim decision ordering the applicant to communicate the documents
in the case to the grandparents in order to enable them to comment on
his request to the Board. This they did on 21 July. The decision
further indicated that the case would be struck off the list if the
applicant did not renew his enforcement request within a year.
On 10 November 1992 the applicant renewed his request of
22 June to the County Administrative Board. Following this, the Board,
as required by the relevant legislation, referred the matter to the
conciliator for mediation (see paragraph 45 below). The latter
submitted a report to the Board on 2 December and the applicant filed
his comments on 7 December.
35. On 31 December 1992 the County Administrative Board ordered
the grandparents to comply with the Court of Appeal's decision of
25 September 1991, on pain of having to pay an administrative fine of
5,000 marks.
On the other hand, the Board dismissed a request by the
applicant for Sini to be transferred to him; such a measure could only
be taken in enforcement of a custody order. However, it noted that the
grandparents had totally refused to co-operate in attempts to arrange
for the applicant to meet his daughter. Bearing in mind her age and
the grandparents' strong influence over her, she could not be
considered sufficiently mature for her views to be taken into account.
The County Administrative Board had regard also to the
conciliator's above-mentioned report (see paragraph 34 above),
submitted by the Social Welfare Board of Järvenpää. According to that
report the grandparents had agreed to allow the applicant to see Sini
in their own home, whilst the applicant had categorically refused to
have anything to do with them. The conciliator in question had met
Sini only in the grandparents' presence in their home on
27 November 1992. On being questioned about her father she had been
very reserved but had said that she objected to seeing him. The
conciliator was of the view that Sini's wishes in this regard should
be taken into consideration.
36. The grandparents refused to bring Sini to a meeting with the
applicant which the Social Welfare Board of Järvenpää had arranged to
take place on 3 April 1993.
37. By judgment of 21 October 1993 the Court of Appeal, referring
to section 6 of the 1975 Act (see paragraph 47 below), upheld an appeal
lodged by the grandparents against the County Administrative Board's
decision of 31 December 1992 (see paragraph 35 above). The Court of
Appeal noted that, according to a medical report of 8 September 1992
by Dr Arajärvi, Sini was physically and mentally healthy and a
psychological test had shown that she was clearly of above average
intelligence for a twelve-year-old; she should not therefore be forced
to meet the applicant but be allowed to decide for herself. Moreover,
the conciliator's report (see paragraphs 34 and 35 above) stated that
she had clearly and consistently refused to meet the applicant and was
sufficiently mature for her wishes to be taken into account. The
judgment concluded that in view of the child's maturity, access could
not be enforced against her wishes and lifted the fines imposed on the
grandparents.
On 4 February 1994 the Supreme Court refused the applicant
leave to appeal.
F. Contacts between the applicant and Sini
38. The applicant visited Sini in the grandparents' home on a few
occasions until 1986. The last time he met her was on 14 January 1987.
II. Relevant domestic law
A. Custody and access
39. Custody of children is governed by the 1983 Act on Custody and
Access Rights with regard to Children (laki 361/83 lapsen huollosta ja
tapaamisoikeudesta, lag 361/83 ang. vårdnad om barn och umgängesrätt
- "the 1983 Act"). Section 1 provides that the aim of such custody is
to ensure the child's balanced development and well-being, regard being
had to the latter's special needs and wishes, as well as to encourage
a close relationship between the child and the parents. The custodian
represents the child in his or her personal matters, unless the law
provides otherwise (section 4).
40. The parents, or any other person to whom care of the child has
been entrusted, are his or her custodians (section 3). Parents who are
married to each other at the time of the child's birth are the latter's
custodians (section 6).
41. The District Court may order that custody of a child be
entrusted to one or more persons together with, or instead of, the
parents (section 9 para. 1). It may transfer custody from the parents
to other persons only if, from the child's point of view, there are
particularly strong reasons for doing so (section 9 para. 2).
The District Court is moreover empowered to decide on access
(section 9). The aim of access is to secure a child's right to
maintain contacts with a parent with whom he or she is not living
(section 2).
