The cases of R.E. and Others v. Iceland and Z v. Iceland concerned investigations into the applicants’ complaints of sexual assault and their allegations of structural and systemic gender-based discrimination in those investigations.

In the case of R.E. and Others v. Iceland, the Court found that the national legal framework had afforded adequate protection against sexual violence, with Iceland having maintained a consent-based approach to rape since 2007. While acknowledging delays in two of the four cases before the questioning of suspects, the Court concluded that the investigations as a whole in this case had met the threshold of effectiveness required by the Convention.

In the case of Z v. Iceland, the Court found that, while the police investigation had been thorough, the prosecuting authorities had failed to apply a consent-centred standard when assessing whether to prosecute the suspect. There had been a violation of Z’s right to respect for private and family life.

In neither case had the Court found evidence of structural bias or discriminatory effect in the handling of sexual violence cases.

• Press release