Switzerland condemned for denying pregnant detainee visits from partner

Switzerland has been condemned by the European Court of Human Rights for its severe treatment of a pregnant detainee. Authorities in the canton of Vaud had rejected the woman's requests to see her partner, who is the father of her child. The court ruled that this denial of contact, including phone calls and presence at the birth, constituted a disproportionate violation of her right to private and family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

The Spanish national, born in 1994, was held in pre-trial detention in Vaud since December 2019 on suspicion of serious drug offenses. Throughout her detention, she repeatedly sought permission for her partner to visit her. The court's decision marks the second time in a week that Switzerland has faced a ruling from the human rights court, highlighting concerns about the country's judicial practices.