Information Note on the Court’s case-law 232

August-September 2019

Chaves Fernandes Figueiredo v. Switzerland (communicated case) - 55603/18

Article 6

Administrative proceedings

Civil proceedings

Article 6-1

Impartial tribunal

Social network “friendship” between member of child-welfare administrative authority and opposing party in decision-making process: communicated

In challenging a decision by the lo cal child-protection authority in a dispute over the awarding of parental responsibility, the applicant (the child’s mother) lodged an appeal before the cantonal court. While the case was pending, she sent the authority a request that the decision in quest ion be reviewed: in her view, its president ought to have withdrawn from the case, given that he was a “friend” of the child’s father on Facebook (social network). She also informed the court of this complaint. However, neither the authority in question no r the courts considered it necessary to set aside the decision on that ground.

Communicated under Article 6 § 1 of the Convention.

© Council of Europe/European Court of Human Rights This summary by the Registry does not bind the Court.

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