In deciding on matters of custody and access the competent
court must take into account the wishes and interests of the child in
accordance with the following considerations: primary emphasis must be
placed on the interests of the child and particular regard should be
had to the most effective means of implementing custody and access
rights in the future (section 9 para. 4 and section 10 para. 1); the
child's views and wishes must, if possible and depending on its age and
maturity, be obtained if the parents are unable to agree on the matter
or if the child is being cared for by a person other than its custodian
or if it is otherwise deemed necessary in the latter's interests; the
consultation must be carried out in a tactful manner, taking into
account the child's maturity and without causing harm to its relations
with the parents (section 11).
42. Pending court decisions on matters of custody and access, the
competent court may issue an interim order as to where the child should
live, access arrangements and, in special circumstances, custody
(section 17 paras. 1 and 2).
43. A decision on custody, access or a child's place of residence
is, unless it states otherwise, immediately enforceable (section 19).
B. Enforcement of custody and access rights
44. According to section 1 of the 1975 Act (for references, see
paragraph 9 above), the Act applies to the enforcement of a court
decision, including an interim order, regarding custody and access.
It may also apply to the enforcement of an order that a child should
live with a particular person or that it should be handed over to its
custodian.
A request for enforcement may be submitted to the Chief
Bailiff in the area where the child lives (section 2), which authority
is vested in the County Administrative Board (section 1 of the 1895 Act
on Enforcement - ulosotto laki 1895/37, utsökningslagen 1895/37).
45. Pursuant to section 4, as amended by Act no. 366/83, before
ordering enforcement the Chief Bailiff must assign as a conciliator a
person appointed by the Social Welfare Board or another suitable person
to mediate between the parties with a view to enforcing the decision.
Such mediation is aimed at persuading the person taking care of the
child to comply voluntarily with his obligations under the relevant
decision.
Conciliation may not be ordered if it is evident from previous
attempts that it would be unsuccessful or, in the case of a custody
decision, if immediate enforcement is in the child's interests and
dictated by strong reasons.
46. The Chief Bailiff may impose an administrative fine in
connection with an enforcement decision or, when the matter relates to
the custody of a child or the handing over of a child to its custodian,
he may order the Bailiff to transfer the child (section 5).
A fine as mentioned above must be fixed on the basis of the
means of the person concerned (chapter 2, section 4 (b) para. 2, of the
1889 Penal Code). If the fine cannot be collected, it must be
converted into a prison sentence (section 5 para. 1, as amended by Act
no. 650/86).
47. Enforcement must not take place against a child's own wishes
if he or she is twelve years of age or is sufficiently mature for her
wishes to be taken into account (section 6 of the 1975 Act, as amended
by Act no. 366/83).
48. A decision by the Chief Bailiff under the 1975 Act may, unless
otherwise stated therein, be enforced immediately (section 13 para. 1).
PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COMMISSION
49. In his application (no. 19823/92) of 10 April 1992 to the
Commission, Mr Teuvo Hokkanen, on his own and Sini's behalf, complained
that, in breach of Article 8 (art. 8) of the Convention, the public
authorities had failed to take appropriate measures to facilitate their
speedy reunion. In this regard he also relied on Article 5 of Protocol
No. 7 (P7-5) (right to equality of spouses in their relations with
their children). He further complained that, contrary to Article 6
para. 1 (art. 6-1) of the Convention, he had not been given a fair and
oral hearing before the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court in 1991
to 1992. In addition he alleged a breach of this provision in that the
custody proceedings had not been concluded within a reasonable time and
that the Supreme Court had failed to give reasons for its refusal of
21 January 1992 to grant leave to appeal. Finally, he complained that
he had not been afforded an effective remedy as required under
Article 13 (art. 13), in respect of the failure to take measures to
facilitate reunion, the excessive length of the proceedings and the
ineffectiveness of the administrative fines imposed upon the
grandparents in view of their financial circumstances.
50. By decision of 9 February 1993, the Commission declared
admissible the complaints made by Mr Hokkanen on his own behalf under
Article 8 (art. 8) of the Convention, Article 5 of Protocol No. 7
(P7-5) and, in so far as they concerned the length of the second set
of custody proceedings, those relating to Article 6 para. 1 and
Article 13 (art. 6-1, art. 13) of the Convention. It declared
inadmissible the complaints lodged on Sini's behalf on the ground that
Mr Hokkanen could not file an application for her as he was no longer
her custodian at that time.
