UN says Sweden violated disabled Albanian child’s rights through deportations

Sweden violated the rights of an Albanian child with severe disabilities by deporting him twice to Albania without ensuring he would have access to essential medical treatment, the UN Human Rights Committee said on Monday.

In a statement, the committee found Sweden violated the child’s right to life as well as the prohibition of torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.

The case concerns E.B., an Albanian child with complex conditions including autism, cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus and epilepsy, who was deported with his family from Sweden in 2016 and again in 2019 after unsuccessful asylum claims.

“Before deporting a child with severe and complex disabilities, and life-threatening health conditions, States must carry out a rigorous, individualised assessment and ensure that essential treatment and medication will in fact be accessible and available in the receiving country,” the committee's vice chair, Wafaa Bassim said.

The committee said Swedish authorities failed to adequately verify medical evidence showing the child depended on vital treatment unavailable in Albania.

“In a case as serious as E.B.’s, States must do more than conduct standard reviews,” Bassim said.

As E.B. is currently facing a new removal order, the committee asked Sweden to review the child’s asylum or residence applications in line with its obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and provide him adequate compensation.