Changes in Law Firm Fredman & Månsson

Changes are happening in Law Firm Fredman & Månsson’s operations.

Attorney Maija Häyrinen has moved from our firm to her own firm on 10 April 2015.

On 1 May 2015 attorney Veronica Dalenius will move to Reims & Co Oy Attorneys at Law.

On 1 September 2015 also attorney Jussi Sarvikivi will move to Reims’ firm.

In the beginning of October our firm will move to a new location in Helsinki’s Vallila neighborhood, where attorneys Markku Fredman and Ulf Månsson will continue the firm’s operations.

New horizons for justice in Europe

Stockholm’s Sunset:
Over 120 leading criminal justice and human rights experts from across Europe are calling on the European Union to continue its crucial work to improve respect for the fundamental human right to a fair trial.

Swedish legal system did not protect minor girl whose stepfather attempted covertly to film her naked

In Grand Chamber judgment in the case of Söderman v. Sweden, the European Court of Human Rights held, by a majority, that there had been a violation of Article 8 (right to respect for private life) of the European Convention on Human Rights.

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Homosexual applicants for asylum can constitute a particular social group who may be persecuted on account of their sexual orientation

Judgment in Case C-199/12, C-200/12, C-201/12 X, Y, Z v Minister voor Immigratie en Asiel

Court of Justice of the European Union

Pursuant to a European directive, which refers to the provisions of the Geneva Convention, any person who, owing to well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationality and is unable or, owing to such fear, is unwilling to avail himself of the protection of that country may claim refugee status. In that context, the acts of persecution must be sufficiently serious by their nature or repetition as to constitute a severe violation of basic human rights.
X, Y and Z are nationals of Sierra Leone, Uganda and Senegal respectively. They seek refugee status in the Netherlands, claiming that they have a well-founded fear of being persecuted in their countries of origin by reason of their sexual orientation. Homosexual acts are a criminal offence in those three countries and may lead to serious punishment, from heavy fines to life imprisonment in certain cases.

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Six months since MEPs voted, but still no sign of action on pre-trial detention in Europe

Fair Trials International and lawyers from across Europe have  today written to MEPs expressing concern about the failure to tackle unjustified pre-trial detention in the EU, which the Commission itself estimates costs almost €5 billion each year and unnecessarily ruins lives. It is six months today since the European Parliament overwhelmingly supported a resolution to raise standards on the use of pre-trial detention. The European Commission has not stated what action it will take, despite having launched a consultation on the issue more than a year ago.

Read more: Six months since MEPs voted, but still no sign of action on pre-trial detention in Europe

The letter, which is signed by 23 lawyers from 15 jurisdictions, urges MEPs to renew their calls on the European Commission to take action. The letter points out that pre-trial detention should only be used when strictly necessary, for example, to protect witnesses or preserve evidence. If pre-trial detention is justified, detainees must have: facilities to prepare a defence; confidential communications with their lawyer; and a regular review of whether detention remains necessary. The letter calls for:

• New EU laws setting minimum standards for the use of pre-trial detention;
• Effective use of the European Supervision Order and other alternatives to pre-trial detention;
• Deferred extradition under European Arrest Warrants, until the case is ready for trial; and
• Steps by the EU towards establishing a one year maximum pre-trial detention limit.