In its report of 22 October 1993 (Article 31) (art. 31), the
Commission expressed the following opinion:
(a) by nineteen votes to two that there had been a violation
of Article 8 (art. 8);
(b) unanimously that no separate issue arose under Article 5
of Protocol No. 7 (P7-5);
(c) by sixteen votes to five that there had been no violation
of Article 6 para. 1 (art. 6-1);
(d) by twenty votes to one that it was not necessary to
examine the complaints under Article 13 (art. 13).
The full text of the Commission's opinion and of the
concurring and dissenting opinions contained in the report is
reproduced as an annex to this judgment*.
_______________
* Note by the Registrar. For practical reasons this annex will appear
only with the printed version of the judgment (volume 299-A of
Series A of the Publications of the Court), but a copy of the
Commission's report is obtainable from the registry.
_______________
FINAL SUBMISSIONS MADE BY THE GOVERNMENT TO THE COURT
51. At the hearing on 21 March 1994 the Government confirmed the
final submission in their memorial inviting "the Court to hold that
there have been no violations of the Convention in the present case".
AS TO THE LAW
I. ALLEGED VIOLATION OF ARTICLE 8 (art. 8) OF THE CONVENTION
52. The applicant submitted that the Finnish authorities had
failed to promote his speedy reunion with his daughter. They had
allowed the grandparents to keep Sini in their care and prevent his
access to her in defiance of court decisions and had transferred
custody to them. He alleged a violation of Article 8 (art. 8) of the
Convention, which reads:
"1. Everyone has the right to respect for his private and
family life, his home and his correspondence.
2. There shall be no interference by a public authority with
the exercise of this right except such as is in accordance
with the law and is necessary in a democratic society in the
interests of national security, public safety or the economic
well-being of the country, for the prevention of disorder or
crime, for the protection of health or morals, or for the
protection of the rights and freedoms of others."
The Government disputed this contention. The Commission
upheld it in so far as it concerned the alleged non-enforcement of
parental rights but did not state any opinion on the transfer of
custody.
53. The Court notes from the outset that since the Convention
entered into force with respect to Finland on 10 May 1990, it will,
like the Commission, limit its examination to whether the facts
occurring after that date disclosed a breach of the Convention
(see, for instance, the Moreira de Azevedo v. Portugal judgment of
23 October 1990, Series A no. 189, pp. 17-18, para. 70; the
Stamoulakatos v. Greece judgment of 26 October 1993, Series A no. 271,
pp. 13-14, paras. 32-33). Events prior to 10 May 1990 will be taken
into account merely as a background to the issues before the Court, in
particular the large number of administrative and judicial actions
taken by the applicant, the fact that all the decisions in his favour
had been effectively resisted by the grandparents and that the
embittered relationship between them and the applicant did not favour
a co-operative approach to resolving the dispute.
A. Applicability of Article 8 (art. 8)
54. Sini was the child of a marriage and was thus ipso jure part
of that "family" unit from the moment of birth and by the very fact of
it. She lived with the applicant and her mother from her birth in
September 1983, until she was handed over to her maternal grandparents
after her mother's death in April 1985. After that the applicant met
her on some occasions until January 1987. He was her custodian until
September 1991 and remains her legal guardian. Since 1985 he has
continuously sought to have access to her and to have her returned to
him.
These links are undoubtedly sufficient to establish "family
life" within the meaning of Article 8 (art. 8), which is thus
applicable. Indeed applicability was not disputed before the Court.
B. Compliance with Article 8 (art. 8)
55. The essential object of Article 8 (art. 8) is to protect the
individual against arbitrary interference by the public authorities.
There may in addition be positive obligations inherent in an effective
"respect" for family life. Whilst the boundaries between the State's
positive and negative obligations under this provision do not lend
themselves to precise definition, the applicable principles are
similar. In particular, in both contexts regard must be had to the
fair balance that has to be struck between the competing interests of
the individual and the community as a whole, and in both contexts the
State is recognised as enjoying a certain margin of appreciation (see
the Keegan v. Ireland judgment of 26 May 1994, Series A no. 290, p. 19,
para. 49).
The Court's role is not to substitute itself for the competent
Finnish authorities in regulating custody and access issues in Finland,
but rather to review under the Convention the decisions that those
authorities have taken in the exercise of their power of appreciation
(see, mutatis mutandis, the Handyside v, the United Kingdom judgment
of 7 December 1976, Series A no. 24, p. 23, para. 50). In so doing,
it must determine whether the reasons purporting to justify the actual
measures adopted with regard to the applicant's enjoyment of his right
to respect for family life are relevant and sufficient under Article 8
(art. 8).
