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In its 12 December decision in the case PaÅŸa and Erkan Erol v. Turkey, the ECtHR unanimously held the Turkey responsible for violating the applicants’ right to life under Article 2. The Turkish government had laid anti-personnel mines in proximity of the applicants’ village, in a place previously used for grazing. When nine-year old Erkan and other children entered to gather their sheep, all were wounded by the explosion of one of the mines. The court explicitly noted that Turkey had failed to take the necessary measures to prevent innocent civilians from entering the area.

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In a 4-3 decision, the ECtHR has upheld the legality of the tax preferences given to married and civil partnership couples by the United Kingdom. The applicants in Burden and Burden v. the United Kingdom were two sisters who have lived together all their lives. Each has executed a will leaving property to the other sister. In order to inherit, however, the survivor will have to pay an inheritance tax. The applicants noted that property passing to a spouse or civil partner is exempt from this charge, and argued that this differential treatment is discriminatory under Article 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The Court denied the petition, finding Britain’s policies justifiable. For more information see here.