In previous cases dealing with issues relating to the
compulsory taking of children into public care and the implementation
of care measures, the Court has consistently held that Article 8 (art.
8) includes a right for the parent to have measures taken with a view
to his or her being reunited with the child and an obligation for the
national authorities to take such action (see, for instance, the
Eriksson v. Sweden judgment of 22 June 1989, Series A no. 156, p. 26,
para. 71; the Margareta and Roger Andersson v. Sweden judgment of
25 February 1992, Series A no. 226-A, p. 30, para. 91; and the Olsson
v. Sweden (no. 2) judgment of 27 November 1992, Series A no. 250,
pp. 35-36, para. 90). In the opinion of the Court, this principle must
be taken as also applying to cases such as the present where the origin
of the provisional transfer of care is a private agreement.
56. The applicant and the Commission reasoned that a positive
obligation for the Contracting State to take coercive measures was more
called for where a child is in de facto care in defiance of the law and
of court orders than after the termination of de jure care. The
non-enforcement of the applicant's custody rights, as from 10 May 1990
until the transfer of the custody of Sini on 25 September 1991, as well
as the non-enforcement of his visiting rights constituted a lack of
"respect" for his "family life" in violation of Article 8 (art. 8).
Notwithstanding the reasonable steps he had taken to have his parental
rights enforced there was a striking lack of effective response. This
fact, together with the length of the enforcement proceedings, had
created a situation where his reunification with Sini had become
difficult.
In addition, as regards the transfer of custody, the applicant
contended that the Court of Appeal's judgment of 25 September 1991
conferred legitimacy on the illegal de facto care assumed by the
grandparents. Although the grandparents had retained the child
unlawfully, the length of time they had kept her was perceived by that
court as an important justification for transferring custody. The
measure further weakened the protection of his parental rights, notably
as regards access to his daughter.
57. In the Government's submission a distinction should be drawn
between, on the one hand, a parent's custody and visiting rights in
respect of a child and, on the other hand, the enforcement of such
rights. Although there may be plausible reasons for a parent to have
custody and access rights, it does not necessarily follow that these
should be enforced, especially if it would be incompatible with the
interests and welfare of the child. That was the position under
Finnish law, which viewed a parent's custody of a child as a right
first and foremost in the interest of the well-being and balanced
development of the child and not primarily for the benefit of the
parent. They referred also to Article 3 of the 1989 United Nations
Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 19 para. 1 (b) of the
1980 European Convention on the Enforcement of Decisions Concerning
Custody of Children and on Restoration of Custody of Children (European
Treaty Series no. 105) and Articles 1 and 12 para. 3 of the 1980
Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (done
at the Hague on 25 October 1980). The Government therefore disagreed
with the contention of the applicant and the Commission that forcible
measures should be more readily resorted to in the situation facing the
applicant. At any rate, it would not have been appropriate to use
coercion to implement his parental rights.
Whilst conceding that the applicant had not been able to
exercise his access rights in the way specified in the relevant court
decisions, the Government emphasised that this was due to the
non-compliance by the grandparents with those decisions. The latter
being private persons, the State was not directly responsible under
international law for their acts or omissions.
In any event, the applicant's own conduct was open to
criticism: he had not availed himself of the possibility of visiting
Sini in the grandparents' home; he had failed to finalise the
enforcement proceedings relating to the District Court's decision on
access of 14 November 1990, by not requesting imposition of the fines
indicated by the County Administrative Board on 28 March 1991; and for
several months he had omitted to renew his request for enforcement of
the access rights granted to him by the Court of Appeal on
25 September 1991 (see paragraphs 26 and 34 above).
The Government concluded that, in view of the difficult
circumstances of the case, the national authorities had done everything
that could reasonably be expected of them to facilitate reunion.
58. The Court recalls that the obligation of the national
authorities to take measures to facilitate reunion is not absolute,
since the reunion of a parent with a child who has lived for some time
with other persons may not be able to take place immediately and may
require preparatory measures being taken to this effect. The nature
and extent of such preparation will depend on the circumstances of each
case, but the understanding and co-operation of all concerned will
always be an important ingredient. Whilst national authorities must
do their utmost to facilitate such co-operation, any obligation to
apply coercion in this area must be limited since the interests as well
as the rights and freedoms of all concerned must be taken into account,
and more particularly the best interests of the child and his or her
rights under Article 8 (art. 8) of the Convention. Where contacts with
the parent might appear to threaten those interests or interfere with
those rights, it is for the national authorities to strike a fair
balance between them (see the above-mentioned Olsson (no. 2) judgment,
pp. 35-36, para. 90).
What is decisive is whether the national authorities have
taken all necessary steps to facilitate reunion as can reasonably be
demanded in the special circumstances of each case (ibid.). The Court
does not deem it necessary to deal with the applicant's and the
Commission's general argument on an obligation under Article 8
(art. 8) to take forcible measures (see paragraph 56 above).
59. Turning to the particular facts the Court will deal first with
the alleged non-enforcement of the applicant's access rights and then
with the alleged non-enforcement of his custody rights and the transfer
of custody to the grandparents.
1. Non-enforcement of access
60. As regards the alleged non-enforcement of access the Court
notes that during the period under consideration the prevailing view
of the Finnish authorities was, until the Court of Appeal's judgment
of 21 October 1993, that it was in the child's best interest to develop
contacts with the applicant, even if she might not wish to meet him.
What is more, at least from the Supreme Court's judgments of
17 May 1988 until the Court of Appeal's judgment of 25 September 1991,
the Finnish courts considered not only that the applicant was best
suited as custodian but also that the child should return to live with
him (see paragraphs 14, 16, 18 and 27 above). Arrangements for his
access to the child were specified in the District Court's interim
decision of 14 November 1990 and in the Court of Appeal's judgment of
25 September 1991 (see paragraphs 25 and 29 above). Since the
grandparents failed to comply with the access arrangements set out in
these decisions, the County Administrative Board, at the applicant's
requests, ordered their enforcement subject to administrative fines
being imposed upon them (see paragraphs 26 and 35 above); but these
measures proved to be of no avail in face of the grandparents'
persistent refusal to comply.
Against a background of ineffective court decisions and
enforcement orders, the actions of the social welfare authorities
consisted mainly of planning three meetings in 1991, taking steps to
conciliate the applicant and the grandparents in late 1992; and
arranging for one further meeting in the spring of 1993; none of which
materialised (see paragraphs 33-36 above).
The difficulties in arranging access were admittedly in large
measure due to the animosity between the grandparents and the
applicant. Nonetheless the Court does not accept that responsibility
for the failure of the relevant decisions or measures in actually
bringing about contacts can be attributed to the applicant. Both the
District Court's and the Court of Appeal's decisions regarding access
had recognised the need to arrange meetings at a neutral place outside
the grandparents' home (see paragraphs 23, 25 and 29 above). Whilst
the grandparents consistently refused to comply with these decisions,
the applicant actively sought their enforcement. The suggestion by the
Government that the situation would have been any different had he
requested the imposition of the administrative fines or not omitted for
some time to renew his enforcement request is highly improbable (see
paragraphs 26 and 34 above).
61. From the foregoing it cannot be said that, bearing in mind the
interests involved, the competent authorities, prior to the Court of
Appeal's judgment of 21 October 1993, made reasonable efforts to
facilitate reunion. On the contrary, the inaction of the authorities
placed the burden on the applicant to have constant recourse to a
succession of time-consuming and ultimately ineffectual remedies to
enforce his rights.
On the other hand, in the judgment of 21 October 1993 the
Court of Appeal came to the conclusion that the child had become
sufficiently mature for her views to be taken into account and that
access should therefore not be accorded against her own wishes (see
paragraph 37 above). The Court sees no reason to call this finding
into question.
62. Accordingly, the Court concludes that, notwithstanding the
margin of appreciation enjoyed by the competent authorities, the
non-enforcement of the applicant's right of access from 10 May 1990
until 21 October 1993 constituted a breach of his right to respect for
his family life under Article 8 (art. 8). However, there has been no
such violation in respect of the period thereafter.
2. Non-enforcement of custody rights and transfer of
custody
63. It remains to be determined whether there was also a violation
with respect to the non-enforcement of the applicant's custody rights
and the subsequent transfer of the custody to the grandparents.
The Court observes that as of 10 May 1990, the child, who had
been placed with her grandparents when she was one and a half years
old, had been living with them for approximately five years. During
this period she had very few contacts with her father, the applicant,
and had not met him since early 1987 (see paragraph 38 above). On
30 May 1990, steps to have the custody transferred to the grandparents
were recommended by the National Social Welfare Board (see paragraph 22
above) and, on 13 August 1990, the local Social Welfare Board
instituted proceedings to this effect before the District Court. The
Board's request was dismissed by it on 8 May 1991 but upheld by the
Court of Appeal on 25 September 1991; leave to appeal was refused by
the Supreme Court on 21 January 1992 (see paragraphs 23, 27, 29 and 31
above).
The Court is of the view that in such circumstances there
were sufficient grounds to justify non-enforcement of the applicant's
custody right pending the outcome of the custody proceedings.
64. Furthermore, as to the outcome of these proceedings, it is
undisputed that the transfer of custody constituted an interference
with the applicant's right to respect for family life under paragraph
1 of Article 8 (art. 8-1), that this interference was "in accordance
with the law" and pursued the legitimate aim of protecting "the rights"
of the child within the meaning of paragraph 2 (art. 8-2). The Court
sees no reason to doubt that the transfer of custody was "necessary in
a democratic society". The Court of Appeal's judgment, which was based
on expert opinion, had regard to the length of the girl's stay with the
grandparents, her strong attachment to them and her feeling that their
home was her own (see paragraphs 29 and 31 above). These reasons were
not only relevant but also sufficient for the purposes of paragraph 2
of Article 8 (art. 8-2). The competent national authorities, which
were in principle better placed than the international judge in
evaluating the evidence before them (see, amongst many authorities, the
above-mentioned Olsson v. Sweden (no. 2) judgment, pp. 35-36,
para. 90), did not overstep their margin of appreciation in arriving
at the decisions they did. Even taking into account the failure of the
authorities to secure the applicant access to his child, the measure
cannot be regarded as disproportionate to the legitimate aim of
protecting her interests.
65. These aspects of the applicant's complaint do not therefore
give rise to a separate breach of Article 8 (art. 8).
II. ALLEGED VIOLATION OF ARTICLE 5 OF PROTOCOL No. 7
(P7-5)
66. Before the Commission the applicant maintained that the same
facts as constituted the alleged violation of Article 8 (art. 8) of the
Convention also gave rise to a breach of Article 5 of Protocol No. 7
(P7-5) (right to equality of spouses in their relations with their
children). The Commission concluded that no separate issue arose under
the latter provision.
The applicant did not pursue this complaint before the Court,
which does not find it necessary to deal with the matter of its own
motion.
III. ALLEGED VIOLATION OF ARTICLE 6 PARA. 1 OF THE CONVENTION
(art. 6-1)
A. Scope of the issues before the Court
67. The applicant complained under Article 6 para. 1 (art. 6-1)
of the Convention that the second set of custody proceedings, in the
first place, and, secondly, the ensuing enforcement proceedings
exceeded a reasonable time. Thirdly, in the latter proceedings, he did
not have a fair and impartial hearing before the Court of Appeal.
However, only the facts of the first complaint were declared
admissible by the Commission. The Court will, in accordance with its
established case-law, limit its examination to that complaint (see, for
instance, the Helmers v. Sweden judgment of 29 October 1991, Series A
no. 212-A, p. 13, para. 25; and the above-mentioned Olsson (no. 2)
judgment, pp. 29-30, para. 75).
B. Reasonableness of the length of the second set of custody
proceedings
68. The applicant alleged a violation of Article 6 para. 1
(art. 6-1) of the Convention, according to which:
"In the determination of his civil rights and obligations
..., everyone is entitled to a ... hearing within a
reasonable time by [a] tribunal ..."
Both the Government and the Commission disagreed with this
contention.
69. The reasonableness of the length of proceedings is to be
considered in the light of the criteria laid down in the Court's
case-law, in particular the complexity of the case, the conduct of the
applicant and that of the relevant authorities. On the latter point,
the importance of what is at stake for the applicant in the litigation
has to be taken into account (see the Vallée v. France judgment of
26 April 1994, Series A no. 289-A, p.17, para. 34).
70. The applicant maintained that the proceedings had been unduly
delayed by the fact that the District Court had twice suspended them
for no pressing reasons, the second time for a period of six months.
The extensive investigations requested by the District Court were
unnecessary as they were based exclusively on material already
available to it (see paragraphs 14 and 24 above). The authorities thus
did not satisfy the requirement of exceptional diligence to be observed
in such cases.
71. The Court finds that the relevant period to be taken into
consideration started on 13 August 1990, when the Social Welfare Board
made a request to the District Court for transfer of custody, and ended
on 21 January 1992, when the Supreme Court refused leave to appeal (see
paragraphs 23 and 31 above).
72. Although it is essential that custody cases be dealt with
speedily, the Court sees no reason to criticise the District Court for
having suspended the proceedings twice in order to obtain expert
opinions on the issue before it.
As regards the six months' delay the difficulties which the
social welfare authorities encountered as a result of the grandparents'
refusal to allow Sini to be subjected to investigation and to take part
in related interviews must not be overlooked (see paragraph 24 above).
Irrespective of whether there were sufficient reasons for suspending
the hearing for as long as six months, it has to be noted that the
overall length of the proceedings was approximately eighteen months.
In itself this is not excessive for proceedings comprising three
judicial levels.
Having regard to the particular circumstances of the case, the
Court, like the Commission, finds that the length of the second custody
proceedings did not exceed a "reasonable time" and that there was thus
no violation of Article 6 para. 1 (art. 6-1) of the Convention.
IV. ALLEGED VIOLATION OF ARTICLE 13 (art. 13) OF THE CONVENTION
73. The applicant complained that the non-enforcement of his
custody and access rights and the length of the proceedings violated
Article 13 (art. 13), which provides:
"Everyone whose rights and freedoms as set forth in [the]
Convention are violated shall have an effective remedy before
a national authority notwithstanding that the violation has
been committed by persons acting in an official capacity."
74. This complaint amounts in substance to the same as those made
under Articles 6 and 8 (art. 6, art. 8). The Court, having regard to
its findings above, shares the Commission's view that it is not
necessary to examine this grievance.
V. APPLICATION OF ARTICLE 50 (art. 50) OF THE CONVENTION
75. Article 50 (art. 50) of the Convention reads:
"If the Court finds that a decision or a measure taken by a
legal authority or any other authority of a High Contracting
Party is completely or partially in conflict with the
obligations arising from the ... Convention, and if the
internal law of the said Party allows only partial reparation
to be made for the consequences of this decision or measure,
the decision of the Court shall, if necessary, afford just
satisfaction to the injured party."
A. Non-pecuniary damage
76. The applicant sought 200,000 Finnish marks in compensation for
non-pecuniary damage, attributable to the anxiety and distress he had
felt as a result of the lack of enforcement of his parental rights and
the transfer of custody.
The Government considered the amount excessive, whereas the
Commission's Delegate did not comment.
77. The Court sees no reason to doubt that the applicant suffered
distress as a result of the non-enforcement of his access rights and
that sufficient just satisfaction would not be provided solely by the
finding of a violation. Deciding on an equitable basis, as is required
by Article 50 (art. 50), it awards him 100,000 marks for non-pecuniary
damage. This figure is to be increased by any value-added tax that may
be chargeable (see, for instance, the Observer and Guardian v. the
United Kingdom judgment of 26 November 1991, Series A no. 216, p. 38,
para. 84).
B. Costs and expenses
78. The applicant further claimed reimbursement of costs and
expenses, totalling 229,906.47 marks and 2,770 French francs, in
respect of the following items:
(a) 37,751.47 marks for legal fees and expenses in the domestic
proceedings, of which 31,692.20 marks related to the period after the
entry into force of the Convention in respect of Finland; in addition
at least 15,000 marks which he would normally have been billed if
invoices had not been reduced to meet his modest resources after the
cessation of an insurance policy;
(b) 161,600 marks for 202 hours' work (at 800 marks per hour) by
his lawyers in connection with the Strasbourg proceedings;
(c) 15,555 marks and 2,770 francs to cover expenses incurred by
the appearance of three lawyers at the Court's hearing on
21 March 1994.
The applicant further asked the Court to add to any award made
with regard to the above "all possible value-added taxes".
79. The Government maintained that only costs and expenses which
had been necessarily incurred after 10 May 1990 (date of ratification
of the Convention by Finland) should be taken into consideration and
they objected to 15,000 marks being added to the domestic costs, the
amount being based merely on hypothetical calculations. In their view
the number of working hours and the hourly rate were excessive and
representation of the applicant by one lawyer alone would have been
sufficient. They also disagreed with the applicant's approach to
including value-added taxes.
The Delegate of the Commission did not comment.
80. As to item (a), the Court recalls that an award may be made
only in so far as the costs were actually and necessarily incurred in
order to avoid or obtain redress for the non-enforcement of his right
of access from 10 May 1990 until 21 October 1993. This does not
include costs in connection with the proceedings before the Court of
Appeal leading to its decision of the latter date. It does not appear
that the applicant had a legal obligation to pay the additional
15,000 marks claimed. As these costs were not actually incurred, this
part of the claim must also be rejected. In the light of the above,
the Court awards him 15,000 marks for domestic costs together with any
relevant value-added tax.
As regards item (b), the Court, deciding on an equitable
basis, awards the applicant 120,000 marks, also to be increased by any
relevant value-added tax, from which must be deducted the 8,070 French
francs already received for legal fees from the Council of Europe by
way of legal aid.
The applicant has moreover received 13,654.43 French francs
in respect of item (c) and the Court does not find it necessary to make
any further award under this head.
FOR THESE REASONS, THE COURT
1. Holds unanimously that the non-enforcement of the applicant's
right of access from 10 May 1990 until 21 October 1993
constituted a violation of Article 8 (art. 8) of the
Convention;
2. Holds by six votes to three that there was no such violation
thereafter;
3. Holds by six votes to three that the non-enforcement after
10 May 1990 of his right of custody and the subsequent
transfer of the custody to the grandparents did not
constitute a violation of Article 8 (art. 8) of the
Convention;
4. Holds unanimously that it is not necessary to examine the
applicant's complaint under Article 5 of Protocol No. 7
(P7-5);
5. Holds unanimously that the Court's examination under
Article 6 para. 1 (art. 6-1) of the Convention is limited to
the complaint concerning the length of the second set of
custody proceedings and that there has been no violation of
this provision;
6. Holds unanimously that it is not necessary to examine the
applicant's allegations under Article 13 (art. 13) of the
Convention;
7. Holds unanimously that Finland is to pay to the applicant,
within three months and together with any value-added tax
that may be chargeable, 100,000 (hundred thousand) Finnish
marks for non-pecuniary damage, and, for legal fees and
expenses, 135,000 (one hundred and thirty-five thousand)
marks less 8,070 (eight thousand and seventy) French francs
to be converted into Finnish marks at the rate applicable on
the date of delivery of the present judgment;
8. Dismisses unanimously the remainder of the claim for just
satisfaction.
Done in English and in French, and delivered at a public
hearing in the Human Rights Building, Strasbourg, on 23 September 1994.
Signed: Rolv RYSSDAL
President
Signed: Herbert PETZOLD
Acting Registrar
In accordance with Article 51 para. 2 (art. 51-2) of the
Convention and Rule 53 para. 2 of the Rules of Court, the partly
dissenting opinion of Mr De Meyer, joined by Mr Russo and Mr Jungwiert,
is annexed to this judgment.
Initialled: R.R.
Initialled: H.P.
PARTLY DISSENTING OPINION OF JUDGE DE MEYER, JOINED BY
JUDGES RUSSO AND JUNGWIERT
(Translation)
In our opinion, there has been a breach of the applicant's
right to respect for his family life both as regards custody and as
regards access, and in respect of the latter since 21 October 1993 as
well as before then.
Over many years the Finnish authorities were faced with and
tolerated the prolongation of a situation which they had on many
occasions noted to be unlawful and which they were accordingly under
a duty to bring to an end*. On each occasion they yielded in the face
of the grandparents' persistent obstination and thus enabled them to
create a fait accompli which the authorities eventually resigned
themselves to endorsing as regards both custody and access.
_______________
* No distinction needs to be made between the various authorities which
intervened in the case; they all engage the respondent State's
responsibility.
_______________
Having thus brought upon themselves this capitulation on both
fronts, they may well have thought that matters had got to such a point
that it was no longer in the child's interests to go on trying to
remedy the situation.
The fact remains nevertheless that ultimately the authorities
deprived the applicant of the exercise of rights which naturally vested
in him as father, although they had previously recognised on numerous
occasions that he should not be denied them**.
_______________
** See, in particular, as regards access, paragraphs 10, 12, 25 and 29,
and as regards custody, paragraphs 14, 16, 18, 22, 24 and 27 of this
judgment.
_______________
Far from stopping the infringement of these rights, they thus
permanently put a seal on it.
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